Oliver Reed

Articles

Wi-Fi vs Your Broadband Line: Often It Is the Router

When home broadband feels slow, the cause is frequently the Wi-Fi inside your home rather than the broadband line or your provider. This guide explains the difference between your broadband connection and your Wi-Fi network, why the router and its placement matter so much, and how to tell whether improving your equipment would help more than changing your deal.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

14 Aug 2026 6 min

Guides

Broadband Options for Rural and Hard-to-Reach UK Homes

Rural and hard-to-reach UK addresses often have fewer fixed-line broadband choices, but several options can still deliver home internet, including full fibre where it has reached, fixed wireless, mobile and satellite broadband. This guide explains the options that tend to serve these areas, their trade-offs, and how to find out which actually reach your specific address.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

12 Aug 2026 6 min

Articles

The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme Explained

The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is a government-backed form of funding support that can help cover the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband in eligible rural areas. This guide explains what the scheme is, how it generally works, who it tends to help, and how to find out whether it applies to your area, so the support is clear rather than confusing.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

10 Aug 2026 6 min

Articles

Broadband Social Tariffs: Who Qualifies and How to Check

Broadband social tariffs are lower-cost plans available to households receiving certain benefits, yet many eligible people are unaware they exist. This guide explains what social tariffs are, who generally qualifies, how to check your eligibility, and what to consider, so cost is less of a barrier to staying connected for those who qualify.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

7 Aug 2026 6 min

Articles

5G and 4G Home Broadband vs Full Fibre: When It Fits

5G and 4G home broadband deliver internet over a mobile network instead of a fixed line, offering an alternative to full fibre in some situations. This guide explains how mobile home broadband works, how it compares with full fibre, and when fixed wireless makes sense, so you can weigh the options for your home and area.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

3 Aug 2026 6 min

Articles

What Broadband Speed Does Your Household Really Need?

The broadband speed your household needs depends on how many people and devices are online at once and what they do, not on the largest number a deal advertises. This room-by-room guide explains how to estimate your real demand, where speed gets used up, and how to choose a plan that fits your home with a little headroom.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

31 Jul 2026 7 min

Articles

Will the Switch-Off Affect Your Landline and Devices?

The move from the old analogue phone network to digital services can affect your landline and any devices that relied on it, from alarms to other connected equipment. This guide explains which devices may be affected, why the change matters, and the practical checks to make so important equipment keeps working through the switchover.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

24 Jul 2026 6 min

Articles

The 2025 Ofcom Rules on Mid-Contract Price Rises

New Ofcom rules have changed how broadband and mobile providers can raise prices mid-contract, requiring any increase to be set out clearly in pounds and pence rather than linked to inflation. This guide explains what the rules change, why they were introduced, how they affect new contracts, and what to look for so you understand future increases before you sign.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

22 Jul 2026 6 min

Articles

The PSTN Switch-Off Explained and What It Means for You

The PSTN switch-off is the retirement of the UK's old analogue phone network, with services moving to digital connections that run over broadband. This guide explains what the switch-off involves, why it is happening, how it affects your phone line and broadband, and the practical steps to take, so the change feels clear rather than confusing.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

20 Jul 2026 6 min

Guides

Telecare and the Digital Switchover: What to Check

As the old phone network is retired and services move to digital, telecare devices that relied on the analogue line need careful checking, especially for vulnerable users. This guide explains how the digital switchover affects telecare, why it matters for safety, what to check with providers, and the steps to take so important alarms and devices keep working.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

17 Jul 2026 6 min

Articles

How to Run an Accurate Broadband Speed Test

A broadband speed test measures your connection's download speed, upload speed and latency, but how you run it affects how accurate the result is. This guide explains how to test properly, why a wired test gives the clearest reading, and how to interpret download, upload and latency figures so you understand what your connection is actually delivering.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

10 Jul 2026 6 min

Articles

What Speed You Need for 4K Streaming, Calls and Gaming

4K streaming, video calls and online gaming each place different demands on your broadband, and none needs an extreme speed on its own. This guide explains what each activity actually requires, why latency matters more than raw speed for gaming, why uploads matter for calls, and how to size a broadband deal when these activities happen at the same time.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

6 Jul 2026 7 min

Articles

How to Check Whether Full Fibre Has Reached Your Address

Full fibre is rolling out across the UK, but it reaches homes street by street, so the only reliable way to know your options is to check for your specific address. This guide explains why availability varies so precisely, the dependable ways to confirm whether full fibre has reached your home, and how to interpret what you find.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

22 Jun 2026 6 min

Guides

What Is Full Fibre (FTTP) and How Does It Differ?

Full fibre, or FTTP, runs an optical fibre line all the way to your home, while part-fibre broadband uses fibre to a street cabinet and copper for the final stretch. This guide explains the difference in plain terms, why it affects speed and reliability, how to tell which you have, and what it means when choosing a broadband connection.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

17 Jun 2026 6 min

Articles

FTTP vs FTTC vs ADSL: What It Means for Your Speed

Your broadband connection type, whether FTTP, FTTC or ADSL, has a major effect on the speeds available at your home, often more than the plan you choose. This guide explains how each type works, why they differ in capability, how to find out which you have, and what your connection type means for the speeds you can realistically expect.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

12 Jun 2026 6 min

Guides

Copper Switch-Off: What Openreach Stop-Sell Means for You

As full fibre expands, the old copper network is being wound down, and a process called stop-sell affects what broadband you can order in many areas. This guide explains what stop-sell means, why it is happening, how it affects new and existing connections, and what to check, so the move away from copper is clear rather than worrying.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

10 Jun 2026 6 min

Guides

Rural, Wireless and Alternative Broadband Connections

For homes where standard fixed-line broadband is limited, rural, wireless and alternative connections offer other ways to get online, from full-fibre rollouts and funding schemes to fixed wireless, mobile and satellite. This overview pulls together the options and support available for hard-to-reach areas, so you can see the bigger picture before exploring each in more detail.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

8 Jun 2026 5 min

Articles

Out-of-Contract Broadband: Why Staying Put Can Cost More

When a broadband contract ends, you often move onto an out-of-contract price that can be higher than what you were paying or what new customers are offered. This guide explains what out-of-contract means, why it can cost more, how to tell if you are affected, and the practical steps to take so you are not paying more than you need to.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

5 Jun 2026 6 min

Articles

Full Fibre Broadband vs Standard Broadband: Understanding the Difference

Learn the key differences between full fibre and standard broadband. Discover speeds, reliability, availability, and whether upgrading makes sense for your household.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

29 Jan 2026 14 min

Articles

The Expansion of Internet Connectivity Across Scotland: Progress, Challenges and Opportunities

In this article, we explore the current state of internet expansion in Scotland, the programmes driving change, observable improvements in broadband and mobile access, remaining challenges, and what the future might hold for residents and businesses throughout the nation.

By Oliver Reed — Home Broadband Researcher

21 Mar 2023 6 min