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Cardiff offers a range of broadband deals from some of the top providers in the UK. Our guide will help you find the best provider for speed and price in your area.
Cardiff residents have access to the four largest providers in the country – Virgin Media, Sky, BT and TalkTalk. With smaller companies also operating in the region, it’s a good idea to compare multiple broadband providers to find the best deal.
We surveyed over 2,000 broadband customers* to understand how they felt about their current provider. Here is what we found out:
Sky Broadband ★★★½
Sky is available across large parts of Cardiff, although not every household can access its ultrafast 900Mbps deal. The company also offers TV deals, including Sky TV and Netflix. Installation fees can be as high as £39.
BT Broadband
BT offers both broadband-only and broadband and phone packages. Eligible households can access speeds as high as 900Mbps.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media doesn’t operate across the whole of Cardiff, so you’ll need to check if the service is available in your area. The providers offers full fibre broadband deals with top speeds of 1,130Mbps, plus optional TV and sim packages.
TalkTalk ★★★
TalkTalk is one of the UK’s largest internet providers. The majority of its packages come with a 50 per cent discount for the first six months of the contract. TalkTalk offers full fibre broadband deals alongside TV packages including Netflix and NOW Entertainment subscriptions.
NOW Broadband ★★★½
Our research shows that NOW Broadband isn’t available in some areas of Cardiff, so you’ll need to check your postcode on the company’s website. Eligible households can benefit from TV packages for an additional £6.99 per month or opt for a no-contract broadband offer, which comes with a £60 activation fee.
Vodafone ★★★½
Vodafone offers full fibre broadband with speeds up to 910Mbps for eligible customers. Existing Vodafone mobile customers receive a monthly discount on their package. TV and landline services are also available at an additional cost.
Hyperoptic ★★★★
Hyperoptic operates within certain areas of Cardiff, offering broadband-only and broadband and phone services. Most packages come with a £0 installation fee. Eligible customers can choose between a 12-month, 24-month and monthly rolling contract.
Plusnet ★★★½
Plusnet provides speeds as high as 900Mbps with broadband-only or broadband and phone deals. The company is starting to replace its landline services with digital phone options for households that need a home phone.
Finding the best broadband provider will depend on your individual needs. Use our postcode checker for an extensive view of what’s on offer in your area.
Here are some of the key factors to consider when looking for a broadband provider in Cardiff.
Speed for Cardiff areas
Different broadband providers offer different speeds depending on where you live in Cardiff. Find out more about which broadband speeds are adequate for your household and how to measure them.
Monthly price
Most broadband deals are paid via a monthly contract, with full fibre ultrafast services costing more than a standard broadband connection. Consider the needs of your household and how much you’re willing to budget for your broadband. To find the best deal, use our postcode checker and make sure you compare multiple providers.
Contract length
If you’re renting in Cardiff, consider broadband providers that offer monthly rollover or no-contract broadband deals. While long-term contracts are usually more cost-effective, they may come with additional cancellation fees, making them unsuitable for short-term use.
Provider reputation
Always check recent customer reviews to ensure you’re working with a reliable and trustworthy provider. Companies that have been operating for a long time don’t always offer sufficient services. Customer testimonials can provide insights into how the company treats its customers.
Provider customer service
It’s easier to resolve issues with your broadband when you have access to a dedicated and reliable customer service team. Check for customer support lines or online chat features that allow for easy communication between you and your provider.
We consider Plusnet to be the best broadband provider for customer service. In our survey, 68 per cent of broadband customers rated the service as “Excellent” or “Good”. Plusnet also has a UK-based call centre that is available 24/7.
Do you need a wifi booster for your area with that provider?
Wifi boosters extend the broadband coverage of your home, allowing for a connection in low-signal areas. To avoid this additional purchase, you can determine which providers offer adequate broadband coverage for your home by putting your Cardiff postcode into a speed checker.
Broadband speeds vary widely across different areas of Cardiff, although this will be impacted by the provider and package you choose. Our survey revealed that EE is a good choice for speed – 68 per cent of customers surveyed were satisfied with their broadband speed, and reported mostly receiving the speeds advertised.
According to Speedtest.net, the average broadband speed in Cardiff is 108Mbps.
We used Ofcom’s speed checker to calculate the average superfast broadband speed for different areas in Cardiff. It’s worth noting that speeds will be dramatically lower for households without access to superfast or ultrafast gigabit broadband.
| Area in Cardiff | Average broadband speed |
|---|---|
| Adamsdown | 76Mbps |
| Butetown | 80Mbps |
| Caerau | 80Mbps |
| Canton | 48Mbps |
| Cathays | 83Mbps |
| Cyncoed | 196Mbps |
| Ely | 80Mbps |
| Fairwater | 240Mbps |
| Gabalfa | 190Mbps |
| Grangetown | 80Mbps |
| Heath | 89Mbps |
| Lisvane and Thornhill | 80Mbps |
| Llandaff | 55Mbps |
| Llanishen | 110Mbps |
| Llanrumney | 60Mbps |
| Pentwyn | 75Mbps |
| Pentyrch and St Fagans | 77Mbps |
| Penylan | 54Mbps |
| Plasnewydd | 72Mbps |
| Pontprennau and Old St Mellons | 59Mbps |
| Radyr | 119Mbps |
| Rhiwbina | 71Mbps |
| Riverside | 175Mbps |
| Rumney | 55Mbps |
| Splott | 65Mbps |
| Trowbridge | 45Mbps |
| Whitchurch and Tongwynlais | 80Mbps |
Residents in Cardiff can choose from three of the most common broadband packages, although only some broadband providers in your area will offer these services.
Cardiff has access to the four most common types of broadband connection, including the fastest internet solution in the UK. Not every household will have the same level of support, which will result in different speeds.
Over 55 per cent of households had support for fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband in December 2022, according to a report from Cardiff Council.
Below are the four main types of broadband available in Cardiff.
Residents of Cardiff can boost their broadband speeds by placing the router in a central position where it can offer coverage to all rooms of the home. Ensure your router is updated regularly and disconnect any unused devices to help boost speeds. If none of these solutions improves performance, consider investing in a wifi extender.
If you plan on streaming content online, you will require fast broadband speeds for a smooth and consistent experience. Generally, speeds between 20 and 30 Mbps are acceptable, however, speeds of 50Mbps or above are best suited, especially if you want to stream content in 4K or HDR.
Broadband speeds in Cardiff will vary depending on your postcode. The average broadband speed in Cardiff is 108Mbps, while the average broadband speed in the UK is 69Mbps, according to an Ofcom report. By comparison, the average speed of broadband in Liverpool is 68Mbps.
Cardiff Council selected Telcom to provide Cardiff with 100 per cent coverage of full fibre connectivity, with plans slated to finish in 2025. This will provide more homes with an ultrafast connection, allowing for faster speeds throughout the city.
Survey of broadband customers aged between 24 and 64 conducted on Censuswide, 11-14 March 2024. Survey sample: 2,003 respondents, totalling 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 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?”
