• SMBs are suffering due to unreliable Wi-Fi connection
• UK small businesses are losing an average of 11 hours a week to Wi-Fi disruption
• Almost half (47%) of business leaders said they would feel more confident if they could improve connectivity reliability

Small businesses are seeinn major productivity issues due to disruption caused by their Wi-Fi connectivity, new research has claimed.

The findings from Zen Internet claim small businesses are losing an average of 11 hours a week due to connection issues.

And this isn't just a minor annoyance or loss of network - nearly 4 in 10 SMBs say the problems are directly costing them revenue.

Wi-Fi causing problems

The scale of the issue was perhaps best reflected by the finding that almost half (47%) of the business leaders surveyed for the report saying they would feel more confident in their company’s success if they could improve connectivity reliability.

Half of senior business decision makers said poor Wi-Fi coverage inside their premises limits the value they get from broadband connectivity, while 39% say connectivity issues are directly causing lost revenue.

“We often talk about productivity in terms of skills, investment and innovation, but digital reliability has become just as fundamental," noted Jon Nowell, managing director of Zen’s business division.

“For many SMEs, poor in-building connectivity is now a hidden operational cost. If businesses are expected to modernise and grow, the technology experience inside offices, retail spaces and hospitality venues has to keep pace too.”

The research also found connectivity problems were affecting day-to-day running of a business, as 23% said connectivity disruption impacts communication with customers or suppliers.

A similar amount (22%) say it directly slows down operations, 21% said it disrupts digital payments, and 22% said it contributes to lost sales or missed opportunities.

“Small businesses are under pressure to operate faster, serve customers seamlessly and rely more heavily on cloud-based systems, digital payments and connected devices than ever before," added Nowell.

“But too many businesses still have a disconnect between the broadband coming into the building and the actual experience staff and customers are getting day to day."

“You can have access to full fibre, but if the WiFi inside the premises isn’t reliable, businesses still lose productivity, sales opportunities and operational efficiency.”

• Vodafone launches 5G home broadband
• The move opens up 'full fibre-like speeds' to 3.7 million more homes, and over 26 million homes in total
• Renters can benefit from a one-month rolling contract option

If you’re living in short-term accommodation or somewhere without access to full fibre, Vodafone’s new 5G broadband packages could be for you.

The company is now offering “full fibre-like speeds” to customers via 5G, opening up high-speed internet connectivity to the 3.7 million UK homes that still struggle with the unreliable speeds offered by part-fibre or copper wires.

The move will also benefit students and renters in short-term accommodation, as Vodafone’s 5G broadband package is available on either a one-month rolling contract or traditional 24-month contract — its full fibre packages, by comparison, are only available on the latter contract.

Vodafone’s 5G Power Hub router can be self-installed — it doesn’t require an engineer visit, nor an existing landline to be set up — it’s powered by Wi-Fi 6, and Vodafone promises speeds of up to 150Mbps. That’s around three times faster than the typical part-fibre speed.

Is 150Mbps fast enough for gamers? Definitely. But Vodafone does caveat its offering by saying that “because it’s wireless, speeds can fluctuate at times based on signal strength, how far you are from the mast and how busy the local network is at any given time. Placing your 5G Hub in the best position possible will help maintain a stable, reliable connection.”

The company will also soon launch an outdoor 5G hub, should your 5G signal be stronger outdoors than indoors. This hub will “lock on to the strongest 5G signal available in the area and connect directly to the indoor Power Hub router,” delivering “a consistent connection throughout the home.”

Until now, Three was the only major UK broadband provider to offer 5G broadband — but even that package was (and still is) offered on a minimum 12-month plan. Vodafone’s merger with Three in June 2025 has clearly allowed the former to make use of the latter’s infrastructure: “The integration of Vodafone and Three’s networks is supercharging VodafoneThree’s 5G footprint, enabling Vodafone 5G Broadband to reach millions more homes with high-speed connectivity,” Vodafone said in a statement.

Vodafone’s 5G broadband is available now for £21 per month on a 24-month contract, or £30 per month on a rolling 30-day contract. Those prices are for the 50Mbps plan; they rise to £22 and £32, respectively, for the 150Mbps plan.

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next one-minute review

Devolo’s range of Magic PowerLine adaptors is aptly named, as PowerLine technology has always seemed like magic to me.

If your home or office has thick walls or other barriers that block the Wi-Fi signal then a set of powerline adaptors can be plugged into the mains power sockets in any room and can magically transmit your Internet connection over your existing mains electrical wiring.

That allows powerline adaptors to provide a wired network connection in rooms that a conventional Wi-Fi router or range extender might not be able to reach.

Devolo has long been a leader in powerline technology, but its current range of ‘Magic 2’ adaptors also throw in some extra Wi-Fi features as well. The adaptors use powerline to provide a wired connection in any room, but the Magic 2 adaptors can also transmit a Wi-Fi signal as well, allowing you to go wireless even in rooms that normally suffer from an annoying Wi-Fi ‘deadspot’.

The latest addition to Devolo’s range is the ‘Magic 2 WiFi 6 next’. That’s a clumsy, clunky name, but it provides fast, reliable wired and wireless connections that may be perfect for many homes and offices – including the back office in my own building that my normal office router struggles to reach.

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Price & release date

• How much does it cost? £409.99/ €469.00
• When is it available: Now
• Where can you get it: UK, EU

Devolo’s product names can be a bit confusing, so it’s important to make sure you buy the correct model. There’s an older model still on sale called the Magic 2 WiFi next, which used Wi-Fi 5. The first model to adopt Wi-Fi 6 was called Magic 2 WiFi 6, and that’s still available as well. The new model that we review here also uses Wi-Fi 6 but is faster than its predecessor, so it’s called the ‘Magic 2 WiFi 6 next’. So watch out for ‘WiFi 6 next’ if you want to buy the latest model.

There are also a number of different options available for the new Magic 2 WiFi 6 next. There’s a Starter Kit that includes two PowerLine adaptors, priced at £239.99, but we tested the Multiroom Kit that provides three adaptors for £409.99.

You can also buy a single add-on adaptor to extend an existing Devolo network for £179.99. That’s fairly expensive, as the Magic 2 range combines both PowerLine and Wi-Fi connectivity, but if you do have some sort of Wi-Fi deadspot in your home or office, then it may be worth paying a bit extra to get a reliable network connection that extends throughout the whole building.

The bad news, though, is that the Germany-based Devolo focuses primarily on its home market in Europe. Its products are sometimes available from online retailers in other regions, but you’ll need to check that the product’s power supply is suitable for use in your particular region.

• Value: 4/5

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Specs

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Design

• Simple, compact design
• Adaptors plug straight into mains power sockets
• Electrical passthrough socket on each adaptor

The Multiroom Kit that I review here includes three Magic 2 adaptors that look very similar, but they work in slightly different ways. All three adaptors are simple white, rectangular units that plug straight into a mains power socket (with two- or three-pin plugs available for most European countries).

Each adaptor also has an electrical ‘passthrough’ socket on the front, which allows you to plug other electrical devices into the Magic 2 adaptor so that you don’t lose the use of that power socket.

However, the first adaptor – referred to as the ‘Magic LAN’ – is slightly smaller than the other two, and has to be plugged into a mains power socket close to your existing broadband router. There’s a single Ethernet port on the top panel of this adaptor, which allows you to connect it to your broadband router using the Ethernet cable that is included in the box. This first adaptor simply provides the main powerline connection so that your network data can be transmitted over your mains wiring.

The other two adaptors – referred to as ‘Magic WiFi’ – can be plugged into a mains socket in any room that suffers from weak Wi-Fi. This allows them to receive network data over the mains wiring, and each of these adaptors has two Ethernet ports on the top to provide a wired connection for computers and other devices.

But, of course, many recent computers and mobile devices now lack an Ethernet port, so the Magic WiFi adaptors also house four internal antenna – hence their larger size – that can transmit a Wi-Fi signal as well. This allows you to connect computers or mobile devices to the Magic WiFi adaptors via Wi-Fi, and the adaptors can then transmit your network data to your broadband router using their powerline connection.

My only complaint here is that placing the Ethernet ports on the top of the adaptors looks a bit untidy, as it leaves you with Ethernet cables sticking straight up into the air. Placing the ports on the base instead would be tidier, allowing you to run the cables down onto the floor to keep them out of sight.

• Design: 4/5

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Features

• Combines Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity
• App combines 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands
• Unhelpful documentation

The Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next kit supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands, with a top speed of 3.0Gbps, while the primary powerline connection over your mains network runs at 2.4Gbps. And, as mentioned, the two larger adaptors also provide two Ethernet ports each to provide a wired connection when required.

Setting up the initial powerline connection is straightforward enough, as the Magic 2 adaptors automatically connect to each other over the mains network in order to provide a wired network connection.

However, using the Wi-Fi features of the two Magic 2 adaptors proved a little tricky – mainly because the text in Devolo’s app and QuickStart guide is poorly written and confusing.

When you’re getting started, for instance, the app repeatedly refers to ‘Unknown WiFi’ rather than simply telling you the default name of the new Wi-Fi network created by your adaptors.

I'm used to using powerline adaptors, so I was able to guess my way through the process of setting up the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next in my back office.

However, new users who don’t have much experience of network settings and powerline adaptors could easily become confused here, so Devolo needs to clarify its instructions for first-time users.

But, thankfully, once that’s done the Magic 2 adaptors work well, and the app automatically combines the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands into a single network, and uses ‘bandsteering’ to automatically connect your computers and other devices to whichever band provides the best performance in that location.

• Features: 3/5

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Performance

• Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 at 3.0Gbps
• PowerLine at 2.4Gbps
• 2x Gigabit Ethernet

As I mentioned, the PowerLine connection provided by the Magic 2 adaptors runs at 2.4Gbps, while the Wi-Fi connection steps up to 3.6Gbps. Those speeds are pretty modest compared to the latest Wi-Fi 7 routers and range extenders, but powerline products are primarily designed to provide a good, reliable network connection rather than focusing on pure speed.

That’s exactly what I need in my back office, where the poor Wi-Fi from my office router means that I already have to rely on powerline adaptors to provide a wired network connection.

Those adaptors are a few years old, though, and can only manage a speed of around 100Mbps for both Steam downloads and the Ookla Speedtest. That’s adequate for email and web browsing in my office, but it’s still well below the maximum 150Mbps available with my office broadband.

My old powerline adaptors don’t have the additional Wi-Fi features provided by the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next either, so I was eager to find out if Devolo could give me a good Wi-Fi connection in that office as well.

Starting with a simple wired Ethernet connection, the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next had no trouble hitting the full 150Mbps for Steam downloads and the Ookla SpeedTest. And, as I unplugged the Ethernet cables and switched to a Wi-Fi connection instead, I was pleased to find that those speeds remained stable, smoothly running at 150Mbps and finally giving me a decent Wi-Fi connection in that office at long last.

Many people may find that a less expensive range extender helps to improve their Wi-Fi in a basement or upstairs bedroom. And, of course, there are less expensive PowerLine kits available as well, which don’t have the additional Wi-Fi features of the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next. But, if you need PowerLine to fix an annoying Wi-Fi deadspot, and you want the extra convenience of a Wi-Fi connection as well, then a ‘best of both worlds’ powerline kit such as the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next can really earn its keep.

• Performance: 4/5

Should I buy the Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: April 2026

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95: One-minute review

Most routers are fairly boring black boxes that just sit in a corner and occasionally flash a few lights at you.

However, D-Link has decided to go its own way with its new R95, which is part of the company’s Aquila Pro AI range (yes, AI has even got into routers now). The router’s sweeping curves look more like the wings of an aquatic manta ray than a conventional router.

It’s not clear if that design has any practical function, but it certainly looks interesting, and the use of tri-band Wi-Fi 7 ensures that the R95 will really make your wireless network fly at top speed. It also provides good support for older computers and mobile devices that may not have Wi-Fi 7.

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Price & release date

• How much does it cost? $254.99/£180 (around AU$355)
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK

Wi-Fi 7 routers are still fairly expensive, but the R95 is competitively priced for a high-end Wi-Fi 7 router, costing $254.99/£180, which compares well with high-end rivals such as the Acer Predator T7.

Unfortunately, Wi-Fi 7 products still tend to take a while to reach Australia, and the R95 isn’t currently available in that region, although the US price translates to approximately AU$355.

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Specs

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Features

• Eye-catching design
• Well-designed app
• Dual-network support

The external design of the R95 is certainly its most obvious feature, with gracefully curved ‘wings’ that look nothing like any conventional router that we’ve seen recently. The real headline feature, though, is the router’s performance, boasting tri-band Wi-Fi 7 that uses the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands to provide a total speed of 9.5Gbps (strictly speaking, it’s actually 9,334Mbps, but manufacturers always like to round these numbers up).

It devotes two of its four antennae exclusively to the high-speed 6.0GHz band in order to provide maximum performance for computers and mobile devices that support Wi-Fi 7, while the other two antennae handle the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands for older devices. Its wired connectivity is right up to date as well, with a 2.5Gb Ethernet port available for high-speed broadband services, and three more 2.5Gb ports for connecting devices, such as a PC, games console or smart-TV, that will benefit from a lag-free wired connection.

The Aquila app works well too, allowing you to quickly scan a QR code in order to connect to the R95’s new network. It then gives you the option of simply keeping the default name and password for the R95 network, or changing the name and password for extra security.

And, in order to provide the best performance for different types of devices, the Aquila app creates two separate networks, with the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands combined into a single network for older computers, while the 6.0GHz band creates a separate network for newer devices that do support Wi-Fi 7.

