MILLIONS of households have been warned they may notice slower internet speeds over the rest of summer as every kid is expected to spend an extra 76 hours online on average.
Research by USwitch has revealed the worst affected areas across the UK, according to reports from parents who notice an impact on their broadband.
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More than a quarter said they experienced slower broadband speeds during the summer months.
Some of the common problems include websites taking longer to load, streamed videos buffering and pausing, as well as longer download times.
A map shows the worst affected parts, based on a poll of 2,000 adults.
Edinburgh appears to come out as the heaviest hit, with 26 per cent saying they notice their speed is slower over the summer.
Read more about broadband
London comes second, with 23 per cent.
Plymouth, Leeds and Sheffield round off the worst five areas.
However, it’s not bad news for everyone – Cardiff, Bristol, Belfast, Southampton, Newcastle came out better.
USwitch estimates that around 9.4million Brits will experience sluggish broadband compared to normal based off the poll results.
Although it’s thought younger users often drive the trend, over half of British adults admitted they were actually the biggest bandwidth hogs in their homes.
“With more devices online than ever, households need to make sure that their broadband is up to the task this summer,” said Ernest Doku, broadband expert at Uswitch.com.
“When kids are home from school, the sheer volume of simultaneous streaming, gaming, and video calls puts immense pressure on shared networks, leading to noticeable slowdowns and buffering at all times of the day.
“Simple fixes like limiting the number of connected devices, disconnecting any you’re not using, turning off HD streaming or scheduling online gaming to off-peak hours can also make a real difference.
“If you’re still facing slow speeds, it’s a good idea to run a speed test and make sure you’re getting the speeds you pay for within your package.
“Your provider should always give you a minimum guaranteed speed for your broadband service. For superfast broadband products, this is now based on the capability of the line going directly into your home or office.
“If you think your broadband is slower than it should be, contact your provider to identify the problem. If the issue lies within their network, and they can’t fix it within 30 days, they must offer you the right to exit your contract without being penalised.”
Little-known objects that can disrupt your Wi-Fi
People don’t realise how many objects around the home can impact their Wi-Fi signal and slow things down. Here are some you may have missed.
- Microwaves (when they’re running)
- Baby monitors
- Fish tanks
- Mirrors
- Bluetooth devices
- Cordless phones
Image credit: Getty
