Broadband has become an essential part of modern life, powering homes, enabling remote work, and providing entertainment. While the majority of households in the UK now have access to high-speed full fibre connections exceeding 500Mbps, some remote areas still struggle with slow downloads and streaming interruptions.
Unfortunately, certain regions, particularly in Scotland and Wales, continue to face challenges in accessing the latest broadband technology, leaving many residents in digital isolation. To identify the areas with poor connectivity, Broadband Savvy has released a map highlighting the best and worst locations for fast internet access.
Residents in parts of Scotland and Wales are experiencing internet speeds below 10Mbps, making it difficult to download content quickly. The following areas have been identified as having the worst broadband connectivity:
The Electoral Wards with the worst broadband:
• Shetland West, Shetland Islands, Scotland (14.99% below 10 Mbps, 130/867 premises)
• Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn, Powys, Wales (14.15% below 10 Mbps, 131/926 premises)
• Ithon Valley, Powys, Wales (12.99% below 10 Mbps, 127/978 premises)
• Wymondham, Leicestershire, England (12.77% below 10 Mbps, 94/736 premises)
• Llangeitho, Ceredigion, Wales (12.16% below 10 Mbps, 85/699 premises)
The Local Authorities with the worst broadband:
• Orkney Islands, Scotland – 385/11,920 premises below 10 Mbps (3.23%)
• Shetland Islands, Scotland – 282/11,852 premises below 10 Mbps (2.38%)
• Powys, Wales – 1,394/64,019 premises below 10 Mbps (2.18%)
• Argyll and Bute, Scotland – 952/49,877 premises below 10 Mbps (1.91%)
• Ceredigion, Wales – 629/34,906 premises below 10 Mbps (1.80%)
According to Broadband Savvy, the likelihood of having poor broadband is significantly higher in Wales and Scotland compared to England. Tom Paton, the founder of Broadband Savvy, highlighted the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing fast internet, noting that while most UK homes can now access ultrafast gigabit internet, approximately 100,000 individuals are still without usable broadband.
“The remote areas of Scotland and Wales present the biggest broadband challenges in the UK. Residents in locations like the Shetland Islands may have to resort to satellite services like Starlink for reliable internet access,” said Paton.
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