You also have the option of creating a guest network that provides only limited access for visitors and guests, and a separate IoT network (Internet of Things) for smart lights, security cameras, and other smart devices. The R95 also supports the Matter standard for controlling smart home devices, and can be used to create a mesh network when used with other Asus routers or range extenders.

Our only complaint is that the parental controls within the app are fairly basic. The app does allow you to create a schedule to limit Internet access for the devices used by your children, but its web filtering options require you to manually enter the web address for any unsuitable sites that you want to block. It doesn’t provide the preset filters that are available with some of its rivals, which automatically block different categories of unsuitable material, such as ‘violent’, ‘adult’ or ‘gambling’.

• Features: 4.5/5

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Performance

• Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
• 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
• Dedicated 6.0GHz network

My old office router is crying out for an upgrade, as it only supports the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands that are available with Wi-Fi 5 and 6. It can provide decent performance for devices that are nearby, but struggles to reach an office at the back of the building, where I have to use PowerLine adaptors to provide a more reliable wired connection.

The office broadband runs at 150Mbps, but the 2.4GHz band of the old router can only manage a speed of around 70Mbps for nearby devices for both Steam downloads and the Ookla Speedtest. The 5.0GHz band works better, giving a full 150Mbps for devices that are nearby but, as mentioned, the router’s Wi-Fi signal isn’t strong enough to reach all the way to that back office.

The R95 eliminated my Wi-Fi problems with no trouble at all. Even its slower network, using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, immediately hit the full 150Mbps for nearby devices for both Steam and Ookla. More importantly, it reaches right into the back office as well, and achieves full speed in both tests. It did take a few seconds for Steam downloads in that office to ramp up from 130Mbps to 150Mbps, but the R95 was then able to maintain that speed consistently.

Given the strong performance of that 2.4GHz/5.0GHz network, I wasn’t surprised to find that the faster 6.0GHz network hit the ground running, immediately hitting 150Mbps for both Steam and Ookla, and maintaining full speed throughout my tests.

There are less expensive routers that only provide dual-band Wi-Fi 7 – omitting the high-speed 6.0GHz band – and these can be a good option for people who own older computers and mobile devices that don’t need the full speed of Wi-Fi 7. But if you have a gaming PC or other devices that do support Wi-Fi 7, then the D-Link R95 provides excellent performance at a competitive price.

• Performance: 5

Should I buy the D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: April 2026

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gives Netgear a conditional approval to avoid router ban
• It seems Netgear is still using components made outside of the US
• Other router makers are still facing a ban

Update 03/17/2026: A Netgear spokesperson gave us the following statement:
"Netgear is the first retail consumer router company to receive conditional approval from the FCC as a trusted consumer router company, a recognition that provides our customers added peace of mind knowing the network powering their homes meets rigorous standards."

Regarding the conditional approval, a Netgear spokesperson told us: "We reviewed the FCC's public guidelines for conditional approval, submitted an application that followed those guidelines, and received approval on our application. The FCC's guidelines are available here."

While that doesn't answer a lot of our questions about this, the fact that Netgear refers to the FCC guidelines, which mentions as a requirement 'A detailed, time-bound plan to establish or expand manufacturing in the United States for the router for which the applicant is seeking Conditional Approval in order for that device to qualify for FCC authorization."

This suggests that Netgear has committed to expanding manufacturing in the US. The FCC guidelines also say that conditional approvals are valid for 18 months.

Original story continues below...

Last month, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) introduced a ban on routers made outside of the US, and while the official reasoning behind the ban was “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons,” as I wrote at the time, the ban made little sense, considering how many routers are made (or use parts that have been made) outside of the US.

And my confusion over the ban has turned to anger with the news (as reported by The Verge) that Netgear will be exempt from the ban, with the FCC granting the company a “conditional approval” to import and sell its routers.

Why anger? Well, I wasn’t really sold on the security argument — not because there are no security issues with routers — but because the heavy-handed approach would mean US consumers would end up with a lot less choice when shopping around for a new router.

This looks like a case of special treatment

As I wrote last month, the initial ban meant that if Netgear (and other router makers) wanted to get around the ban, they’d need to move their manufacturing to the US — something that many companies would likely find prohibitively expensive.

With Netgear getting conditional approval to continue selling its routers (which explicitly states that companies need to “establish or expand manufacturing in the United States”), you might think that means Netgear is moving all parts of its manufacturing to the US, but there’s been no indication from the company that this is the case.

So, it feels like Netgear is getting special treatment. As this Reddit thread points out, Netgear was quick to praise the ban, stating “We commend the Administration and the FCC for their action toward a safer digital future for Americans,” while other router makers kept quiet.

Following the ban, Netgear’s stock rose by a not inconsiderable 16.7%, suggesting there was a lot confidence that Netgear would avoid the ban, whilst benefitting from the fact that future products from rivals, especially TP-Link, will be banned.

The reason I mention TP-Link is because not only does it make a lot of the routers found on our best router list; it has been steadily eating away at Netgear’s marketshare in the US, and also provides the free routers that over 300 ISP (Internet Service Providers) in the US offer. Crucially, TP-Link is a company that originally hails from China, which means it’s particularly vulnerable to the US ban.

With its biggest competitor facing a ban of future product sales (existing products will remain on sale), while somehow avoiding the ban itself, Netgear looks set to win big — and that’s where my frustration with this stems from.

Banning some companies while turning a blind eye to others is blatantly anti-consumer, as it could mean US consumers have little choice but to buy Netgear products.

It also undermines the FCC’s claim that this ban is about security. If that really was the case, Netgear wouldn’t be able to get an exemption without moving its entire hardware production line to the US.

It’ll be interesting to see if Netgear does indeed follow through and make all of its routers in the US. If not, will other US router makers who, like Netgear, still use components from outside the US, also get exemptions?

If the answer to both those questions is ‘no’, then this situation could get even messier — and I’ll likely get even angrier.

• Alternative network providers cannot sustain £25 per month without rapidly losing money
• Rising operational costs force smaller ISPs to consider higher monthly broadband bills
• Average revenue per user must reach £40 — £45 for Altnets to break even

Entry-level broadband pricing in the UK has remained relatively stable in recent quarters, with average tariffs for superfast services holding near £31 per month.

However, this stability masks a growing financial strain on alternative network providers that built their customer bases on discounts and low-cost full-fibre packages priced at around £25 per month.

The core problem is simple: these providers are losing money on every £25 subscriber because their operating costs per connection are significantly higher.

Pressure on alternative networks and pricing models

A report from PointTopic claims current pricing structures across many internet service providers are under strain as operating costs continue to rise.

Veronica Speiser, Senior UK Plus Analyst, explains that smaller networks must raise average revenue per user to approximately £45 just to break even, which means the era of ultra-cheap broadband is likely ending.

Alternative network providers have reported average revenue per user between £25 and £35 per month, while larger operators operate within a broader range of £30 to £50.

Speiser stated that "the current pricing models are not fully sustainable for many ISPs," pointing directly to a gap between what subscribers pay and what it costs to serve them.

She believes that the difference in scale and infrastructure burden is a key reason smaller networks struggle with sustainability.

"The Altnet model is not sustainable and they will need to be bringing this up to around £40 — £45 per month to keep up with its current high operating costs per subscriber," Speiser added.

This marks a shift away from earlier pricing strategies that relied on price freezes or no-contract increases.

Total broadband connections in the UK reached approximately 28.96 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, with only limited growth compared to earlier periods.

Within this overall flat growth, full fibre adoption continued to expand to 12.39 million connections, whereas legacy technologies such as FTTC and DSL continued to decline.

Also, coverage increased to more than 80% of UK premises, with a rising number of locations served by multiple fibre networks.

Despite this expansion, subscriber growth has slowed significantly, meaning new customer additions no longer keep pace with infrastructure rollout.

This slowdown eliminates the volume-based strategy that many Altnets relied on to subsidize low prices.

Pricing differences remain visible across major providers and alternative networks, with some full fibre packages available below £25 per month, while others exceed £40 depending on service tiers.

Meanwhile, higher-priced legacy services persist, with some slower copper-based packages costing more than newer fibre alternatives.

Fixed wireless access remains a small segment of the market, accounting for around 1% of connections based on regulatory estimates.

This has not significantly altered the broader fixed broadband market landscape.

The path from £25 to £45 is not guaranteed for every customer, but the economic logic is inescapable for customers of smaller alternative networks.

The only real uncertainty is whether the increase happens through direct price rises, the disappearance of discount offers, or a wave of bankruptcies.

• Millions of broadband users are paying more due to expired contracts
• Around 4% of users do not know their contract status
• Out-of-contract rates often increase by around £20 or more monthly

Many UK broadband users are currently paying more than necessary, largely because they remain on out-of-contract plans after their initial agreements expire.

New research from Go.Compare claims around 5.9 million broadband users are out of contract and could be paying higher rates, with the total potentially costing consumers up to £118 million every month.

With providers’ annual price increases set to take effect within days, the additional costs across all customers could reach £1 billion, and this could be one of the most expensive months for those who haven’t reviewed their contracts.

Millions are paying more without realizing it

About 11% of UK homes are out of contract, and approximately 4% of users are unsure of their current contract status.

This lack of awareness means some households continue paying higher standard rates without actively choosing to do so, even when better broadband deals are available.

The timing of this situation adds further pressure, and the new adjustments could push bills even higher for those already on more expensive out-of-contract rates.

“Out-of-contract rates are almost always much higher than contract prices, with costs going up by around £20 per month or even higher in some circumstances,” said Catherine Hiley, spokesperson at Go.Compare broadband.

“For example, my own broadband price will rise by around £50 a month if I don’t switch at the end of the contract. So forgetting to compare deals and switch providers when your contract is up can be a very costly error.”

Beyond contract status, many users appear to be paying for broadband speeds that exceed their actual needs.

Data suggests that a noticeable share of customers could downgrade their packages without experiencing any meaningful change in performance.

For households that primarily use the internet for basic tasks such as browsing or video streaming, lower speed tiers may already provide sufficient performance.

At the same time, higher-speed packages remain more relevant for environments with multiple users engaging in data-intensive activities simultaneously.

“While it’s tempting to go for the fastest speeds you can afford, there’s no need to fork out if you only use your internet for basic activities.”

Customers who are out of contract retain the flexibility to move to new deals without penalties, which offers a direct route to reducing monthly costs.

Locking into a new agreement before price increases take effect can prevent further rises while securing a lower rate for a fixed period.

Additional factors such as bundled services or promotional incentives may also influence the overall value of a package, although these vary between providers and contracts.

The broader pattern suggests that rising costs are not driven by a single factor — contract status, pricing structures, and user choices all contribute to the final bill.

If you’re in the US and thinking of buying a new router to upgrade your home’s Wi-Fi, your choices could soon be drastically reduced, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has introduced a ban on routers made outside of the US, claiming that there’s “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

The move follows recent high-profile cyberattacks, in which the FCC claims that “routers produced abroad were directly implicated”.

While this reasoning is understandable, as routers are an important part of any home or business that sends and receives data from the internet, and that data can contain sensitive information, a cursory glance at our best routers list reveals what could be a major problem for Americans, as not a single router we recommend is made in the US.

In fact, over the many years and 100s of routers I’ve reviewed or helped publish, I can only think of a small handful of routers that were 100% made in the US — and since Apple killed off its AirPort range of routers, that pool of “Made in the USA” routers is now even smaller.

Rooting for routers

Our best routers list is dominated by TP-Link (Chinese), Asus (Taiwanese), and Acer (Taiwanese) routers — all fantastic products, but any new routers made by those companies could now be banned from sale in the US.

There are, however, several excellent routers from Netgear, which is an American company. However, while the company is US-based, most of its manufacturing is done in Asia (mainly Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, after moving from China to avoid Donald Trump’s 25% tarrifs on Chinese imports).

Moreover, its routers, like many of its competitors, run on Realtek chips, which are built in Taiwan. As the FCC specifically mentions that it will no longer authorize foreign-made radios in routers, which handle wireless network transmissions and are a key part of the chip that powers the router, it means that Netgear’s routers could still be banned, despite its stock price rising by almost 20% since the FCC announcement.

If this is the case, then people in the US could have even more trouble finding routers worth buying in the future — it could certainly end with our best routers list being filled with routers that can’t be bought in the US.

What are your options?

There are some potential ways router makers could work around this ban. Netgear, for example, could once again move its hardware manufacturing, this time to the US, which is likely the favored outcome of the US government. However, that would be extremely time-consuming and costly, and would likely result in price rises for Netgear’s routers (many of which are already plenty expensive).

The FCC also said that router makers could apply for "conditional approval", which could allow future routers to be sold in the US; however, it’s not currently clear what this process would entail.

While there’s a lot of confusion about this latest development, one thing I’m pretty certain of is that buying a new router could soon become more expensive for people in the US, especially if budget options dry up.

I worry it could even impact people who aren’t interested in buying a new router. If you use the free router that comes with your broadband service, those routers might also be subject to the ban, which would mean your ISP would have to source new devices. That will likely cost money, and sadly, that cost will probably be passed down to customers, if not in the actual price of the router, which is usually included as part of your subscription, but in higher monthly prices.

With the price of computers and laptops rising thanks to the RAM shortage, I had ended up recommending people upgrade their Wi-Fi routers as the new best value improvements they could make. That could soon be outdated advice (for the US, at least, not the rest of the world, which will still be able to buy these routers). As I told my colleagues when I initially heard the news: “Good luck, Americans, you'll have nice-looking but expensive routers from now on.”

So, what do I now recommend people do? For a start, don’t panic — your router isn’t going to stop working or suddenly become illegal. This ban only affects upcoming routers, so existing ones will continue to work fine.

However, if you’re thinking of upgrading your router, it might be best to act sooner rather than later, before your options dwindle. Having said that, don’t rush any decision, as these routers won’t disappear from store shelves overnight. Our best routers buying guide offers advice and price comparison tools to help you make the right decision.

