Kate Griffin

Kate Griffin

Broadband and energy expert

Reviewed by Catherine Hiley

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Page last updated 8 May 2025

The Steel City is well served for broadband coverage. All the well-known national broadband providers cover Sheffield, including the ’big four’: Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and the BT Group.

Depending on where you live in Sheffield, you could also have a couple of altnets to choose from.

What broadband can I get in Sheffield?

Most homes and businesses in Sheffield have access to full fibre broadband from a range of providers. There's also cable broadband in some areas of the city. Use our postcode checker (above) to see exactly what's available where you are.

Is fibre broadband available in Sheffield?

Yes, fibre coverage is good in Sheffield. A thinkbroadband speed test for Sheffield in April 2025 showed that coverage is over 99% if you include hybrid fibre.

Coverage for full fibre broadband is a little lower, at 92.33% of Sheffield's homes and businesses. That's the type of connection also known as Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and it's the technology capable of the fastest speeds.

Virgin Media is best known as a cable broadband provider, but it's expanding its fibre network in Sheffield as part of a push to deliver more gigabit-capable broadband in the city.

Broadband alternative providers

In Sheffield, as in almost every other part of the UK, most broadband providers use the BT Openreach network. There are also several altnets: broadband companies that build and maintain their own infrastructure as well as delivering a service to the customer.

Here are some altnets that have a presence in Sheffield (and are on Go.Compare's panel of trusted providers):

There are also a couple of less well-known providers that aren't technically altnets but offer an alternative to the big names:

  • POP Telecom
  • Rebel Broadband

Who are the best internet providers in Sheffield?

It all depends how you measure ’best’. On the independent ratings site Trustpilot, many broadband providers serving Sheffield are classed as ‘Excellent’. As of April 2025, these include:

A quick peek at Go.Compare's data finds plenty of variety in the providers that Sheffield folk choose. 4th Utility and BeFibre punch above their weight for small independent providers.

According to Go.Compare's 2025 data so far (up to 16 April 2025), our two top sellers in Sheffield are BT Broadband and Sky. That's not surprising given that these two providers have a big share of the overall UK broadband market.

BT subsidiary Plusnet could lay claim to being the Sheffield broadband provider, because they have offices in Sheffield (in a big shiny building a stone's throw from Ponds Forge).

Can I get 5G broadband in Sheffield?

Sheffield is served by all four 5G network providers: EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. The signal you'll get depends on what network you're on and what part of the city you live in. Indoor coverage is weaker than outdoor coverage.

If you’re thinking of getting mobile broadband instead of fixed broadband in your home, our advice is to put your postcode into Ofcom's mobile coverage checker to see what the signal is like where you live.

What broadband speeds can I get in Sheffield?

Probably the fastest speeds possible. According to thinkbroadband, gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Sheffield is over 94% as of April 2025.

So, the chances are that you'll get speeds over 1,000Mbps if you want them. Virgin's blazing-fast Gig2 deal (breaking the 2,000Mbps barrier) is available in some places, including near Meadowhall.

Our tip: most people don't need that much bandwidth, and you'll pay significantly less if you opt for a broadband service just under the gigabit threshold.

In many parts of Sheffield, including Gleadless and Norfolk Park, you can access deals with speeds over 900Mbps for less than £40/month.

Check your broadband speed today

Our broadband speed checker will give you an idea of what speeds you're currently getting. Try it a few times at different times of day to build up a more detailed picture. Then you'll know what speed category to choose when you're comparing your broadband options.

How to find the cheapest broadband in Sheffield?

We suggest you:

  • Put your postcode into our address checker
  • Browse through the broadband deals in your area
  • Sort the results by ‘cost per month’
  • Pick the broadband package that suits you!

You won't want to be caught out by mid-contract price rises. So you should also compare the full contract price - luckily our site makes that easy too.

A few broadband providers on our panel offer deals without any price changes for the duration of the contract. These include Earth Broadband, Hyperoptic and POP Telecom.

How to switch broadband

Just choose a provider and sign up with them. You don't need to tell your old provider you're leaving any more - the rules have changed thanks to a system called One Touch Switch.

Can I leave my broadband contract early?

You can, but your existing provider has the right to charge exit fees if you want to leave before the minimum term of your contract is up. These can be hefty depending on your contract and how long you have to go on it.

Check out our guide to your broadband cancellation rights for more information.

[1] As of 11th March 2026, there are active broadband providers on the panel at Go.Compare