Edinburgh gets fastest fixed line broadband

Broadband

Edinburgh gets the fastest fixed line broadband speeds in the UK, according to Ofcom research.

The Scottish capital gets average maximum speeds of 10.1Mbps, compared to the national average of 7.5Mbps, Ofcom revealed today.

Bristol took second place, with speeds of 9.9Mbps.

According to the data, provided by communications firms, 68 per cent of UK premises have a fixed broadband connection.

Superfast broadband has gained significant coverage as well, with 58 per cent of premises able to hook up to such services.

Missing Government targets

Despite some of the more positive findings, Ofcom revealed 14 per cent of customers who had fixed line connections, excluding those with superfast contracts, were not receiving speeds of 2Mbps or more.

These connections don't yet match up to the Government target for basic internet access.

"This clearly points towards the need for more investment in upgrading networks and technology," said Clodagh Murphy, director of Eclipse Internet.

"There are two key aspects to consider when increasing broadband penetration in the UK one is the universal service commitment of 2Mbps for customers, and the other is targeting those areas that can receive a fast service, but where the uptake is low."

Minister for culture, Jeremy Hunt, has repeatedly laid out plans for everyone in the UK to have a minimum of 2Mbps, although last year he pushed the deadline back from 2012 to 2015.

Mapping coverage

To accompany the release of its research, Ofcom has created an interactive map showing the quality of fixed line connections across the UK.

Users can learn about different aspects of broadband access in the UK, including the overall performace quality and average take up.

"We are now developing a clear picture of the UK's fixed broadband infrastructure and how it delivers for consumers," said Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards.

"We hope that this information will stimulate further rollout of broadband infrastructure and better performance for households and businesses."

Head here to check the map out and see how good the connections are in your area.

Tom Brewster

Tom Brewster is currently an associate editor at Forbes and an award-winning journalist who covers cyber security, surveillance, and privacy. Starting his career at ITPro as a staff writer and working up to a senior staff writer role, Tom has been covering the tech industry for more than ten years and is considered one of the leading journalists in his specialism.

He is a proud alum of the University of Sheffield where he secured an undergraduate degree in English Literature before undertaking a certification from General Assembly in web development.