If you’re also concerned that the FCC’s ban means that your router poses a security threat, I again wouldn’t panic as long as you have standard security measures (making sure you have a Wi-Fi password, secure admin password for the router, and antivirus software). While the FCC ban targets consumer routers, the cyberattacks it cites are targeted at large institutions that can (unfortunately) produce the most damage. A single router used by a family to access the internet isn’t going to be as big a target.

Sure, this ban could lead to a boom in US-made routers, but that could take a long time to kick in as router makers shift product manufacturing, and due to a variety of factors, these routers will be more expensive.

So, my advice to people in the US considering a new router in the future is don’t panic yet, but if you’ve been hesitating on upgrading your home Wi-Fi, now might be the best time to pull that trigger.

• The FCC says foreign-made routers are no longer allowed
• Your existing home router is safe from the ban
• Around 60% of US home routers are made in China

After putting nation-wide blocks on companies such as Huawei and DJI in recent years, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has now placed a blanket ban on new routers that aren't made in America.

The ruling applies to "consumer-grade routers" that are "produced in foreign countries", the FCC says, and approval won't be granted to such devices in the future — though those that are already on sale and in use are safe.

As per the FCC, routers made outside the borders of the US represent both a "supply chain vulnerability" and a "severe cybersecurity risk". In other words, there are suspicions that problems in router supply could disrupt the US economy and infrastructure, and that they could be used by foreign states to spy on the communications of US citizens.

It's part of a wider movement by the US to reduce its reliance on other countries for hardware and software. The FCC's statement pointed to a series of recent cyberattacks – including Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon – that involved foreign-made router technology.

What does this mean for my Wi-Fi network?

Finding a router manufactured in the US isn't all that easy — many US companies who sell routers to consumers, including Google and Netgear, have their products made overseas. Reuters estimates that some 60% of home routers in the US are manufactured in China and imported in.

Companies are going to have to change their manufacturing processes or abandon the US market it would seem — although they can apply for "conditional approval" from the FCC for new routers. At the moment it's not clear how easy that would be to get.

However, it's worth emphasizing that nothing is going to happen to your current router or home Wi-Fi network — that will keep working as normal. The FCC ban only applies to new products going forward, not routers that have already been approved or put on sale.

It's possible that router manufacturers based in the US will be treated more favorably than foreign entities in the future – TP-Link is one of the companies that's been accused of having strong connections to the Chinese government – but it's going to take a while before we get the full picture of how this decision will play out.

Asus RT-BE92U: One-minute review

It may not have the built-like-a-tank design and ominous glowing lights that Asus uses in some of its eye-catching gaming routers, but the new RT-BE92U won’t take a backseat to any of its flashier rivals. It’s not much to look at, but beneath that unassuming design the RT-BE92U boasts the latest tri-band Wi-Fi 7, with support for the high-speed 6.0GHz frequency band that is sometimes omitted in less expensive Wi-Fi 7 routers.

It also provides high-speed wired connectivity for home or offices that have fibre broadband, and even provides a USB port that allows you to ‘tether’ the router to a smartphone or mobile device that supports 4G or 5G mobile broadband in case your normal broadband service is interrupted for some reason. And, above all else, it doesn’t constantly pester you to sign up for subscriptions for additional parental controls and security features, as some of its rivals do.

Asus RT-BE92U: Design and features

• Creates Guest, Kids and VPN networks
• USB tethering for 4G/5G mobile broadband
• Free parental controls

The design of the RT-BE92U is purely functional, consisting of little more than an upright slab of black plastic, with four antennae sticking up into the air (and a fifth antenna hidden inside the body of the router as well). It doesn’t cut corners on features, though, boasting tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with a top speed of 9.7Gbps (or 9,678Mbps if you want to be precise), and a super-fast 10 Gigabit Ethernet port that can double up to provide either a broadband (WAN) connection, or a wired connection (LAN) for a computer, games console or TV.

There’s a 2.5 Gigabit port that can also double up for either WAN or LAN connections, and three more 2.5G ports for wired connections only. Even the humble USB port on the back throws in some extra features too. As well as allowing you to connect a hard drive or solid-state drive that can be shared with other people on your network, the USB port can be used to charge a smartphone or other mobile devices, and can even be ‘tethered’ to your smartphone in order to use its 4G or 5G mobile broadband as an emergency backup in case something interrupts your normal broadband service.

The Asus Router app for iOS and Android also provides an impressive array of features, although it’s not always as straightforward to use as it could be. Somewhat oddly, the RT-BE92U initially creates a new network that doesn’t have any password protection, so you need to move through the set-up process quite swiftly in order to add a password and keep your new network safe. Fortunately, the app does allow you to scan a QR code in order to quickly connect to the RT-BE92U, and you are then prompted to create a new name and password for the new network.

Once that’s done you have a variety of useful options available, including QoS – quality of service – that gives priority to specific activities, such as gaming or streaming video, that need maximum performance. Most routers will allow you to create a guest network, but the Router app also allows you to create a ‘Kid’s Network’ with a schedule to limit internet access to specific times, and a ‘VPN Network’ for use with popular VPN apps, such as NordVPN and SurfShark.

It even provides a good set of parental controls free of charge, with no need to sign up for an additional subscription. You can create profiles for children of different ages, which automatically block unsuitable content, such as pornography, violence or gambling. Most of Asus’ rivals charge additional subscriptions for parental controls, so the inclusion of all these features at no extra cost is very welcome. Our only complaint is that the Asus app buries many of these features within a maze of dense menus and sub-menus, so it could take a little while to actually find the features you want to use.

• Features: 5/5

Asus RT-BE92U: Performance

• Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (9.7Gbps)
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet WAN/LAN
• 4x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet

The Asus app does at least keep things simple by merging its three frequency bands - 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz – into a single network and automatically connecting your devices to whichever band provides the best speed in each room or area within your home.

But, in order to test the faster 6.0GHz band separately, I ran our Ookla Speedtest and Steam download test on two different laptops – an older HP laptop that only supports the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, and a more recent Samsung laptop that supports 6.0GHz.

I began with the two laptops in the same room as the RT-BE92U, and wasn’t really surprised to find that both laptops breezed along at the maximum 150Mbps provided by my office broadband. The real test, though, came when I walked along a hallway – one laptop perched in the palm of each hand – to an office at the back of the building. My normal office router always struggles to reach this back office, but I was pleased to find that both laptops effortlessly maintained their 150Mbps speeds without even the slightest wobble.

Admittedly, that 9.7Gbps top speed will be overkill for many users, but it’s very good value at such a competitive price. And, with additional features such as USB tethering and free parental controls, the RT-BE92U will be an excellent upgrade for home users and office workers alike.

• Performance: 5/5

Should you buy the Asus RT-BE92U?

Buy it if:

Don’t buy it if:

Also consider:

Welcome to our MWC 2026 'Best in Show' awards, where we've chosen our top products being shown off at the big trade event.

MWC used to be all about phones — and there are plenty of those in this list — but now it covers everything from wearables to connected smart devices to home networks. Our awards picks cover this breadth of technology.

Honor Magic V6

Some thing in life are inevitable. Night follows day, the tides rise and fall, Honor reveals the thinnest-ever foldable phone at a big tech show. One of the many impressive things about the Honor Magic V6, though, is that it hasn't skimped on durability in favor of being so slim and stylish — it's IP69 rated against water and dust, which is actually better than almost any other phone, despite being foldable.

It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Elite 8 Gen 5 powerful processor, backing that generous 7.95 internal screen with a 2352x2172 resolution, while the 6.5-inch cover display has a 2420x1080 resolution. There's a 6,600mAh battery squeezed into the small frame too. It's an incredibly impressive piece of engineering, and absolutely worthy of our award.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The best way to get the full low-down on why this phone has won an award is to read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review, but one quote from it will tell you most of what you need to know: "Of course it's the best Android phone ever."

You've got Samsung's special Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip at the heart, and a beautiful 3120x1440 6.9-inch display – including Samsung's genius and innovative 'Privacy Display', which can hide individual sections of the screen, such as notifications, from snoopers around you. There are wider apertures on the camera to let in more light, lots of advanced AI skills, S Pen support... It's just a powerhouse of a phone for people who want the most capable device on the planet.

Nothing Phone (4a)

If you want super-slick features in an affordable package, we're expecting this to be one of the hottest phones of the year. The Nothing Phone 4(a) keeps the fun techy design that Nothing is known for, including a version of the Glyph Bar on the back.

The 6.8-inch OLED screen has a high 2800x1260 resolution and 120Hz support, with a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip inside, and 12GB of RAM even though it's a cheaper phone and memory is pricey now. There's even a triple camera system on the back — it makes the new iPhone 17e look miserly in comparison. And on top of all this, coming in four nice colors doesn't hurt its desirability either.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro

TCL's NXTPAPER screens have been turning our heads for a while now. They're basically ereader-like screens with a matte and paper-y finish that's great for avoiding eyestrain, but with full color performance and advanced screen tech such as 120Hz support. The NXTPAPER 70 Pro phone uses the latest version of this tech, and actually has three adjustable paper-like modes: Color Paper Mode, Ink Paper Mode, and Max Ink Mode. You can hit a button to cycle through them.

There's even an included pen for drawing and making notes on the screen, so this works as a hybrid of phone, ereader and digital note-taker — plus all the other things you expect a phone to do, including taking photos. We've seen NXTPAPER phones from TCL before, but this is the first time we're starting to consider ditching a regular smartphone for one.

MemoMind One

These smart glasses stand out due to the smart flexibility that's built into their core concept. The key idea is that they have a display for each eye built-in, and Harman Kardon personal speakers you can hear, so you can get subtle information from AI assistants easily.

What's really interesting is the modular approach, which applies to both the hardware and software. The glasses offer eight frame styles and five temple designs, so you can find a specific style that suits you — along with prescription lenses. And the LLM support isn't one-size-fits-all; instead it analyzes the task you need it to perform and uses OpenAI, Azure or Qwen, depending on what's the best fit. It's a really clever approach to smart glasses, and we're looking forward to seeing more of (and through) them.

Honor Magic Pad4

The stunning tablet almost seems impossible. At just 4.8mm thick, it feels like there's just not enough space for it to contain a load of great tech — but you've got a beautifully bright 12-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 3000x1920, backed by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, and up to 1TB of storage.

Being so thin and weighing just 450g (slightly less than the 11-inch iPad Air, despite having a larger screen), it feels like the ultimate portable slate. But the finishing touch is that Honor has made it an interesting work companion too, with a desktop windowed mode that seems very slick, plus stylus support. This might be the most impressive-looking tablet in the world.

Soundcore Space 2

Anker's audio brand Soundcore makes a lot of great-value headphones, and its Space One and Space One Pro models went a little more little more premium — with very strong results. The Space 2 look like they'll take that idea into the stratosphere, though.

Soundcore says the headphones will have the brand's most advanced active noise cancellation yet, and reengineered 30mm silk and ceramic drivers to produce "full, rich bass, clear vocals and crystal-clear highs". LDAC higher-res support will help with that, as will the personalized sound feature, which tests your hearing and adjusts the audio frequencies to boost in areas where your hearing struggles. It sounds like an excellent package, especially with 70 hours of battery life, and a launch price of $130 / £130.

Lenovo ThinkBook Modular PC Concept

This might be the "future of laptops", as we said when Lenovo showed it to us along with some other interesting concepts. It's modular in the sense of having an easily changed configuration on the outside. It looks like a normal laptop, though it has a screen on the back of the lid as well as in the normal place you'd expect to find a screen.

This screen can be popped off, and used as a separate external display. Or you can remove the keyboard, and replace it with this second screen, for a dual-display laptop/tablet hybrid. Finally, the range of ports under the keyboard can be swapped out, so you can customize them for what you need most. We love this idea, and while it might remain largely niche even if it comes to a real product, we're thrilled with the possibilities.

Biwin Mini SSD CL100

For creative pros or anyone with a need to carry a huge amount of data around, Biwin's latest Mini SSD looks like a revelation. The small cards (around the size of a coin) contain up to 2TB of flash storage, but these aren't like SD cards — their data transfer speed is at PCIe 4 pro SSD levels.

Using the Biwin Mini SSD Reader RD510, you can transfer data from the CL100 drives at up to 3.7GB/s read speeds, and up to 3.4GB/s write speeds. They're a mind-blowing bit of design, taking elite storage performance and putting it in a package that would enable you to take hundreds of terabytes with you in the same size and weight as a single regular external SSD.

TP-Link Aginet HB810

This is designed to be the ultimate ultra-fast home mesh Wi-Fi system, and it's on this list because it really seems to achieve that goal. Offering tri-band Wi-Fi 7 across its mesh devices, TP-Link says you'll get 19–22Gbps of wireless speed, and if you want to wire in there's a 10 GbE/SFP+ combo WAN/LAN port, plus 10GbE and 2.5GbE ports.

Part of the key promise here is to be able to maintain the fast speeds even when things get busy or complicated. There's support for 12 spatial streams at once, 320MHz channels, and tech such as Multi-Link Operation to ensure the network is rock steady when loads of people are using it across multiple nodes. Throw in the security and parental control options that you'd expect from an elite Wi-Fi system, and you've got a great-looking home network upgrade.

uCloudlink OmniFlex Pro

This is a pro-level Wi-Fi router that's designed for when you need to set up a network in a new place quickly, and it can pull its internet connection over broadband or over a mobile connection. Nothing new there, but what made this stand out is its commitment to fast performance, combined with the fact that you don't need to have a SIM card for the mobile internet.

It's eSIM only, which means that's one less thing you need to worry about before deploying — whether you're using the mobile connection as a backup only (it will auto-switch to cellular internet if the main connection fails), or using it in a new country, either way you don't need to have planned your SIM use in advance.

