A recent study by Cartridge Save has shed light on the disparity in internet connection quality across the UK, revealing Lancaster as the region with the fastest broadband speeds, while Northern Ireland’s Newry lags significantly behind.
Top Performers
Lancaster has emerged as the front-runner in the study, achieving an impressive score of 89.49. The city boasts the fastest broadband speed in the UK at 297.45 Mb/s, with only 1.8% of its buildings lacking access to internet speeds above 30 Mb/s. This makes Lancaster an ideal location for activities that demand high-speed internet, such as streaming, gaming, and remote working.
Derby follows closely behind with a score of 74.98. The city’s average internet speed of 183.01 Mb/s is noteworthy, and a mere 0.7% of its premises are unable to access speeds above 30 Mb/s, showcasing its strong broadband infrastructure.
In third place is Leeds, which scored 71.59. Leeds offers a commendable average broadband speed of 182.65 Mb/s, though 2.7% of its buildings cannot achieve speeds above 30 Mb/s. Despite this, the city remains a robust contender in terms of internet accessibility.
Belfast secured the fourth position with a score of 67.77. The average broadband speed in Belfast is 137.19 Mb/s, lower than the top three cities, but its high-speed internet accessibility is impressive, with only 1.1% of buildings falling short of the 30 Mb/s threshold.
Preston rounds out the top five, scoring 67.52. The city offers an average broadband speed of 148.30 Mb/s. However, access to high-speed internet is slightly limited, with 2.2% of premises unable to reach speeds above 30 Mb/s.
Struggling Regions
At the other end of the spectrum, Newry in Northern Ireland ranks as the area with the poorest internet accessibility, scoring 34.70. Despite having an average broadband speed of 90.06 Mb/s, a significant 16.9% of buildings do not have access to speeds exceeding 30 Mb/s, indicating a substantial need for infrastructure improvement.
Perth follows Newry in second-to-last place with a score of 36.12. The city’s average broadband speed is 77.85 Mb/s, and 15% of properties cannot access speeds above 30 Mb/s, highlighting the region’s connectivity challenges.
Bangor, with a score of 36.19, ranks third from the bottom. The city suffers from one of the slowest average broadband speeds at 37.51 Mb/s, and 11.5% of its premises lack access to speeds above 30 Mb/s.
Hereford is fourth from last, scoring 37.56. The city’s average speed of 69.23 Mb/s is moderate, but 13.4% of its buildings do not have internet speeds exceeding 30 Mb/s.
Inverness completes the bottom five with a score of 37.71. Despite a high average speed of 130.95 Mb/s, 18.6% of premises in the city cannot access speeds over 30 Mb/s, underscoring the uneven distribution of high-speed internet within the UK.
Industry Response
A spokesperson from Cartridge Save commented on the findings, emphasising the need for investment in broadband infrastructure: “Cities like Newry, Perth, and Bangor need to prioritise network upgrades to enhance the digital experience for residents and businesses.”
“The internet is an essential tool for everyday life, encompassing communication, education, commerce, and entertainment. Expanding access to high-speed internet is crucial for boosting economic growth and improving the quality of life in communities across the UK.”
This study highlights the significant variations in internet connectivity across the UK, pointing to a pressing need for infrastructural investments to ensure equitable access to high-speed internet for all regions.