Ultrafast Broadband

Looking for a fast connection? The label 'ultrafast broadband' covers a wide range of speed categories.

What is ultrafast broadband?

The regulator Ofcom defines ultrafast broadband as 300Mbps or more. So it means a broadband connection capable of transferring 300Mb (megabits) of data every single second. That's enough bandwidth to download a full-length film in about a minute.

Many broadband providers have a broader definition of ‘ultrafast’, so it's common to see deals with this tag from around 100Mbps. A speed of 100Mbps can easily handle high-bandwidth activities like streaming and online gaming.

The latest Ofcom data says that the UK average speed is 223Mbps. So, you may well already be enjoying the benefits of ultrafast broadband, whichever way you define it.

When we talk about broadband speeds we're almost always talking about the download speed. With most home broadband, the upload speed is much less than the download speed and providers don't focus on it when they're advertising deals.

With business broadband, upload speed is more important because of uses like file sharing, server hosting and video calls. So it's a lot more common to get symmetrical upload/download speeds.

Which providers offer ultrafast broadband deals?

Every UK broadband provider offers ultrafast deals, so there's plenty of choice.

Many providers advertise all their broadband over 100Mbps as ultrafast, so deals in this category could range from 100Mbps to over 900Mbps. Our search lets you easily sort offers by speed.

Can I get ultrafast broadband in my area?

Yes, it's very likely. Seven in ten UK homes have a full fibre connection, according to Ofcom data from December 2024. There's an ongoing project to connect more and more homes, so if you don't have full fibre already you'll probably get it soon.

If you're still on hybrid fibre or even the older ADSL, you can quickly see if an upgrade is possible using our address checker. If your address can get full fibre installed, you'll see full fibre deals in your results. Your new supplier will install it.

If you're in an area covered by Virgin Media's cable network, this is another way to get ultrafast speeds. ('Cable' is technically a combination of coaxial cables and fibre known as HFC.) Virgin estimates that their coverage reaches around 53% of UK homes.

What speeds can I get with Ultrafast Broadband?

Ultrafast broadband is a big category with a wide range of speeds in it.

At the lower end of the scale, many providers class speeds of 100Mbps as ultrafast. Ofcom's definition is a bit stricter, starting at 300Mbps.

The ceiling for ultrafast broadband is 1,000Mbps or 1Gbps. Once your broadband hits this speed it's classed as gigabit broadband rather than ultrafast. So the fastest ultrafast broadband packages tend to be 900Mbps or a bit over.

Sometimes these faster deals have 'giga'-something in the name, which is just clever marketing. If speeds are below the 1,000Mbps threshold then it's not gigabit broadband but the high end of ultrafast.

What are the pros and cons of ultrafast broadband?

Most of the broadband packages you can get these days count as ultrafast. That's not really surprising - it's a huge category.

How does ultrafast broadband compare to other broadband?

If you go with the definition of ultrafast broadband as ‘any connection over 100Mbps’, most internet deals fall into the ultrafast category. It's the most common type of broadband you're likely to buy.

Ultrafast broadband is speedier than superfast, not as fast as gigabit broadband.

What is the difference between superfast and ultrafast broadband?

The 'superfast' label isn't so accurate these days. Ofcom defines it as 30Mbps and above, which is considered very low in 2025. That's because the superfast category was created many years ago, when most people were on dial-up or ADSL.

Officially, superfast includes every speed over 30Mbps, so technically all ultrafast broadband and gigabit broadband count as superfast too. That's confusing, so mostly when we talk about superfast we just mean speeds between 30Mbps and 300Mbps.

The UK government definition of superfast broadband is a bit lower than Ofcom's, at 24Mbps.

Is ultrafast broadband better than fibre broadband?

They're usually the same thing! Most ultrafast broadband is delivered through a full fibre connection. The other technology capable of giving you internet at ultrafast speeds is Virgin Media's cable network.

Hybrid fibre is slower than full fibre, so won't give you ultrafast speeds.

When you're comparing broadband deals, don't focus too much on labels like 'ultrafast'. Look at the actual speeds on offer and what you're getting for your money.