Just take out a new digital connection when you need it, or manage your provider so much more easily. And with a 5G connection and Wi-Fi 7 for connection to devices, it'll work as quickly as anything in the category can, plus it has mesh options for expanding the network. Comprehensive!

TP-Link Tapo C665G KIT

This comprehensive outdoor security camera is designed to be something you just never have to worry about — unless it sees something you need to worry about. It's built to be super-tough, standing up to any weather conditions, dust blasts or temperature changes. It's battery powered for total flexibility on placement, and uses its own solar panels to charge the battery during the day, so it can run at night.

Crucially, a very sharp 4K sensor with enhanced night vision combines with AI-based recognition of events, so that it not only can see everything it needs to, but it can also differentiate between movement that's just things blowing in the wind, and disruptions that are really worth warning you about. TP-Link emphasizes that the goal is to make sure it can cover a really broad area efficiently and smartly, making it a great investment — especially since it even has 4G support so it doesn't need to be near your router.

TechRadar is on the show floor for this year’s MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain, and we’ll be covering the latest news from some of the biggest names in mobile, computing, fitness and more.

• Qualcomm has introduced its portfolio of Wi-Fi 8 products
• The new FastConnect 8800 chips pack (up to) twice the performance of their predecessors
• New Dragonwing networking platforms for consumers will bring the many benefits of Wi-Fi 8 to home routers and mesh network systems

While Wi-Fi 8 is still quite a long way off, at least in terms of having it on your laptop or phone, there have been a bunch of announcements around the tech already – and now, over at MWC 2026, Qualcomm has revealed its portfolio of offerings around the next-gen wireless standard.

Qualcomm has announced its FastConnect 8800 chips for providing Wi-Fi 8 to laptops (and of course tablets and phones), as well as Bluetooth 7.0.

The company notes that the FastConnect 8800 is the first mobile solution that has a 4x4 Wi-Fi radio configuration, and that this facilitates new heights in terms of wireless speeds. Indeed, compared to Qualcomm's previous-gen FastConnect chip on Wi-Fi 7, the 8800 is going pack (up to) twice the performance.

That means potential peak speeds of up to 11.6Gbps, as tested in Qualcomm's labs, versus up to 5.8Gbps as seen in the FastConnect 7800 (with a 2x2 radio configuration). The new 8800 chip will also provide three times the Gigabit wireless range.

Qualcomm further notes that Bluetooth speeds are getting a huge boost from 2Mbps to 7.5Mbps with this new chip compared to the previous FastConnect 7800 (thanks to Bluetooth High Data Throughput or HDT).

The new FastConnect chip also boasts Proximity AI and Ultra Wideband 802.15.4ab for pinpointing the location of other devices (or pairing with them automatically).

Qualcomm further announced new Dragonwing networking platforms, for enterprises and consumers. The mainstream tiers in the latter respect are the Dragonwing N8 and F8, which are platforms that are designed to bring Wi-Fi 8 to home routers and mesh network systems.

Qualcomm says it's sampling all these products with customers now, and anticipates they'll be commercially available late in 2026.

Gautam Sheoran, who is SVP & GM of Connectivity, Broadband and Networking at Qualcomm, stated that: "Next-gen networks and devices not only need to be AI-native, but they need a new breed of intelligent, high-performance connectivity. Qualcomm Technologies' Wi-Fi 8 generation of products is the whole package: faster speeds, higher reliability, longer range, and powerful AI."

Analysis: Wi-Fi 8 strengths

This next-gen wireless standard isn't about speed. In fact, Wi-Fi 8 doesn't carry any speed boost over Wi-Fi 7 at all – although the FastConnect 8800 chip is much speedier than its predecessor, but that's because it has a beefier Wi-Fi radio configuration, as noted. It isn't because the next-gen standard is actually any faster.

What Wi-Fi 8 is designed to do is improve the reliability of your Wi-Fi connection, notably in signal-dense environments where it'll intelligently hop around to avoid getting bogged down by interference.

You'll also get better range with Wi-Fi 8, and better handling for mesh networks in terms of avoiding speed drop-offs when moving around the house (when transitioning from one node – router or satellite – to another can cause glitchy speed hiccups). Performance at the edge of the signal (where it's weakest) will be bolstered, too. On top of that, Wi-Fi 8 offers considerably lower latency than Wi-Fi 7.

There's a whole lot to look forward to, then, as well as the Dragonwing platform having a 'Network AI Engine' for "real-time QoE optimization", meaning fine-tuning everything with AI to ensure you're getting the best and most stable performance – QoE meaning Quality of Experience – from your Wi-Fi 8 router and devices. That's aimed to be of particular benefit for more intense Wi-Fi usage, such as online gaming or streaming, or using VR headsets for example.

However, before you get too excited hearing all this, as I mentioned at the outset, Wi-Fi 8 is still a long way off. While Qualcomm is talking about these Wi-Fi 8 chips being in devices late this year, the reality is that it won't be a mainstream force in many routers plus laptops, tablets and phones until much nearer the end of the decade.

We apparently have a lot to look forward to in terms of wireless performance as the 2020s roll onwards, though.

TechRadar is on the show floor for this year’s MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain, and we’ll be covering the latest news from some of the biggest names in mobile, computing, fitness and more.

Full fibre broadband doesn't have to cost the Earth, thanks to this outstanding deal that's just appeared at EE. It's for their 150Mbps Full Fibre package, which is down to just £27.99 per month.

It's a cracking price, but just be aware that it's a 24-month contract, and the monthly price will rise to £31.99 from 31 March 2026 and to £35.99 from 31 March 2027. Considering your existing provider will likely raise prices in that time too, this is a deal well worth considering.

To further sweeten the deal, EE will cover up to £300 of your leaving fees, and there are £0 upfront costs. So, if you've been trundling along on sub-par internet, this could be the package you've been waiting for.

Today's best EE Broadband deal

EE is one of the best broadband providers on the market today. Thanks to fast speeds and impressive reliability, EE is known for delivering a great service. Additionally, EE uses the Openreach network, which means its coverage is widely available.

The offer includes WiFi 7, which is EE's most powerful broadband. That means you'll enjoy higher speeds and a more consistent connection – even when you’re further from your hub.

If 150Mbps isn't enough for you, EE also has a range of fantastic offers at different speeds, including a 1.6Gbps package for busy households.

TP-Link AXE5400: One minute review

Wi-Fi 6E, which the Asus RP-AX58 features, is a bit like the missing link of the Wi-Fi family. It was the first version of Wi-Fi technology to introduce the high-speed 6.0GHz frequency band – in addition to the existing 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands used by previous generations of Wi-Fi. However, it never really took off as many people had only just upgraded to Wi-Fi 6, and it wasn’t long before the absurdly fast Wi-Fi 7 came along and made poor old 6E look a bit irrelevant.

The advantage of that, though, is that you can now pick up a high-performance range extender that uses Wi-Fi 6E at a pretty competitive price.

We liked TP-Link’s BE3600 range extender thanks to its ease of use and installation, but its dual-band Wi-Fi 7 performance was actually fairly modest, with a top speed of 3.6Gbps. The AXE5400 (model number RE815XE) is around the same price as the BE3600, but the use of Wi-Fi 6E means that it can provide tri-band Wi-Fi performance and a speed of 5.4Gbps that should be more than adequate for use with most home broadband services.

TP-Link AXE5400: Price And Availability

• How much does it cost? $139.99/£119.14
• When is it available: Now
• Where can you get it: US, UK

The AXE5400 costs $139.99/£119.14, which is slightly less expensive than the TP-Link BE3600 with Wi-Fi 7, even though the tri-band Wi-Fi 6E used by the AXE5400 actually provides stronger performance with a top speed of 5.4Gbps.

It’s not currently on sale in Australia, though, where it looks like TP-Link is skipping a generation and going from an older Wi-Fi 6 model to the new BE3600 with Wi-Fi 7 instead.

• Value: 4.5/5

TP-Link AXE5400: Design

• Big, bulky design
• Four external antennae
• Easy-to-use app

It’s safe to say that the AXE5400 is not going to quietly and unobtrusively blend into your home décor.

Its four large external antennae make it one of the biggest and bulkiest range extenders we’ve come across, and with the antennae fully extended the AXE5400 measures a full 348mm high, 106mm wide and 80mm deep (including the plug section that is inserted straight into a mains power socket).

In fact, it’s so large that it actually blocked an adjacent power socket when we set it up in our offices. There’s also a series of status indicator lights on the front panel, which are useful when setting up the AXE5400, but also mean that it may take up even more space in order to keep the front of the unit clear and visible.

The bulky design does serve a purpose though, as the large antennae help to beam the range extender’s tri-band Wi-Fi signal far and wide, and ensure that it obliterates any annoying deadspots in your home. There’s an Ethernet port on the right-hand side of the unit to provide a wired connection too – although, of course, the AXE5400 still relies on Wi-Fi to connect to your main broadband router.

• Design: 3.5/5

TP-Link AXE5400: Features

• Simple installation
• Helpful status indicators
• Plugs directly into mains power socket

It may not support the latest Wi-Fi 7, but the AXE5400 includes plenty of features that enable it to provide strong Wi-Fi performance, and also to help people who may not have used a range extender before.

The use of tri-band Wi-Fi 6E allows the AXE5400 to broadcast a Wi-Fi signal on three separate frequency bands. The 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands provide compatibility with older PCs and mobile devices, while the high-speed 6.0GHz band boosts the Wi-Fi performance to a healthy 5.4Gbps – which is significantly faster than dual-band range extenders that use Wi-Fi 7, such as TP-Link’s BE3600, or the Asus RP-BE58.

And, as mentioned, there’s a Gigabit Ethernet port on the AXE5400 to provide a wired connection as well. It also provides a feature called ‘adaptive path selection’ – often just called ‘roaming’ by most other manufacturers – which can monitor a laptop or mobile device as you move from room to room, and decide when to hand the Wi-Fi connection back to your main router in order to maintain the best performance.

Like most range extenders, the AXE5400 will work with routers from any manufacturer, but it also supports TP-Link’s OneMesh system, which allows it to be used as part of a wider mesh networking system if you already own a TP-Link router with OneMesh.

It’s easy to use too (although the annoying Christmas ads that seemed to pop up every now and then within the app were pretty shameless). The TP-Link Tether app can automatically detect the Wi-Fi signal from the AXE5400 and guide you through the process of connecting to the three different frequency bands.

You can use the same name and password as your main network from your broadband router, or create a new name and password just for the AXE5400. There’s even a signal test within the app to help you find the best spot to place the AXE5400 in order to deal with any deadspots in particular rooms within your home. And, for more advanced users, there’s a web browser interface that provides more detailed control over your network settings.

• Features: 4/5

TP-Link AXE5400: Performance

• Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E
• 5.4Gbps Wi-Fi
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet

Our offices are a good place to test range extenders, as we have one office towards the back of the building that does suffer from a very noticeable Wi-Fi deadspot – which is usually managed with the use of some PowerLine adaptors to provide a wired network connection instead.

Thankfully, though, the AXE5400 dealt with that problem in no time at all, providing a strong Wi-Fi signal on all three frequency bands as soon as I set it up in a hallway just outside that back office.

The office broadband runs at 150Mbps, and even the slower 2.4GHz band on the AXE5400 managed to hit 140Mbps with the Ookla Speed Test. Steam downloads were a little slower at 110Mbps, but that speed is still in line with the 2.4GHz performance of other range extenders that we’ve tested.

Switching to the 5.0GHz band immediately boosted performance, hitting the full 150Mbps with both the Ookla and Steam tests. And, of course, the fastest 6.0GHz band had no trouble maintaining those speeds as well.

If you only have older PCs or mobile devices that use Wi-Fi 5 or 6 on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands then you may not need a tri-band range extender such the AXE5400.

But, if you’re able to make use of that 6.0GHz band, then the AXE5400 is a fast, reliable way of getting rid of Wi-Fi deadspots at a more competitive price than newer Wi-Fi 7 models.

• Performance: 4/5

Should You Buy The TP-Link AXE5400?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also Consider

If you're undecided about the TP-Link AXE5400, I've compared its specs with two other options that might be a better fit.

Asus RP-AX58: One minute review

We liked the RP-BE58 range extender from Asus, which provides dual-band Wi-Fi 7 with good performance at a competitive price. However, most people are still using older PCs and mobile devices that don’t support Wi-Fi 7 yet.

There are also many brand-new PCs and laptops now available that don’t have Wi-Fi 7 either (yes, Apple, we’re looking at you). And, of course, there’s no need to buy a range extender with Wi-Fi 7 if you’re still using an old router that only has Wi-Fi 5 or 6. In that case you might want to look at the Asus RP-AX58 range extender instead, which sticks with Wi-Fi 6 and an even more affordable price.

Admittedly, its dual-band Wi-Fi does run at a relatively modest 3.0Gbps, but that should still be more than adequate for streaming video or gaming in most homes, and the RP-AX58 will be a good, affordable option if you just need to boost your Wi-Fi into an upstairs bedroom or other area that suffers from a Wi-Fi deadspot.

Asus RP-AX58: Price And Availability

• How much does it cost? $79.99/£64.99/AU $103.62
• When is it available: Now
• Where can you get it: US, UK, Australia

Sticking with Wi-Fi 6 means that the RP-AX58 is currently available for a very competitive $79.99/£64.99/AU $103.62.

That makes it one of the most affordable range extenders we’ve seen recently, and it’s considerably cheaper than Asus’ RP-BE58 with Wi-Fi 7, as well as rivals such as TP-Link’s BE3600. It’s available in most regions and, as Wi-Fi 6 is a few years old now, you can find it discounted online quite often if you want to shop around.

