How broadband
actually works.
The guides desk. Plain-language explainers on speed, connection types, what to look for in a contract and the difference between the marketing copy and the engineering reality.
Edited by Ade·UPDATED 06 JUN 2026From speed to setup.
The full library.
Each route is a self-contained guide. Read in any order. The featured pair are the two we send people to most often.
★Featured by AdeWhat's actually in your broadband contract
A plain-English walk through every broadband contract clause that matters: minimum term, intro price, the new pounds-and-pence rise rule, setup fees, exit charges, cooling-off rights and the speed guarantee that can get you out free.
When your speed is slower than advertised
If your broadband is slower than advertised, a wired speed test against your minimum guaranteed speed tells you whether it is a wifi problem you can fix or a fault your provider has 30 days to put right.
Setting up new broadband at a new address
Moving home means a new broadband order rather than a switch. Here is how to check what the new address can get, when to order and how to be online from day one.
Can I get full fibre at my address?
Full fibre availability changes street by street. How to check your exact address, who is building it and what to do if you cannot get it yet.
Wi-Fi speed test: how to do it and read the result
The number a wi-fi speed test gives you is not your line speed. How to test properly, why wifi runs slower than your plan and how to tell the wifi from the line.
Which broadband comparison site is actually best in 2026?
Most broadband comparison sites, us included, are paid by the providers you switch to. An honest verdict on the UK sites, who is Ofcom-accredited, why most rank by commission not value and how to use any of them without getting fleeced.
Recent guides.
Work out what your home needs first
Ofcom says 82% of UK homes can get full fibre and 89% a gigabit-capable connection, using January 2026 figures. Whether yours can is street by street, which is where most of these guides start. Check what your address can get
Half the deals we track today are 362 Mbps or faster. Most homes need far less than the fastest, so it pays to work out your own need before you pay for speed. What speed do you need?