How to compare and switch to ultrafast?

Most broadband services these days offer ultrafast speeds, so you have loads of choice. The trick is to pick the right speed band within the wide ultrafast category, so you get the broadband speed you need without overpaying. Taking 30 seconds to use our bandwidth calculator can help.

We're here to make it easy to compare and switch.

1. Put your postcode into our address checker and tell us who you're currently with, so we only show you the most relevant deals
2. Sort the results by speed
3. Compare by price as well to find the right deal for your budget
4. Click 'Get deal' to go through to the provider's website and finish signup

Useful to know:

• If you're currently on a slower hybrid fibre connection and a full fibre upgrade is possible for your address, we'll show you full fibre deals in your results
• You no longer need to tell your old provider you're leaving them, thanks to a system called One Touch Switch.

Can I leave my current broadband contract early?

You can always end a broadband contract early - the problem is that your provider will probably charge an exit fee for leaving before the minimum term is up.

These fees are usually based on how long there is left on your contract, so you'll pay more for leaving sooner. Check out our guide to your broadband cancellation rights for more information.

FAQs

Is ultrafast broadband worth it?

Yes, ultrafast broadband is well worth it. It's the most common category of broadband these days, so there's a wide variety of speeds and prices. Most people can find an ultrafast deal that works within their budget.

If you're on hybrid fibre and it's a long time since you last changed broadband provider, you could be pleasantly surprised by how much bandwidth you can get for your money.

How much is BT Ultrafast full fibre broadband?

BT Broadband offers a range of deals with download speeds that count as ultrafast. With a 24-month contract you can get:

• 150Mbps for £29.99 a month (rising to £32.99 in March 2026)
• 300Mbps for £33.99 a month (rising to £36.99 in March 2026)
• 500Mbps for £39.99 a month (rising to £42.99 in March 2026)
• 900Mbps for £38.99 a month (rising to £41.99 in March 2026)

Most broadband contracts come with mid-contract price hikes, and the BT ultrafast deals are no exception. With the 24-month contracts, prices go up on 31 March 2026 and again on 31 March 2027.

Full details and pricing information are on the BT website and correct as of June 2025. We'd always suggest you use our site to compare all the deals on our panel before you commit.

Do you need an engineer to install ultrafast broadband?

It depends what tech you're switching to and what your current setup is. The most common network upgrade is from hybrid fibre to full fibre. For this, you need an engineer to install a fibre optic cable directly to your home. They will need to drill a hole in one of your walls for this.

If you already have a full fibre connection, you don't need an engineer visit to upgrade you to ultrafast broadband. You just need to find a new broadband deal with higher speeds and switch to it.

If you're switching to Virgin Media for your ultrafast broadband, you'll probably need an engineer to connect you to Virgin's cable network - unless there's already a cable connection at your address.

What is the fastest broadband in the UK?

The fastest category of broadband you can get is gigabit broadband. This is defined as anything over 1,000Mbps, or 1Gbps. That means the connection can transfer a gigabit of data in a second.

As of June 2025, the fastest broadband package on our panel is from YouFibre, offering a blisteringly fast 7,000Mbps.

What broadband speed do you need?

How much is Sky Ultrafast broadband?

Sky has a choice of deals in the ultrafast category, especially if you stretch the definition to mean anything over 100Mbps. With a 24-month contract you can get:

• 100Mbps at £38 a month
• 150Mbps at £26 a month
• 300Mbps at £28 a month
• 500Mbps at £32 a month
• 900Mbps at £43 a month

All the deals listed above come with a £5 setup fee that is potentially refundable for new customers.

Like most broadband providers, Sky raises its prices every year. What's unusual is that these mid-contract price hikes are usually not known at the start of your contract. Because you didn't have the information when you signed up, you're free to leave if you're not happy with the new price.

Full information about deals and pricing is available on the Sky website and our list above is correct as of June 2025.

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[1] As of 1st June 2026, there are 32 active broadband providers on the panel at Go.Compare