Broadband Speed in Dacorum

Broadband Speed in Dacorum

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Fastest broadband in Dacorum

We've compiled all the information you could ever need to know about broadband in Dacorum using the postcode AL3 8NB. This postcode is representative of one of the fastest areas for broadband in Dacorum.

With Openreach providers you could receive speeds up to in Dacorum.
With Virgin Media broadband you could receive speeds up to .
In Dacorum, you will see broadband providers offering connections.
The fastest deal available is , meaning the fastest broadband speed in Dacorum is .
A postcode more likely to represent the average speeds for Dacorum is HP23 4JB which has broadband packages with speeds up to .


Check my broadband speed in Dacorum


Now you know more about broadband in Dacorum you can check if your connection is up to scratch by running a speed test.

Use our fast and accurate speed test to check what speeds you're getting in Dacorum.



It's possible the speed test will display results which differ from the advertised speed of your broadband package.

Many factors come into play when looking at speed test readings including: peak time usage, provider issues, router issues, computer viruses and property location.

Broadband providers are obliged to advertise their average speeds which at least 50% of their customers receive. Unfortunately, if you're receiving speeds below the advertised, it's likely that your property is only capable of receiving below average speeds.




What is a good speed for broadband?

Faster broadband speed can play a huge role in our day to day life. It's important to have an understanding of what the speeds you see advertised by broadband providers for Dacorum convert to in the real world.

Generally, the more people using the internet, the slower your connection will become. However, this isn't a hard and fast rule and does depend on how many devices are connected to the internet at any one time. Let's compare broadband speeds:

10-24Mbps

This speed will suffice for smaller households with few devices simultaneously connected. Occasional buffering may occur during streaming.

25-49Mbps

This is the ideal speed for a standard household. It can cope with multiple people streaming or downloading at any given time. This bracket is likely to offer affordable prices and a suitably fast connection.

50-100Mbps

This final speed bracket is worth considering for households looking for lag-free connections for several devices. 50-100Mbps is a brilliant broadband option for streaming 4K and shouldn't encounter any connection issues when gaming online.

100Mbps +

Broadband above 100Mbps will provide fast speeds for any household and cope easily with streaming and gaming. Speeds above 300Mbps are classified as Ultrafast connections. Ultrafast broadband is not necessary for the majority of UK households however, the incredibly fast speeds can prove tempting for those who rely heavily on their broadband speeds. Gigabit (1000Mbps) connections are also now becoming increasingly common across the UK with speeds above 1Gbps. These types of speeds eclipse older broadband technology.


But how fast is 100Mbps broadband?

Here's what these speeds would look like to download a two-hour movie in HD.


Two Hour Movie in HD



Best broadband deals in Dacorum

Now you know the speeds you're getting and the speeds you need, you can check out our best broadband deals in Dacorum.

Broadband deals are location-dependent and not every fast deal you find online will be available where you live. Broadband in Dacorum is no exception so it's key to use a broadband search tool that is able to find broadband providers and deals at an address-level accuracy.

Our comparison tool has found the best deals for broadband in Dacorum.



Which broadband providers are available in Dacorum?

of the most popular broadband providers are available in Dacorum AL3 8NB.
Also available in Dacorum are .



Enter your postcode to find the best deals in your area


Check the best broadband deals for your precise address.




Everything else you might need to know

Now you've got all the information you could ever need to know about broadband in Dacorum, we've compiled some helpful information to help you understand your Dacorum based broadband better.

Technology Breakdown

ADSL (Standard)

ADSL broadband

A popular form of broadband that utilises your pre-existing phone line. No more than a phone line is required to install an ADSL connection. This kind of connection is practical and common across the UK but rural homes may run into restrictions. ADSL broadband is the least expensive option and that will likely be reflected in connection speed.

Fibre (FTTC or FTTP)

Fibre broadband wires spread

Fibre optic connections are developed to be exceptionally fast and stable. This is often the preferred choice for busy households with numerous connected devices that require fibre speeds. Like ADSL, fibre optic connections are available throughout the UK however rural properties might experience issues. The two types of fibre broadband plans are called fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) and fibre to the premises (FTTP).

Unlimited

broadband straight to your home

Exactly as it sounds - unlimited broadband connections have no cap on the amount of data you can use.

An unlimited broadband package makes sure that you can never use too much data but will cost more as a consequence.

Cable

Cable broadband input

While fibre broadband is offered by several ISPs to supply superfast and ultrafast broadband speeds, cable broadband is something specific to key providers such as Virgin Media broadband who run on their own network.

Satellite

Satellite broadband

Frequently picked as an alternative to ADSL or cable for rural households. Unsurprisingly, you'll need a physical satellite dish in place in order to have a satellite broadband connection. The price of satellite internet tends to be more than fixed line broadband.


Advertised vs Real World Speeds

Man happy with fast broadband speed test results

The way in which broadband speeds are advertised changed significantly in May 2018. Thanks to the Advertising Standards Authority, broadband providers must now promote their 'average' speed instead of their 'up to' speed.

In simpler terms, your speed is now more likely to match or perhaps exceed the marketed broadband speed than it was a couple of years ago. In order to be regarded as 'average', more than 50% of users should receive these speeds in between peak usage hours (8 pm to 10 pm).

Broadband providers can also still market their top speeds alongside their average speeds. However, bear in mind that these speeds are unlikely to match the speed you would get should you sign up for that particular package or provider. Top speeds are only available to a select few.

There is no guarantee that you will get the advertised average speed so it is well worth checking what the minimum speed provisions are.

If, for whatever reason, your speeds do not stack up to this minimum speed, you may be eligible for money back or a free cancellation. Make sure to go through contracts with care. This will provide you the best indication of what your broadband speed is likely to be and will provide details on your minimum expectations.