• Value: 4/5

Asus RP-AX58: Design

• Compact, slimline design
• No cables, plugs directly into mains socket
• 2x internal antennae

The RP-AX58 looks virtually identical to its Wi-Fi 7 stablemate from Asus, with a similar slimline design that hides its two Wi-Fi antennae inside the body of the range extender.

It measures just 150mm high, 72mm wide and 87mm deep and, like most range extenders it’s designed to plug directly into a mains power socket, so its compact design ensures that you can simply plug it into any convenient socket in any room around your home or office.

There’s a Gigabit Ethernet port on the right-hand side of the range extender that can provide a wired connection as well (although the RP-AX58 will still connect to your main broadband router via Wi-Fi).

• Design: 4

Asus RP-AX58: Features

• Supports Asus AiMesh technology
• Compatible with most routers
• App feels a little clumsy

The Asus RP-AX58 provides dual-band Wi-Fi 6, running on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands, which ensures compatibility with most PCs, consoles, and mobile devices.

Its 3.0Gbps performance isn’t going to break any speed records, but it should be more than adequate for use with most home broadband services, and fast enough to eliminate any Wi-Fi deadspots in rooms or other areas that suffer from poor Wi-Fi. The RP-AX58 will work with broadband routers from most manufacturers, but it also supports Asus’ AiMesh technology, which allows it to act as part of a mesh Wi-Fi network in conjunction with Asus’ own routers or mesh systems.

The Asus Extender app has a few rough edges, though. As I’ve seen before, the opening screen of the app displays some jumbled text on the screen of my iPhone (although that’s not a problem on the larger screen of an iPad).

However, even when the text is clear it’s... well... still a bit unclear. The app tells you to enter the ‘default password’ for the Wi-Fi network created by the range extender, when in fact the network doesn’t initially require a password.

It’s only after connecting the RP-AX58 to your existing Wi-Fi network that the app gives you the opportunity to set a password. You can create an entirely new network name and password just for connecting to the RP-AX58, or if you want to keep things simple you can just tell the app to use the same name and password as your existing Wi-Fi network.

The low price of the RP-AX58 means that there’s not much in the way of additional features, but that’s not a problem as long as it delivers the goods when tackling your Wi-Fi deadspots.

• Features: 3/5

Asus RP-AX58: Performance

• Dual-band Wi-Fi 6
• 3.0Gbps speed
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet port

The use of Wi-Fi 6 and a top speed of 3.0Gbps seems almost quaint when compared to the blazing speeds of the latest Wi-Fi 7 devices. Yet few people really need multi-gig speeds for their home or office Wi-Fi, so the RP-AX58 should still provide all the speed you need for most home broadband services.

It worked well with my own Wi-Fi deadspot, located in an office towards the back of a building that my normal office router struggles to reach. I installed the RP-AX58 in a hallway just outside that office and immediately said goodbye to the dead zone – and to the PowerLine adaptors that I normally use to provide a wired connection in that room.

My office broadband runs at 150Mbps, and the slower 2.4GHz band provided by the RP-AX58 was able to provide a perfectly reliable speed of 120Mbps in the back office for Steam downloads and the Ookla Speed Test.

Admittedly, the RP-BE58 range extender from Asus ran slightly faster on that frequency band, hitting 135Mps, but the RP-BE58 is more expensive because of its up-to-date support for Wi-Fi 7, and 120Mbps will still be enough to handle web browsing and streaming video with no trouble.

And, as expected, the faster 5.0GHz band delivered the full 150Mbps available with our office broadband for both Ookla and Steam. Owners of newer devices that support Wi-Fi 7 might prefer a more up-to-date router or range extender that can deliver the higher performance of Wi-Fi 7, but if you just need to boost the Wi-Fi in one or two rooms around your home then the RP-AX58 will do the trick without breaking the bank.

• Performance: 3/5

Should You Buy The Asus RP-AX58?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also Consider

If you're undecided about the Asus RP-AX58, I've compared its specs with two other options that might be a better fit.

Virgin Media is offering new customers the opportunity to get a pair of Meta Ray-Ban (Gen 1) smart glasses, worth £329, or a £125 bill credit when purchasing select broadband and TV bundles on a 24-month contract. That's certainly a unique freebie.

The most affordable way to benefit from the above is to buy the M350 Cinema bundle and Netflix for £46.99. The deal includes average download speeds of 362Mbps, over 200 TV channels, and Netflix Standard (with Ads). There are also other bundles available, with dedicated packages for sports fans from £59.99 per month.

The benefits don't end there. All new customers who sign up for one of these bundles will also benefit from no setup fee (usually £35) and can enjoy a host of content, including recently added themed channels across popular genres such as comedy, crime, and mystery, at no extra cost.

Customers who refer a friend can also receive a £50 bonus per recommendation. This is the deal that just keeps on giving. Don't hang around, though, as it expires on December 17.

Today's best Virgin Media Broadband deal

Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses enable you to live in the moment and share how you see the world. Listen, call, capture and livestream features are seamlessly integrated within the classic frame – so you can stay connected to the world around you.

If you choose to take advantage of the bill credit offer instead, then that £125 will be applied to your first bill, and any that’s left over will be applied to your following bills until it’s all used. As well as using the credit to pay your bill, eligible customers can use it to buy on-demand entertainment on Virgin TV.

While you're searching for the best prices, you might like to look at all the best broadband deals that are available right now.

• The UK has begun testing on-board Wi-Fi connectivity using satellites
• The trial is being run on a GWR line in the South West
• It could raise internet speeds on board trains and improve reliability

British trains aren’t exactly known for their stellar Wi-Fi connectivity, but that could change in the near future thanks to a new scheme that takes its inspiration from Formula One racing. If successful, the plan could ramp up train Wi-Fi speeds and provide a more reliable connection for passengers on-board.

As reported by the BBC, a new pilot scheme will outfit a Great Western Railway (GWR) train with a combined connection system that will use both ground-based phone masts and some unknown low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide internet to passengers.

The project is being run by British tech firm Motion Applied together with Peninsula Transport, which is the transport body for Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.

The pilot began in mid-November, will last for 60 days, and will be tested on GWR’s Intercity Express Train that runs in the South West. The hope is to raise internet speeds from the current paltry average of 1.09Mbps.

According to internet networking firm Ookla, the UK ranks 16 out of 18 major European and Asian nations for train Wi-Fi speeds – in comparison, Sweden averages a zippy 64.58Mbps.

Inspired by Formula One

The inspiration for the satellite move apparently came from Formula One, where reliable connections between drivers and teams are of paramount importance. By borrowing tech from racing cars, trains should be able to switch between phone masts and satellites while maintaining a reliable link.

It’s not immediately obvious what satellite networks will be used for the project. British company OneWeb is one contender, as is Starlink – the latter company has been linked with other UK train lines, although no word has emerged of it providing Wi-Fi for the GWR trial. We asked Motion Applied which satellite network will be used, but it replied by saying: “We aren’t able to disclose that at this moment.”

Earlier in 2025, the UK’s Department of Transport secured £41m to bring LEO satellite connectivity to all mainline trains by 2030. If that target is met, the days of slow, patchy internet when you’re riding the rails could finally be numbered.

It's been a bad week for Vodafone customers. Not only did a huge outage hit the network's broadband, mobile internet services, website, and customer service phone lines on October 13, but many are still experiencing knock-on effects.

The problems officially only lasted for a couple of hours from around 2.30pm BST, with the peak seeing over 130,000 customers report a complete blackout of their Vodafone services on Downdetector.

The scale of the outage made it one of the biggest of the year, but hundreds of people are still reporting lingering effects, with some still without their broadband for several days.

So what caused all these problems, what can we learn from it – and most importantly, can customers get compensation for the considerable hassle they've experienced? We've asked experts for their guidance below.

What caused the Vodafone outage?

Vodafone's latest statement on its big October 13 outage dismissed suggestions that it was a cyber attack.

“On Monday afternoon, for a short time, the Vodafone network had an issue affecting broadband, 4G and 5G services. This was triggered by a non-malicious software issue with one of our vendor partners which has now been resolved, and the network has fully recovered. We apologise for any inconvenience this caused our customers," the network said.

The rumors of a cyber attack grew because the outage took out not just Vodafone's broadband and mobile internet services, but also its website and customer service phone lines. These symptoms echoed so-called distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, where a network is intentionally overwhelmed by an attacker.

However, as Vodafone's statement reveals, an internal network failure was seemingly the culprit. But can those really take out multiple services in such a dramatic fashion, and shouldn't there be safeguards in place?

Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET, said it's unusual but still possible. "Software faults like this can happen when a routine update or configuration change doesn’t behave as expected, but it is rare on this scale," he said.

"Modern telecoms networks are incredibly complex with lots of automated systems working together and, unfortunately, a small error has the potential of rippling through to temporarily affect performance – or like we saw here, knock systems offline," he added.

From a business perspective, the Vodafone outage is another timely reminder that better protections should be in place. Daniel Card, a cyber security expert with BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT), said: “Major ISP outages in the UK are relatively rare, but when they do happen they serve as an important reminder of how dependent we’ve become on constant connectivity".

"It’s not just about defending against malicious cyber threats – accidents, configuration errors, and technical faults can be just as disruptive," he added. And Vodafone customers can certainly vouch for that.

Can you get compensation for the Vodafone outage?

I asked Ofcom (the UK's media watchdog) for its official guidance for customers seeking compensation for the Vodafone outage. The news is mixed, depending on whether you've had problems with your broadband or mobile internet – and for how long.

“We know it’s frustrating when things go wrong. If you’re unhappy, you should complain directly to your provider," an Ofcom spokesperson told me. "If your broadband service is not fixed after two working days, Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme means that you may get money back automatically without having to ask".

How much money exactly? Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, added: “If your broadband connection goes down for more than two days, you could be entitled to compensation of £9.76 for each calendar day that the service is not repaired". There's more information on Ofcom's Automatic compensation guide, which shows that Vodafone is at least signed up to the scheme.

That's at least some positive news for those still suffering from broadband issues stemming from the October 13 outage. In theory, you should automatically get compensation if it hasn't been fixed after two working days. However, the guidance around mobile internet is more vague. Ofcom told me that its automatic compensation scheme sadly doesn't cover mobile.

“Ofcom advises that compensation for mobile signal outages is ‘dependent on the circumstances.’ But in extreme cases where repairs take much longer, you may be entitled to an additional refund or account credit," Sabrina Hoque from Uswitch added.

This means that for mobile outages on Vodafone or related networks like Lebara, you'll have to contact the network directly, which is something many TechRadar readers say they've had issues with this week.

For Vodafone, there are three ways to contact the network – through its My Vodafone app (on Android or iOS), by phone (0333 304 0191, or 191 from your Vodafone mobile) using the TOBi chat on its website. Unfortunately, there's no single email address for customer complaints, but the latter promises to take you through to a real agent if it can't help.

This won't be great news for many – one TechRadar reader told me their broadband has been down for four days and they've haven't been able to get through on the phone, with their online account stating that Vodafone was working to fix their broadband.

Vodafone didn't respond to my request for further guidance for those who are still experiencing issues or are looking for compensation.

Is the Vodafone outage actually over?

Vodafone talks about this week's outage in the past tense and says the network is "fully recovered", but the reality appears to be somewhat different.

At the time of writing, Downdetector (below) is showing reports of issues in the 130-250 range – much smaller than the outage's peak, but way higher than a typical baseline for a network.

The site's comments are littered with reports of ongoing broadband issues, with some (but far from all) reporting success after a hard reset of their router. Others say Vodafone has told them it's still "working on" a resolution.

This has been reflected in countless emails sent to TechRadar from understandably frustrated customers. Some say their broadband is still down, but the biggest annoyance is being unable to contact Vodafone – with the phone lines cutting off after an hour of waiting, and no updates through their online accounts.

The lack of communication is poor, and I've contacted Vodafone for an updated statement. Unfortunately, other than getting in touch with Vodafone again yourself, there's little you can do other than trying our tips on what to do if your broadband is slow or not working.

However, if there is a network issue in your area (you can check on Vodafone's network status checker), then it's unfortunately simply a waiting game until it gets fixed. Do you still have problems with your Vodafone broadband or mobile internet? Let us know in the comments below.

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Netgear Nighthawk RS100: One-Minute Review

There’s an old saying about the zeal of the convert, and Netgear certainly seems to have changed its ways – or perhaps just its management – in recent months.

After establishing itself as the Apple of the Wi-Fi world, with a series of stylish but expensive routers and mesh systems, the company has recently brought out a number of more affordable products, culminating in the new Nighthawk RS100, which is not just Netgear’s most affordable Wi-Fi 7 router, but also more affordable than many of its rivals too.

Inevitably, though, that low price involves some compromises, and like several of the less expensive Wi-Fi 7 products that we’ve seen recently, the RS100 is a fairly basic dual-band router.

This means that it supports just the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands, and omits the high-speed 6.0GHz band that is also available with both Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. Even so, the RS100 provides Wi-Fi speeds of up to 3.6Gbps, which is still more than fast enough for most home broadband services.

One of the other advantages of Wi-Fi 7 is that the RS100 should also be more reliable than older routers when connecting to lots of computers, mobile devices and other smart devices within your home simultaneously.

That makes it a good, affordable Wi-Fi upgrade for many home users who may still have older computers and mobile devices that don’t need the full speed available with tri-band routers that also support 6.0GHz Wi-Fi.

Netgear Nighthawk RS100: Price And Availability

• How much does it cost? $129.99/£129.99/AU$259
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Product prices are wildly erratic all over the world at the moment because of he-who-shall-not-be-named. But, at the time of its launch, the RS100 was priced at $129.99/£129.99 and we were pleased to see that – unlike many Wi-Fi 7 products – it’s also available to our friends down under for AU$259.

