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Broadband is measured in Mbps, or megabits, which are small bits of data. More megabits allow more data to be transmitted at once, so faster speeds require more megabits.
100Mbps sits in the middle of the road, allowing for moderate internet usage.
We surveyed over 2,000* UK broadband customers, asking them about the current speed of their internet connection. Respondents who classify themselves as light broadband users have an average speed of 93Mbps, while moderate users average 128Mbps.
With this in mind, 100Mbps is best suited for households with similar habits.
If you live in a household of up to four people, our experts recommend a 100Mbps broadband deal. With more than four users, you may experience slow loading times and juddering video playback due to network congestion.
100Mbps can easily support basic browsing, streaming in 4K, video conferencing and online gaming. Some of these activities may be done in tandem. For example, a 100Mbps broadband plan can support more than one device streaming in 4K; however, it may start to struggle if the whole house is playing online games at the same time.
To help you determine whether 100Mbps is right for you, run a broadband speed test. Knowing your current speeds will help you figure out whether an upgrade is necessary and will confirm you are getting your advertised speeds.
Our survey revealed that the average broadband speed of UK households is 142Mbps. While having high speeds can be beneficial, you don’t want to overpay for a deal you won’t make use of.
Balance your budget by realistically taking your needs and habits into account. If you only use the internet to check emails, you can get away with a much slower (and cheaper) deal. On the other hand, if you and your house like to stream 4K content while playing games online, you will have an overall better experience by opting for a superfast or even ultrafast broadband package.
Now that you have a better understanding of 100Mbps broadband, it’s time to weigh up its pros and cons.
The best way to find 100Mps broadband deals in your area is to use our comparison journey. Simply enter your postcode, address and current provider to find all the best deals available to your home.
100Mbps broadband requires a full fibre connection. According to the latest Ofcom report[1], 62 per cent of UK homes can access full fibre broadband, with higher availability in urban areas.
Almost every broadband provider in the UK offers 100Mbps broadband deals. The easiest way to find providers near you is to use our postcode checker, which will immediately show you all those covering your area.
Due to the large scope of Openreach providers, you will likely be able to sign up for a 100Mbps deal from BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Plusnet. Although Virgin Media doesn’t work with Openreach, its 100Mbps deals are widely available.
If you are not happy with the 100Mbps broadband packages in your area, there are several other options.
If you cannot access traditional broadband, look at mobile broadband and satellite broadband. These alternatives – ideal for people living in remote areas – offer speeds up to 200Mbps and 250Mbps, respectively.
If you want more than just an internet connection, it can make sense to check out different types of broadband packages. Many providers offer broadband and phone or broadband and TV services; while these are more expensive, they can offer better value for money for households that will frequently use the additional services.
Before committing to a new package, be sure to compare deals. To find the best deal in your area, use our postcode checker – filtering results by speed and price.
*Survey of broadband customers aged between 24 and 64 conducted on Censuswide, 11-14 March 2024. Survey sample: 2,003 respondents from Sky (489), BT Broadband (412), Virgin Media (396), EE (134), Vodafone (124), Other (102), Plusnet (66), NOW Broadband (45), Three (31), Hyperoptic (14), Community Fibre (8) and Unsure (7). Respondents who selected Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, Other or Unsure were discarded from our review; however, the information gathered for Hyperoptic and Community Fibre was used in our broadband providers evaluation. Respondents were asked to rate each category on a five-point scale, from “Very Poor” to “Excellent” or from “Never” to “Always”, with the option of selecting “Don’t Know” for all questions. For the third question (“What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider?”), respondents could select from the following: “Price Hikes”, “Slow Speeds”, “High Prices”, “Frequent Disconnections”, “Poor Customer Service”, “Billing Issues”, “Other” and “N/A”. The questions used to calculate our score were: “How often, if at all, do you feel the actual speed of your broadband service matches the advertised speed?” “How would you rate your experience with customer service and support from your broadband provider?” “What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider? (Select all that apply)”, “How easy or difficult is it/would it be to reach your provider using your preferred method?” “How do you rate the value for money of your broadband service?” and “How would you rate the transparency of pricing and additional fees in your broadband service?”.
[1] Ofcom, Connected Nations update: Spring 2024, April 2024
Yes, 100Mbps broadband is ideal for a student household since it can handle multiple connections at the same time and provides everyone with a fast speed. If those living in the house are taking internet-intensive courses that involve high-usage tasks, it may be worth investing in a higher speed. However, for most students, 100Mbps will be more than enough.
100Mbps is considered fast for broadband. With this type of deal, a 1GB file will take around 80 seconds to download. The same file would take around 3 minutes with a 50Mbps broadband package and just 8 seconds with a 1,000Mbps deal.
Yes, 100Mbps broadband is fast enough to allow for streaming video content and gaming online without running into buffering issues. 100Mbps is even fast enough to allow for 4K and HDR streaming, making it ideal for households that regularly use applications such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus.