Broadband Glossary

Couple run speed test for their broadband at home

The world of broadband can be confusing sometimes so we've created an useful glossary of regularly used terms that you might encounter when searching for a broadband deal.

4G

The 4th generation of mobile tech offering enhanced mobile connections speeds on its predecessor 3G. 4G mobile broadband deals are available in most major towns and cities with pay month-to-month or pay as you go options.


5G

The most advanced version of mobile tech presently available. Once again, faster than its previous version (4G) and with pay month-to-month or pay as you go options. 5G mobile broadband deals were first launched in the UK in 2019.


Bandwidth

The capacity of a broadband connection. Things that utilise a great deal of bandwidth are using a lot of your broadband data transfer capacity. This, in turn, can slow down other activities that need the use of your broadband connection.


Byte, KB, MB, GB

A byte is a unit of data. KB stands for 'kilobyte' which is equivalent to 1000 bytes. MB stands for 'megabyte' which is equivalent to 1000 KB. GB stands for 'gigabyte' which is equivalent to 1000 MB.


Broadband

A high-speed internet connection. What makes it 'high-speed' differs from country to country.


Capping

A limit enforced by a broadband provider. Used to either describe a data limit or when discussing throttling. Surpassing your cap can lead to additional charges.


Dial-up Internet

An internet connection that utilises a modem. Mainly only used outside the UK as broadband has made this technology dated. Connection speeds are substantially slower with dial-up internet.


Download Speed

The speed at which your internet connection is able to receive data. This figure is greatly advertised by internet service providers on their broadband deals. This speed will be displayed in one of three ways - kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps).


Ethernet

A wired connection supported by household broadband routers. Ethernet cables are typically yellow and are thought to be more reliable than a Wi-Fi connection. They have fast connection speeds and are usually the connection of choice for online gamers.


FUP

Fair use policy. A data cap put in place by the broadband provider. Not all packages will have one and those that do have to make their limits clear thanks to Advertising Standards Authority regulations.


Fibre Optic Broadband

A data transferal approach utilising pulses of light transmitted across plastic/glass cables. Ultrafast fibre broadband is progressively becoming the dominant type of connection in the UK as outdated copper wiring is replaced. Fibre optic broadband speeds differ depending on kind of connection with fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) being slower than fibre to the premises (FTTP).


File Sharing

A way of distributing files such as images, music, videos, and software. Can be carried out peer-to-peer (P2P) or via a network. Sometimes associated with piracy but not fundamentally illegitimate.


Fixed Line Broadband

Internet delivered through a physical link like fibre optic cables or ADSL. Often used to distinguish between fixed line broadband and wireless mobile broadband or satellite internet.


IP Address

Internet protocol address. A sequence of digits that helps identify the location of a connected internet device. Household broadband connections typically have a dynamic IP address that can change, whereas companies frequently use static IP addresses assigned to them.


ISP

Your internet service provider (ISP) is the organisation that provides you with your internet connection. This is not always the same company that operates existing infrastructure. Here are eight of the biggest ISPs in the UK: BT, Sky, Virgin Media, Now, Plusnet, Vodafone, John Lewis Broadband and TalkTalk.


LAN

Local area network. A network that covers a small area like a house or building. LANs tend to utilise network cables or Wi-Fi.


Landline

A telephone line that comes into your home. Typically needed to get broadband however alternatives such as mobile broadband and satellite internet are occasionally available.


Latency

The reaction speed of a network connection. In other words, the time required to send data and get a reply. Slow latency results in 'lag' which is an issue in online gaming. This issue most often happens when using a satellite connection.


Malware

Amalgamation of the words 'malicious software'. A term for applications which cause harm to a device consisted of viruses, adware, trojans, and spyware.


Mobile Broadband

Internet access achieved through mobile network signals instead of fixed lines.


Modem

Modulator-demodulator. A device that assists communication from computer to computer. Data is converted into transmissible forms and converted back at the receiving end.


Network

Several computers linked to one another in order to facilitate data sharing.


Peak Time

In terms of broadband, peak time refers to the busiest time frame of internet use. This typically falls between the hours of 5 pm and 11 pm, specifically 8 pm to 10 pm. Definitions of peak time can vary slightly.


Router

Also commonly referred to as a 'hub'. A device often responsible for allowing successful internet connections within a home. Routers direct the traffic on a given network.


Streaming

Accessing and viewing visual or audio media without saving any files on your device. Streaming offers fast and responsive access without the requirement to download. However, this needs a minimum connection speed to access the media.


Superfast

A 'superfast' broadband connection must be over 24Mb+ according to EU standard. As a result, this does not include ADSL connections or any mobile tech prior to 4G. Fibre optic, cable broadband, satellite internet, and mobile tech after 4G is most likely to be regarded as superfast.


Throttling

The term used when broadband providers intentionally slow down an internet connection. This is likely to occur during peak times for customers who have surpassed their usage cap.


Traffic

The term used for a busy network where lots of data is being transferred. When networks are at their busiest (peak time), traffic management might be used to prioritise bandwidth use.


Ultrafast

Extremely fast broadband identified by Ofcom as a connection speed of 300Mb or higher.


Upload Speed

The speed at which your computer sends data using your broadband connection. Upload speeds are considerably lower than download speeds.


VPN

Virtual private network. A service that uses encryption to shield your activity from hackers. VPNs also have the extra benefit of covering your online identity and concealing your IP address. VPNs are recommended when using insecure networks such as public access networks.


Wi-Fi

The term used for connecting devices using radio waves. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are normally available in places like hotels, restaurants, and airports.