That makes the RS100 a full $100 less expensive than the RS200 that we reviewed from Netgear recently. The RS200 is also a dual-band router, but it’s faster, with a top speed of 6.5Gbps.

Even so, the 3.6Gbps of the RS100 should still be perfectly adequate for most home broadband connections. Netgear also states that the RS100 can connect to as many as 50 devices simultaneously, and can cover areas of up to 2,000sq.ft, making it a good option for most small and medium-sized homes (although regions outside the US may quote an area of 1,500sq.ft due to differences in regional regulations).

• Value: 4/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS100: Design

• Compact design
• 2.5Gb Ethernet for broadband connection
• 4 Ethernet ports for wired connections

Unsurprisingly, the RS100 shares the ominous-black-obelisk design of other Nighthawk routers, although it’s actually quite a bit smaller than other models in the range.

The RS100 stands just 184mm high, 66mm wide and 122mm deep, so it’s easy to set it up on any convenient shelf or desk without taking up too much space.

That’s partly because the relatively modest speed of the RS100 only requires two internal antennae, compared to four antennae in the RS200 and RS300 models that we have reviewed recently.

However, one sign of cost-cutting is that the router’s black plastic casing does feel a little flimsy, so it’s probably a good idea for parents to place it somewhere that’s out of reach for curious little hands.

Netgear hasn’t cut too many corners, though. The RS100 provides a 2.5Gb Ethernet port for your broadband connection (WAN), along with four Gigabit Ethernet ports to provide wired (LAN) connections for a PC or games console if required.

The only minor compromise here is the lack of a USB port that would allow you to connect a USB storage device (or printer) to your network, but that’s not a major problem at this price.

• Design: 4/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS100: Features

• Easy to set up and use
• Poor parental controls
• Useful diagnostic tools

As always, Netgear makes it very easy to get started. You can just plug in the power supply and connect the RS100 to your existing router, and Netgear provides a QR code for downloading the Nighthawk app, and a second code that connects you to the new RS100 network.

But, reflecting the router’s low price, the Nighthawk app is a bit basic when it comes to providing additional features. The app automatically merges the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands into a single network, which keeps things simple for home users, although more experienced users might prefer an app that provides more detailed control over their network settings.

There are some basic diagnostic tools, such as a speed test to check network performance, and you have the ability to create two guest networks for visitors, or to block network access for individual devices. However, there are no parental controls available within the app, and the information on Netgear’s website indicates that the RS100 isn’t currently compatible with Netgear’s Smart Parental Controls subscription service.

Security features are also fairly limited, as you get just a one-month trial of Netgear’s Armor security service, but then have to pay $99.99 (around £75 / AU$150) per year to continue using the service.

To be fair, most rival manufacturers offer software subscription services as well, but there are other routers that still provide better parental controls and other features within their apps free of charge.

• Features: 3/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS100: Performance

• Dual-band Wi-Fi 7
• 3.6Gbps maximum speed
• 2.5Gbps Ethernet for broadband connection

The lack of support for the 6.0GHz frequency means that the RS100 is very much an entry-level router, but Wi-Fi 7 is so ridiculously fast that the router’s relatively modest 3.6Gbps should still be more than fast enough to handle most domestic broadband connections.

My aging office router struggles even with a modest 150Mbps broadband connection, and can only manage a speed of around 120Mbps even for devices that are in the same room as the router.

And, at the rear of the building, I actually have a ‘deadspot’ where the Wi-Fi signal is so unreliable that I end up using powerline adaptors to provide a wired network connection instead.

The RS100 solved all my network problems, though, immediately allowing devices in the same room to hit the maximum 150Mbps for both the Ookla Speed Test and game downloads on Steam. The router’s speed did dip slightly as I walked with our laptop along the corridor to the deadspot in the back office, but quickly recovered again and hit 150Mbps once more for both tests.

So, while the RS100 is no speed demon, it can still provide a worthwhile upgrade for many people who own an older router that only uses Wi-Fi 5 or 6, and my only real complaint is the lack of parental controls and additional features within the Nighthawk app.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Netgear Nighthawk RS100: Also consider

• First reviewed: July 2025

• Xfinity, a Comcast brand, has introduced a new feature dubbed Wi-Fi Motion
• It lets an Xfinity router and up to three Wi-Fi-connected devices create a motion detection system
• The feature isn't available to everyone, but some users already have potential privacy concerns

Having a router that doubles as a motion detector was not on our bingo card for 2025, and yet, here we are. Xfinity by Comcast has introduced Wi-Fi Motion, a feature that lets you turn your printer, your smart fridge, or your TV – among other things – into a motion detector. But is that really a good thing?

Given that we're constantly connected to the internet these days, many of us assume that our devices have some kind of baseline of knowledge about our daily lives and habits.

We've got some of the best smartwatches tracking our sleep, workouts, and heart rate. As another example, Microsoft's Recall, now in preview, will go through our files to make our lives easier. Meanwhile, AI assistants can already read our emails and summarize them for us. Privacy is a commodity that we're running out of at a rapid pace.

In a world like this, having motion detection features in our home, free of charge, doesn't sound so bad. But some users are worried about the potential downsides of Xfinity's Wi-Fi Motion – here's what you need to know.

How does Xfinity's Wi-Fi Motion work?

As Xfinity describes, Wi-Fi Motion connects your compatible Xfinity Gateway (either the XB8 or the Technicolor XB7 CGM4981COM) to up to three eligible, always-on, stationary devices. So, think of things like printers or smart fridges, rather than smartphones and tablets. The feature is in early access and is only available to select customers right now.

The feature is off by default, but once enabled, it turns your router and those three devices into a motion detection system. This creates an oval-shaped area of Wi-Fi coverage, and anything that disrupts those signals may be detected as motion. It's worth noting that the coverage extends from the router and toward each device separately, and the devices themselves don't provide motion detection between each other.

Let's say that this web of Wi-Fi signals detects motion – what then? Xfinity lets you tweak what happens, but the long story short is that you'll get a notification (see below), indicating that motion has been detected. This tech works across various rooms and floors, but it cannot pinpoint where the motion took place, and it'll just tell you which device spotted it.

You can choose the type of motion you'll be notified about. For example, it's possible to ignore pets under 40 pounds, saving you from pointless pings each time your dog crosses the room.

However, as noted by Cybernews, Xfinity can't always tell the difference between a large pet and a small child. You can choose different sensitivity levels to minimize notifications, and you can also set up alerts to go off only during certain times of day.

On paper, this sounds neat – an extra security system for your home at no extra charge. However, some users are understandably concerned about privacy, too.

Why are some users concerned about privacy?

Constantly being tracked in your own home could make you feel uneasy, so for those of you who find this idea a little creepy, you're not alone. But these privacy concerns, shared periodically by users since Wi-Fi Motion was first announced, stem largely from Xfinity's own description of the feature.

While Comcast notes that Wi-Fi Motion "is not a home security service and is not professionally monitored," the company will still generate and store data related to motion detection in your home. Comcast may also freely, without notifying you first, share that data with third parties if requested as part of an investigation, proceeding, or a court order or subpoena.

This implies that Comcast could tell law enforcement whether you were home at a certain time, and some users on the Hacker News forums were not huge fans of that. However, others point out that your ISP already has that sort of information thanks to internet usage and phone pings, even when not in use.

Beyond sharing data with third parties, motion detection could open the door to a whole new host of cybersecurity threats. If the data falls into the wrong hands, a lot of sensitive information could potentially leak out, including data on when you're home and when you're not.

The impact of Wi-Fi Motion is unclear at this time. If you're an Xfinity user, you can just skip the feature and easily avoid any potential risks.

Still, this new feature, while certainly innovative, invites a larger debate on privacy, when exactly enough is enough, and how much data we're all willing to share with third parties. It will definitely leave some people struggling to choose between extra home security and giving up a little bit more privacy, so we're interested to see how it develops from here.

You might also like

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• A team of Chinese researchers has achieved a 1Gbps data transmission from a satellite
• The satellite operates 22,807 miles above Earth, while Starlink satellites are at around 341 miles
• This kind of speed could be revolutionary for internet connections in remote areas on Earth, but also in space

It's no secret that getting a stable, reasonably fast internet connection in non-urban areas is still a challenge (and even those of us living in cities sometimes struggle). Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, goes a long way toward making internet more accessible all around the globe – but it just got majorly overshadowed by a small team of Chinese scientists.

This new breakthrough in satellite internet technology (via Interesting Engineering) was achieved by Liu Chao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor Wu Jian of Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications. The scientists developed a new method of combating the biggest hurdle faced by satellite laser connections: atmospheric turbulence.

Combining two already established technologies and using them in synergy resulted in shockingly fast data transmission. But this isn't just about speed (although that's arguably the best part for us, internet users). It's also about the distance to the satellite and the laughably low wattage of the laser used by the Chinese researchers.

Super-fast satellite speeds with a surprisingly low error rate

A key benefit of this method lies in the relatively low error rate during data transmission, increasing the chance of achieving usable signals by nearly 20% (previously 72%, now 91.1%). As we all know, speeds are just one part of the equation when it comes to internet connections, and anyone who's ever had to deal with an unreliable ISP knows that stable is often better than faster.

Still, the Chinese researchers were reportedly able to achieve both through a mix of Adaptive Optics (AO) and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR). The former sharpens distorted light, and the latter captures scattered signals. Only when combined did these two separate methods achieve 1Gbps in data transmission, though, and the scientists praise this method for successfully avoiding drops in communication quality.

They carried out the test at the Lijiang observatory in China, using a 5.9-foot telescope that contains hundreds of tiny mirrors – that's the adaptive optics system in play. These mirrors reshape incoming laser light to account for atmospheric turbulence. Speaking of lasers: the team used a two-watt laser for this experiment, which can be compared to a nightlight. Of course, this refers to laser power and not the satellite’s total energy use.

Once processed and extracted, the light splits into eight base-mode channels, and finally, a special algorithm decides which of these channels is the most promising, in real-time. Choosing the top three signals out of eight gave the researchers a major boost in signal strength, all the while dramatically outpacing Starlink’s downlink speeds – especially impressive given the much greater orbital distance.

This could be good news for internet users worldwide (and beyond)

Comparing this new breakthrough to Starlink reveals a few key differences. First, data transmission speeds reaching up to 1Gbps are not something that Starlink can currently achieve; in our Starlink review, we found that the average for downloads sat at 71Mbps, and Starlink itself promises to deliver between 25 to 100 Mbps on the Standard plan. Second, signal strength and reduced errors in data transmission, despite the massive distance to the satellite, are both promising.

Cutting back on errors and snags in the connection is crucial for users who want to stream videos or send larger files. If this technology is ever made mainstream, we might be able to use the internet even in remote areas without having to compromise on what we can or cannot do. Goodbye, waiting for five minutes for that text to come through – we really wouldn't miss you.

But the implications here are huge, even if you think bigger than just having a reliable connection everywhere. Boosting signal speed, distance, and strength through this method of laser communication could spell great news for satellite navigation. It could even impact the ability to connect with space missions, such as with the ISS, more seamlessly and without delays.

Right now, this is just a proof of concept – an interesting achievement described in the Acta Optica Sinica journal. Let's hope that this picks up and gives Starlink a serious run for its money.

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Acer Predator Connect W6x: One-Minute Review

Like most manufacturers, Acer has been focusing on the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology in its best routers and mesh systems.

One advantage of Wi-Fi 7 is its use of the high-speed 6.0GHz frequency band, which provides far higher speeds than previous versions of Wi-Fi. However, there are millions of people who are still using older computers and mobile devices that only support the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands used by the previous generations of Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6.

To provide a more affordable option for those users, Acer has also released the Predator Connect W6x, which provides basic dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands with a top speed of 6.0Gbps (and is also backwards-compatible with older devices that use Wi-Fi 5).

Acer uses the Predator name for its range of gaming PCs and accessories, and while the Predator Connect W6x certainly isn’t the fastest router around it can still provide a fast, affordable option for gaming, streaming and other tasks at a very competitive price.

The only problem is finding the right router with the right model number on Acer’s perpetually unhelpful website.

Acer Predator Connect W6x: Price And Availability

• How much does it cost? $169 / £99 / AU$299
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Your first task is to make sure you find the correct model on Acer’s website, as the company sells a number of routers in the Predator Connect range that look almost identical and have very similar model numbers.

We tested the Predator Connect W6x, which you can spot by counting its array of six external antennae. However, there are also models called the Predator Connect W6 (eight antenna) and W6d (four antenna), which have very similar designs, although they do have slightly different technical specifications.

And Acer’s Australian website carelessly manages to refer to the W6x as being both a tri-band and dual-band router, depending on which web page you look at, so you really do need to take care when ordering online.

Assuming you manage to find the correct model, then the Predator Connect W6x is available directly from Acer in the US and Australia, priced at $169 / AU$299.

That’s a fairly competitive price when compared to similar Wi-Fi 6 routers, but it’s customers in the UK who seem to get the best deal, as the W6x costs just £99. It’s not sold on the Acer website in the UK, though, so you’ll need to shop around online.

• Value: 4.5/5

Acer Predator Connect W6x: Design

• Low-profile design
• Eight external antennae
• Four Ethernet ports for wired connections

The Acer Predator Connect W6x certainly looks like a gaming router, with a sombre black, low-profile design and an intimidating array of dagger-like antennae (that’s six antennae - count ‘em, not four or eight).

The body of the router stands just 50mm high, 270mm wide and 187mm deep, but the adjustable, rotating antennae are 170mm long so you’ll need plenty of room when you’re setting it up to make sure that the antennae can spread out and zap the Wi-Fi signal far and wide.

