CAN THIS THING GO ANY FASTER?

Britain’s broadband speeds lag behind the likes of Liechtenstein and Slovakia. In fact, at around 22Mbps we rank a lowly 34th for internet quality… and 18th for affordability.

We’re still fairly reliant on old copper telephone wires from homes to the BT street cabinets where fibre tends to kick in – and even then it’s not always next-gen Full Fibre (with its claimed speeds of up to 900Mbps).

There’s another twist too. Not everyone with access to super-fast broadband has signed up… so providers become reluctant to invest in faster tech, and the lack of demand also leaves a public funding gap as the government doesn’t invest either.

For short-term gains, try placing your router away from walls, water and other electrical kit. Use wired Ethernet connections, and consider upgrading your router (p54) or investing in a mesh network (p56).