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Residents of Sheffield have a wide array of broadband deals to choose from. To help you find the best one for your needs, our expert team has looked into some of the most popular broadband providers in the area, the best types of broadband connections available and some considerations to take into account when picking a new deal.
The largest broadband providers all operate in Sheffield, and most of them offer ultrafast full fibre broadband deals. For a better understanding of each company and how they operate, we have ranked each eligible provider using our own Independent Advisor Rating. These scores come from our broadband survey, which you can learn more about through our methodology.
Sky is one of the biggest broadband providers in the UK. Operating from Greater London, Sky provides ultrafast full fibre broadband speeds of up to 900Mbps and offers multiple TV packages with TV, film and sports channels.
BT offers a range of speeds for those living in Sheffield, including full-fibre broadband up to 900Mbps. Eligible postcodes can look for packages including landline services and TV, which include both Netflix and NOW TV.
NOW Broadband does not serve every area in Sheffield, so we recommend using our postcode checker to ensure your household has access to the provider’s deals. Eligible households can benefit from NOW’s no-contract broadband deals, which come with a £60 activation fee, as well as various landline packages.
Plusnet does not offer any TV bundles, but eligible households can take out full fibre broadband contracts with an optional landline service.
Eligible customers can get Vodafone’s full fibre broadband installed for free, with speeds capped at 910Mbps. Vodafone mobile customers receive a monthly discount on their broadband, and the provider also offers TV and landline bundles.
Depending on where you live in Sheffield, you can benefit from speeds up to 944Mbs with TalkTalk broadband. TalkTalk offers its own routers as well as wifi 6-compatible routers for increased speed, and eligible postcodes can access TV and landline bundles.
Virgin Media offers speeds of up to 900Mbps, although maximum speeds differ depending on region. Sheffield residents can make the most of the provider’s fibre broadband deals, as well as TV, SIM and film packages.
POP Telecom uses the Openreach network to provide some areas of Sheffield with broadband. Depending on their postcode, residents can receive ultrafast full fibre broadband deals, as well as landline and TV bundles.
Sheffield residents can choose between three different broadband packages: broadband only, broadband and phone and broadband and TV. The choice will depend on your needs, although it is important to note that broadband providers don’t offer the same services in every area.
The best broadband provider won’t be the same for everyone, which is why you need to consider a few key factors before committing to a package or a company. Below are some of the most important factors you should consider when looking for a broadband provider in Sheffield.
Different broadband providers offer different speeds, coverage, and packages depending on your postcode, so you will need to ensure your desired provider offers adequate speeds for your household. For example, those living in a larger home who want to stream TV or video games will require a faster broadband connection than someone living alone. Find out what broadband speeds you need and run a broadband speed test to figure out if you need an upgrade.
If you are working with a tight budget, you may need to opt for a slower broadband connection. The majority of broadband deals are paid via a monthly contract, and some companies require a one-off installation fee. You’ll need to find a balance between getting the right speeds for your household, and complying with your budget.
Most broadband providers offer contracts over 12, 24 or 36 month periods. Usually, longer contracts are more cost-effective, but they are less suitable for residents living in rented accommodation. Some companies offer monthly rollover or no-contract deals, which will be preferable for those who cannot commit to a year-long contract – but be aware that these tend to come with much higher monthly payments.
Ensure you are working with a reputable provider by researching the company and looking at customer reviews. Even if you are looking at a provider that has been operating for a long time, recent customer testimonials can offer insight into the quality and reliability of the service they offer.
In our survey, we asked broadband customers how they felt about their broadband service including the value for money they feel they receive, providers’ customer service, speed, reliability and more. All of this information fed into our assessment of the best broadband providers.
Effective customer service is essential; whether you’re having issues with your router or your speeds are much lower than advertised, access to a dedicated customer support line or an online chat feature can make resolving the problem a lot easier and less stressful.
Wifi boosters extend broadband coverage to low-signal areas within the home; wifi boosters are helpful, but you should ideally invest in a package that does not require one. Check your Sheffield postcode to ensure you won’t need a wifi booster with your new provider.
According to our survey, 80 per cent of Sheffield residents are satisfied with the speed of their broadband service. We also asked respondents if they felt the actual speed of their broadband matched the speed advertised by their deal; 15 per cent of respondents answered Always, while 39 per cent responded Mostly.
If you are unhappy with your broadband speeds, contact your broadband provider; if your speeds are much lower than advertised, you may be able to leave your contract early free of charge. Slow speeds may also be a sign that it’s time to switch broadband providers. Some companies may be able to provide a better service or a faster connection type, such as full fibre broadband.
Sheffield is home to a wide range of broadband speeds. The speed of your broadband will be dependent on the provider, which package you choose and which area you live in, with some regions having access to higher speeds.
According to the Ofcom speed checker, the average broadband speed in Sheffield is 81Mbps.
Using Ofcom’s speed checker, we calculated the average superfast broadband speed for different regions of Sheffield. These results will be significantly lower for households that do not have access to ultrafast gigabit broadband.
| Area in Sheffield | Average broadband speed |
|---|---|
| City | 50Mbps |
| Stocksbridge and Upper Don | 33Mbps |
| Stannington | 80Mbps |
| Fulwood | 80Mbps |
| Dore and Totley | 63Mbps |
| Ecclesall | 79Mbps |
| Crookes | 88Mbps |
| Darnhall | 80Mbps |
| West Ecclesfield | 81Mbps |
| East Eccelesfield | 80Mbps |
| Shiregreen and Brightside | 80Mbps |
| Walkley | 82Mbps |
| Hillsborough | 80Mbps |
| Richmond | 76Mbps |
| Woodhouse | 85Mbps |
| Birley | 59Mbps |
| Beighton | 62Mbps |
| Mosborough | 54Mbps |
| Manor Castle | 51Mbps |
Sheffield has access to various types of broadband. Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) is the fastest type of broadband available, but not every house has the same support or coverage.
According to a Virgin Media report[2], over 20,000 homes and businesses in Sheffield have access to full fibre broadband, with speeds as high as 1,130Mbps.
[1] Survey of broadband customers aged between 24-64 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), 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,” “How would you rate the transparency of pricing and additional fees in your broadband service”.
[2] Virgin Media, Virgin Media gigabit groadband now available to 20,000 homes in Sheffield for first time, 26 October 2023.
You can improve your broadband speed by ensuring your router is placed where it can reach all areas of your home, which helps to avoid low-signal zones. Disconnect devices you are not using, and update your router when necessary. If you are still struggling with your broadband, consider purchasing a wifi booster to increase coverage in your home.
Households that regularly stream content online – whether that be video games or media content – will require a faster broadband connection for a consistent experience. Overall, speeds between 20 and 30Mbps are ideal for streaming, although broadband speeds of 50Mbps and above will provide the best results, especially if you want to stream content in 4K or HDR.
No, the area with the fastest broadband speeds in the UK is Hull; due to its unusual broadband infrastructure, Hull’s primary provider, KCOM, provides the entire city with a fibre-optic connection, resulting in faster and more reliable speeds.
The number of homes with access to fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband in Sheffield is growing, with CityFibre planning on connecting sustainable amounts of the city by 2026. This will allow more residents and businesses to have access to the fastest type of broadband.