The affordable W6x doesn’t have the array of glowing lights that you find on some gaming routers, but Acer hasn’t cut too many corners in order to keep the price down.

The back panel of the router provides a 2.5Gb Ethernet port for a high-speed Internet connection, and there are four Gigabit Ethernet ports available for a gaming PC or console if you prefer a lag-free wired connection for your online gaming sessions.

There’s even a USB port for adding a network storage drive as well. This uses a USB-A (3.0) connector, rather than the faster USB-C, but that’s hardly a criticism at this price.

• Design: 4/5

Acer Predator Connect W6x: Features

• Free security from Trend Micro
• Free parental controls
• QoS for gaming and streaming

The Predator Connect app provides a number of useful features, but it’s not as user-friendly as it could be.

The apps provided with many routers keep things simple by automatically combining the different frequency bands to create a single network, while others prefer to create a separate network for each frequency band.

The Predator app does neither of these things – it starts by simply filling the screen with the various network settings and leaves it up to the user to decide which options to choose.

That’s fine for more experienced users, but home users who aren’t familiar with terms such as ‘band-steering’ and ‘SSID’ may be a bit confused at this point.

Once that’s done, the app provides features such as the ability to create a guest network, or to block Internet access for individual devices. There’s also a QoS option – quality of service – that allows you to give priority to devices, such as a gaming PC or console, that require maximum performance.

Some features are made unnecessarily complicated, though. The app does include a number of security features and parental controls, and we were pleased to find that these are provided free of charge, with no need to pay an additional monthly subscription – as is the case with some of Acer’s rivals.

But, it’s strange that these are initially turned off within the Predator app, which simply tells you to leave the app and connect to the router using a web browser interface in order to activate these features.

Again, this is something that will appeal to more experienced users, but it could be confusing for people who have never used a browser interface to connect to their router before.

• Features: 4/5

Acer Predator Connect W6x: Performance

• Dual-band Wi-Fi 6
• Top speed of 6Gbps
• 2.5Gb Ethernet for broadband connection

The Predator Connect W6x isn’t a top-of-the-range router by any means, as it’s based on older Wi-Fi 6 technology.

Even so, its top speed of 6Gbps should be more than fast enough for most home broadband services. Our normal office router can only manage a top speed of around 80Mbps on the 2.4GHz band when running the Ookla speed test with devices in the same room.

That’s far short of the maximum 150Mbps available with our office Internet connection. Steam downloads struggle even more, at around 40Mbps. Switching to 5.0GHz on our office router provides some improvement, with the Ookla test rising to 120Mbp, and 100Mbps for Steam.

But, when connecting to devices that are nearby, the W6x breezed along at the maximum 150Mbps for both tests on both 2.4GHz and 5.0Ghz bands.

I also have an office at the back of my building that suffers from an annoying Wi-Fi ‘deadspot’ as my normal office router can’t provide a reliable signal in that location at all.

The W6x was able to reach that office, although its 2.4GHz band struggled a bit and dipped to 70Mbps for both Ookla and Steam.

Fortunately, the router’s 5.0GHz band stepped up to the plate and quickly boosted both Steam and Ookla tests up to the full 150Mbps once more.

So while the Acer Predator Connect W6x might not be the fastest router around, it does perform pretty well for an affordable Wi-Fi 6 router and could be a good upgrade for owners of older Wi-Fi 5 routers (especially for £99 in the UK).

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Predator Connect W6x: Also consider

• First reviewed: June 2025

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: One-Minute Review

Acer is well-known for its Predator range of gaming PCs and displays, but the company also makes a number of Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems that are designed for gaming as well. There are several models in the Predator range, including some very affordable Wi-Fi 6 routers, but at the top of the range is the blazing fast Predator Connect T7 Mesh Router, which Acer claims can provide ‘wired-level latency’ for serious gamers with lightning fast reflexes, potentially making it one of the best gaming routers money can buy.

Its rigidly rectangular design may not be much to look at, but the T7 provides state-of-the-art Wi-Fi performance, with tri-band Wi-Fi 7 that offers a top speed of 11Gbps. And, as the name suggests, you can buy additional T7 routers and use them together to create a far-reaching mesh wi-fi system for larger homes.

Admittedly, those features will probably be overkill for many people – especially if you’re still using older computers and mobile devices that don’t have full support for Wi-Fi 7 – but the T7 is competitively priced for a high-end router, and will certainly appeal to the hard-core gaming audience.

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Price And Availability

• How much does it cost? $329.99/£236.22/AU$699
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Tracking down Acer products can sometimes be a little tricky, as it often relies on third-party retailers to stock its products. Customers in the US are fortunate as they can buy the T7 direct from Acer’s own website for $329.99, which is a similar price to Netgear’s Nighthawk RS300 that runs at 9.3Gbps.

We were also pleased to find that the T7 doesn’t require an additional subscription for parental controls and security features, so it’s certainly competitively priced for such a high-end model. Customers in the UK, Australia and other regions will have to look around online, with the T7 selling for £236.22/AU$699 on Amazon and other sites.

• Value: 4/5

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Design

• Mini-tower design, available in black or white
• 2.5Gb Ethernet for broadband connection
• 2x Gigabit Ethernet for wired (LAN) connections

The T7 has a fairly subdued design for a gaming router. You do get a choice of a black or white for the main casing, and there’s a stylised ‘mask’ LED on the top panel, but this is primarily used to provide status information, and the T7 doesn’t have the over-the-top RGB lighting and effects offered by some of its gaming rivals.

Instead, the T7 opts for a rather staid rectangular obelisk that stands an imposing 212mm high, so you’ll need a shelf or table with quite a bit of room available when you’re setting it up.

One minor oddity is that the On/Off switch is cunningly hidden on the base of the router, while the power connector is more visible on the back panel. The Quickstart guide and the longer PDF manual that we downloaded from Acer’s website both fail to mention this, simply telling you to plug in the power connector and then download the Predator app. That left me wondering why the router wasn’t working when I first plugged it in - until I turned it upside down and found the power switch lurking below.

The back panel isn’t exactly overflowing with other ports and connectors, either. There’s a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port for a high-speed broadband connection, but it’s disappointing that such a high-end router only includes two 1Gb Ethernet ports to provide a wired connection for a PC or games console. There’s a USB-C port on the back as well, which will allow you to connect a hard drive or other storage device to you network. Again, though, this only supports the aging USB 2.0 standard, which is disappointing.

• Design: 3/5

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Features

It’s also slightly irritating that you’re forced to create an account with Acer before you can use the Predator Connect app to get started. However, the app does provide a number of useful features that will appeal to gamers and more experienced users. Many routers aimed at a more general audience will try to keep things simply by merging the router’s different frequency bands into a single network, but the T7 creates three separate networks using the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands. This allows you to reserve the high-speed 6.0GHz band for gaming, while you connect other devices to the 2.4GHz or 5.0GHz bands.

There’s a QoS option – quality of service – that allows you to prioritise high-bandwidth tasks such as gaming or streaming video for specific devices. The T7 even provides useful security features and parental controls without requiring an additional subscription as some of its rivals do.

The app is a little jargon-heavy at times, and if you don’t know what ‘band steering’ or ‘NAT acceleration’ mean then you might struggle with the app at times. Acer’s manual also makes the rookie mistake of simply listing features without really explaining how they work, so you will need a bit of network know-how to make the most of the Predator app.

• Features: 4/5

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Performance

• Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
• Top speed of 11Gbps
• QoS to prioritise gaming

The T7 creates three networks on different frequency bands, but with its top speed of 11Gbps it comes as no surprise to find that it walks all over my aging office router even on the slowest 2.4GHz band.

Our office Internet service provides a top speed of 150Mbps, but my normal router can only manage 80Mbps on the 2.4GHz band when running the Ookla speed test even for devices that are close by in the same room as the router.

Steam downloads are even worse with a sustained speed of only 40Mbps. The 5.0GHz band is slightly better but can still only manage 120Mbps on the Ookla speed test, and 100Mbps for Steam downloads. Even worse is the fact that both frequency bands struggle to reach an office at the back of the building, forcing me to use Ethernet cables to provide a wired connection instead.

Unsurprisingly, the T7 takes this in its stride. Its slower 2.4GHz band hits 125Mbps for both Ookla and Steam downloads in both locations, while the 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands simply shrug their shoulders and give us a pitying look as they breeze along at the maximum speed of 150Mbps even in our back office deadzone.

Admittedly, the T7’s top speed of 11Gbps will be massive overkill for many homes, but if you’re a keen gamer who wants fast, lag-free Wi-Fi for competitive gaming, then the Predator T7 is hard to beat. Then again, it's a router that's not strictly going to be for today's gaming (or business) market, but for the near future (or enthusiasts) instead. If you want to be on the cutting edge, you can be for a price.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Predator Connect T7: Also consider

• First reviewed: May 2025

• Broadband provider Virgin Media has issued advice for UK users of its hub
• The company warns against placing a router in direct sunlight
• This could cause the router to overheat and perform badly – or ‘grind to a halt’ even – and there are other placement issues to consider, too

You might not have ever thought much about the positioning of your Wi-Fi router, but it’s important – particularly as summer is knocking on the door, and some countries are experiencing their first taste of a heatwave.

The Independent reports that prompted by the unusually warm April temperatures in the UK, broadband provider Virgin Media has delivered a warning that it really isn’t a good idea to have your router placed in direct sunlight when the weather gets hot. (Or at any time for that matter).

Virgin Media issued a statement to say: “Although we test our [broadband] hubs carefully at a range of temperatures, they are better off out of bright sunlight, just like your phone or laptop. If the hub gets too hot, it could slow down your connection or even grind to a halt altogether.”

This underlines the point that your router is just like any other piece of hardware – it warms up when used, and has vents and needs to stay cool. Put the device in strong sunlight in a baking hot room, and the results may not be pretty, as Virgin Media suggests.

In a similar vein, the statement advises that you shouldn’t stick your router in a cupboard, where again, it might get overly warm due to a lack of ventilation in the heat. Not to mention the fact that placing it in an enclosed space is interfering with the Wi-Fi signal anyway.

Other placement advice to avoid interference with the Wi-Fi includes: “Keep the Hub at least 1m away from cordless phones or baby monitors, and as far as possible from big obstructions like cupboards and fish tanks.”

Analysis: Tricks to make your router quick (or at least a bit quicker)

Isn’t this all rather alarmist? No, in a word, if your router does get too hot, performance is indeed likely to be impaired. (And it’s not beyond consideration that damage could be caused, too, in cases of extreme heat conditions – something we’re getting more used to seeing these days).

Granted, this isn’t the first time Virgin Media has run this advisory, and in fact the company seems to trot this out on a yearly basis (ahead of summer in the UK). But it’s the first time I’ve seen it, and the advice given is good, plus more broadly, we should all think a bit more about the placement of our router.

Don’t put it in the sun, for sure, or in a cupboard, or in your TV cabinet, for all the heat-related reasons given above. Similarly, don’t shove the router under your desk – try to have it up reasonably high, not near the floor, and with as few obstructions as possible around the device. Any obstacles near the router will only diminish the Wi-Fi signal, just as sure as overheating will.

If you’re in the mood for improving your Wi-Fi in general, you might want to peruse our full guide on how to boost your Wi-Fi signal strength, which includes advice on positioning, as well as technical tweaks you can apply (such as changing Wi-Fi channels). It might be worth considering a Wi-Fi extender in some scenarios, too (such as getting a better signal in your garden for the summer, perhaps).

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• You can now get Starlink’s setup hardware for free
• This requires a 12-month commitment to the internet service
• There’s plenty of small print, and not everyone can get it

When you subscribe to a Starlink internet package, you normally need to pay for the cost of your new dish and router. That can be pricey, as that tech comes to $349 in the US. But a new plan from Starlink could see you get those items for absolutely nothing, potentially making it one of the best internet deals around.

The change comes as part of Starlink’s 12-month Standard Kit residential plan. You’ll still need to pay the regular monthly fee for your service, but eliminating the cost for the actual hardware could net you some significant savings.

Announcing the change on X, Starlink said that the new option would be available in “select markets.” That means you’ll need to check whether you’re actually eligible for this discount based on where you live. To do so, head to Starlink’s website, enter your address, then select Order Now to see if you’re covered.

A lower barrier to entry

Starlink’s offer might seem like a good deal, but there are some caveats to be aware of. For one thing, you only get the kit for free if you commit to a 12-month plan – you’ll need to pay the full figure if you opt for the company’s month-to-month “no commitment” plan.

As well as that, Starlink charges a ‘Change Fee’ if you change your address, cancel your service, don’t pay your bill on time, try to transfer your service to someone else, or cancel your service during the 30-day trial but don’t return your kit. If any one of those scenarios occurs, you’ll be charged the full $349 for the dish and router, although that figure is pro-rated based on how far through your 12-month commitment you are.

That means you’ll need to think carefully about whether this option is right for you.

Still, if it is, it could save you a heap of cash on the hardware you need for Starlink service. Presumably, Starlink has decided that lowering the cost of entry is worth it in order to increase subscriber numbers – and that’s good news if you were already considering signing up.

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If you live somewhere that has poor broadband connectivity, Amazon could soon have the answer: the company is launching a constellation of satellites with the goal of making low-cost internet available worldwide. The initiative is called Project Kuiper and it’s coming sooner than you think – with the first batch of satellites blasting into space on April 29.

A competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink, the aim of Project Kuiper is to bring the world online, by offering high-speed connectivity in remote regions. Amazon says it plans to make the service accessible by offering affordable plans and outdoor antennae.

With the first full-scale satellite deployment taking off this week (weather permitting), Amazon is planning to make the service available to customers "later this year".

As the race for satellite internet supremacy heats up, here’s everything you need to know about Project Kuiper.

What is Project Kuiper?

• Project Kuiper is a new satellite internet service from Amazon
• It will use a constellation of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites
• It aims to provide data coverage in remote regions

Project Kuiper is the name for Amazon’s planned satellite internet service. The company intends to offer fast, affordable broadband by launching its own network of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites – the first of which have now been successfully launched.

One of the aims of Project Kuiper is to provide internet service in areas of the world which are beyond the reach of “traditional, ground-based fiber and wireless connectivity solutions”. Amazon plans to address these “coverage gaps” by investing heavily in satellite technology.

Amazon began working on Project Kuiper in 2018. It received a license from the FCC in July 2020 to launch and operate satellites. In 2023, two major developments were announced: a processing facility at Kennedy Space Center and a dedicated satellite production facility in Washington (where Project Kuiper is based).

How does Project Kuiper work?

• Amazon will initially launch a constellation of 3,232 satellites
• These will orbit lower than traditional geostationary satellites
• Customers connect using terminals installed at home

Project Kuper will use a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to deliver high-speed internet to users on the ground. Like SpaceX’s rival Starlink system, customers will need to install a small outdoor antenna to connect to the service and communicate with the satellites passing overhead.

Amazon initially plans to launch 3,232 satellites. At around 375 miles above the ground, these orbit much closer to the Earth than traditional geostationary satellites. This results in lower latency and faster data transmission. The constellation is designed to provide global coverage by seamlessly handing off connections between satellites as they orbit.

Both the satellites and antennae rely on a single custom chip developed by Amazon, codenamed “Prometheus”, which handles processing, traffic and point-to-point connectivity.

Amazon will also operate a network of stations on the ground to manage data coverage and traffic, communicate with the satellites and keep them operating correctly.

When will Project Kuiper be available?

• Two prototype satellites launched in 2023
• First full-scale deployment planned for April 2025
• Service rollout scheduled for later in the year

To get its satellites into space, Amazon is working with commercial launch providers such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. It has already secured more than 80 heavy-lift launches, enough to put most of its constellation into orbit.

Amazon launched a pair of prototype satellites in 2023. It’s now ready to begin full deployment of its constellation, with the first batch of 27 satellites now sent into space aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket.

Amazon hasn’t confirmed when the service will roll out commercially, but confirmed on April 2 that it expects it to be available “later this year”.

How fast will Project Kuiper be?

• Standard antenna will support 400Mbps connectivity
• Low-cost, compact terminal will offer speeds up to 100Mbps
• Largest antenna gives enterprise users 1Gbps speeds

To begin with, Amazon has developed three “customer terminals”, each of which offers different connectivity speeds.

The standard antenna measures less than 11 inches square and is designed for domestic roof-mounting. Amazon claims it will deliver speeds of up to 400Mbps and cost less than $400 (around £320 / AU$633) to produce.

Amazon has also engineered a cheaper, more compact antenna which measures 7 inches square and weighs just 1lb. Designed as a low-cost, portable option, this will be the most affordable way for customers to access the service. It will offer internet speeds of up to 100Mbps.

For enterprise and power users, as well as telecoms and government use, Amazon has created a larger antenna that can deliver connectivity at up to 1Gbps.

How much will Project Kuiper cost?

• There's no confirmed pricing yet
• Amazon says it's targeting “affordability”
• Production cost of standard terminal is less than $400

Amazon hasn’t confirmed pricing for Project Kuiper yet. However, the company has made clear that “affordability is a key principle”. The company is taking a similar approach to satellite internet as it did with “low-cost devices like Echo Dot and Fire TV Stick”, with the aim of connecting as many customers as possible around the world.

That’s why it has developed a compact, low-cost antenna, as well as keeping the production cost of its standard terminal below $400.

It’s likely that the service will be accessible as part of a monthly subscription. Amazon has confirmed that the offering and its pricing “may vary from country to country”, just as its Prime membership does currently.

To give you an idea, Starlink's residential plan (with unlimited data) currently starts at $120 / £75 / AU$139 per month, with its on-the-go Roam plan (capped at 50GB data) setting you back $50 / £50 / AU$80 per month, with the unlimited Roam plan costing $165 / £96 / AU$195 per month.

Project Kuiper vs Starlink: how do they compare?

• Both services use low Earth orbit satellites
• Starlink is already operational with more than 7,000 satellites
• Project Kuiper is likely to be more affordable once it’s launched

Both Project Kuiper and Starlink, operated by SpaceX, aim to use satellites to provide high-speed internet connectivity to remote corners of the world. Each system relies on low Earth orbit satellites to achieve low-latency data transmission, with users able to connect the services using a range of terminals.

One key difference is that Starlink is several steps ahead of Project Kuiper. It already has more than 7,000 functioning satellites in orbit. Customers can access its services in countless locations right now by purchasing a Starlink antenna and paying for a subscription. Starlink is also trialling smartphone to satellite connectivity with T-Mobile (below).

Because it owns its own rockets, SpaceX has more flexibility to deploy Starlink satellites. Amazon has to rely on third-party launch partners, including SpaceX. On the other hand, Amazon is able to rely on its established cloud service network, AWS, to support the backend infrastructure of its satellite network.

While Project Kuiper is still several months away from offering comparable coverage to consumers, it’s likely to be the less expensive option once it’s up and running. Amazon has made clear that it wants its satellite internet service to be affordable, including both antenna hardware and connectivity packages.

We’ll only know how the performance and value of each service compares once we’ve carried out an in-depth review of Project Kuiper. But competition is certainly no bad thing, even if it is between companies run by two of the world's richest men.

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• Amazon is launching its first Project Kuiper satellites on April 9
• They're the first step in its plan to offer a new satellite broadband service
• Project Kuiper will launch "later this year" to take on Starlink

The new space race, where tech giants battle to offer us high-speed internet from low-earth orbit, is heating up – Amazon has just announced that its first Project Kuiper satellites will be launching next week to take on Starlink.

The launch of 27 satellites – the first of around 3,200 that Amazon will blast into space – is scheduled to take place at 12pm ET on April 9, weather permitting. More importantly for anyone who's pinning their hopes on satellite-based broadband solving their dead zones, Amazon says "we expect to begin delivering service to customers later this year".

Like the Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX, Amazon's system will be a worldwide service. The tech giant says Project Kuiper "will deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to virtually any location on the planet". It hasn't revealed how long it'll take to get its 3,200 low-earth orbit satellites into space, but says the process will involve 80 launches – and that its satellite internet will be available before the end of 2025.

Amazon sent two prototype satellites into space in October 2023, but says the new KA-01 (or Kuiper Atlas 1) models that are launching on an Atlas V rocket next week are a "significant upgrade" on those, with better antennas, processors and more. They've also apparently been coated in a unique "dielectric mirror film" to make them less of a visible eyesore to earth-based astronomers.

How fast will its broadband be?

Amazon says the broad aim of Project Kuiper is to "provide fast, affordable broadband to communities around the world that are currently unserved by traditional internet and communications options". That includes the developing world but also regions of countries like the US and UK, where Amazon is hoping to take on Starlink by offering affordable broadband to rural areas.

During Project Kuiper's early days, you'll need to get one of three antennas or "terminals" (above) to connect to Amazon's low-earth orbit satellites. The smallest model will apparently provide speeds of "up to 100Mbps", with the middle option going "up to 400Mbps". The largest one is designed for businesses and government, and will deliver "up to 1Gbps".

Those "up to" qualifiers are obviously important and we'll have to wait until later this year to get an idea of real-world speeds. Our Starlink review, for example, found that it gave us 71Mbps download speeds (and 15Mbps uploads), which did indeed fit into the promised range of 25-100Mbps.

Amazon hasn't yet announced pricing for Project Kuiper, so far only promising that "affordability is a key principle of Project Kuiper" and compared its pricing strategy to that of its Echo Dot and Fire TV Stick. Further down the line, we can expect Amazon to move towards a 'direct-to-device' service that connects its satellites to smartphones and tablets, but a launch for that hasn't yet been confirmed.

For now, Amazon is looking to get its first internet satellites into space – and all things being well, that'll be the case by the end of next week.

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Eero 7: One-Minute Review

The Amazon-owned Eero got off to an early start in the Wi-Fi 7 market when it launched the high-end – and rather expensive - Eero Max 7 in 2023. That was followed by the Eero Pro 7 earlier this year, and now Eero has launched its most affordable Wi-Fi 7 mesh system in the form of the Eero 7.

But, like a number of ‘affordable’ Wi-Fi 7 routers and mesh systems that have been launched in recent months, the Eero 7 has to make one important compromise in order to keep the price down. This means that it lacks support for the high-performance 6.0GHz frequency band and limits itself to basic dual-band Wi-Fi 7 that just uses the older 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands.

That compromise means that the Eero 7 isn’t as fast as its tri-band Wi-Fi 7 rivals that also support the 6.0GHz band. However, it’s worth remembering that the Wi-Fi 7 standard doesn’t just focus on speed. It’s also designed to provide greater reliability when connecting to lots of different devices, such as smart lights and speakers that you may have in your home, as well as your personal computers and mobile devices.

So while the Eero 7 may not be the fastest mesh system around, it still provides an affordable mesh Wi-Fi system for people who need to reliable Wi-Fi that can reach into every corner of their home.

Price & Availability

• How much does it cost? $349.99 / £349.99
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK

Eero states that each Eero 7 mesh router can cover an area of 2,000sq.ft, and we like the fact that it allows you to buy one, two or three Eero 7 units as required. This allows you to choose the option that suits you best, and also provides more competitive pricing for the two-pack and three-pack options.

You can also mix and match different Eero models, perhaps buying a single Eero 7 as a low-cost add-on for an existing Eero mesh system.

Prices start at £169.99/$169.99 for a single Eero 7, or £279.99/$279.99 for a two-pack mesh system. However, we tested the three-pack option, which costs £349.99/$349.99.

That’s certainly a lot less expensive than the Eero Pro or Max, which cost £699.99/$699.99 and a whopping £1699.99/$1699.99 respectively for a three-pack – although, of course, their tri-band Wi-Fi is a lot faster than that of the dual-band Eero 7.

The Eero 7 is currently available in the US and UK, but – as often seems to be the case – Australia has to wait for the latest Wi-Fi 7 products to arrive. However, the Eero Max 7 has recently gone on sale in Australia, so hopefully the Eero 7 and Pro 7 will soon be available as well.

Value: 4 / 5

Eero 7: Design

• Compact (and sturdy) design
• Two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
• Powered via USB-C

Unlike the larger Pro and Max models, the Eero 7 sticks with the now-familiar white plastic and curvy space-pod design that the company has used for several years. The Eero 7 models are slightly larger than their predecessors, but they’re still fairly compact, standing just 64.1mm high, and 130mm wide and deep, so it’s easy to place the routers on any convenient shelf or worktop when you’re setting the system up.

They’re pretty solidly built too – I actually dropped one while unpacking the box, but it worked with no problems as soon as I plugged in the power supply.

Each router has two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the back, and these are ‘auto-sensing’ ports, which means that they can be used either to connect to your existing broadband router or modem, or to provide a wired network connection for devices such as a gaming PC or console.

Each router also has a USB-C port on the back, although this is used for the mains power supply, rather than connecting a shared network drive.

Most of the Eero’s rivals provide more Ethernet ports, but that probably won’t be a problem for most home users, and we like the fact that the Eero’s 2.5Gb ports support high-speed broadband connections. However, we’re a little unhappy with Eero’s description of the routers’ performance.

The Eero 7 is quoted as having a ‘BE5000 speed rating’, which many people might interpret as meaning a Wi-Fi speed of 5000Mbps (or 5.0Gbps). In fact, a closer look at the tech specs for Eero 7 reveals that the dual-band routers only support a far more modest Wi-Fi speed of 1.8Gbps.

To be fair, that’s still more than fast enough for most domestic broadband connections, but we can’t help thinking that Eero is overhyping the speed a bit.

Design: 4 / 5

Eero 7: Features

• Well-designed app
• Quick set-up
• Limited parental controls

The Eero 7 is certainly well designed, but the low price of this dual-band mesh system does mean that it’s a little sparse on features.

Getting started is fairly straightforward – although poor documentation does mean that we noticed one potential hiccup. There’s no manual provided with the Eero 7, and the Eero app (for iOS/Android) starts by telling you to connect an Eero ‘gateway’ – without explaining what the term ‘gateway’ actually means.

In fact, the ‘gateway’ is simply the first Eero router that you connect to your existing broadband modem or router using an Ethernet cable (included in the box), and any of the Eero routers can act as the gateway.

Once that’s out of the way, setting up the new Eero 7 mesh network is a piece of cake.

You’ll need to turn on Bluetooth on your mobile device, and the Eero app then uses Bluetooth to connect to the Eero routers and link them together to create your new mesh network.

It gives tips on where to locate each router, and can even run a test to check the strength of the Wi-Fi signal as you place the routers in different spots around your home.

To keep things simple, the Eero app combines the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequencies into a single network, and also provides an option to create a guest network if required.

However, additional features, such as parental controls and content filters, VPN and malware protection, do require an additional Eero+ subscription. There’s a two-month free trial available for the Eero+ service, but after that it costs £9.99/$9.99 per month or £99.99/$99.99 per year (and renews automatically at the end of the trial period, so watch out for that).

So while the Eero 7 provides impressive ease of use, there are rival routers and mesh systems that provide a wider range of features without charging for an additional subscription.

Features: 3 / 5

Eero 7: Performance

• Good Wi-Fi range and coverage
• 1.8Gbps Wi-Fi 7
• Dual-band only (2.4GHz/5.0GHz)

With no support for the 6.0GHz frequency band, the Eero 7 clearly can’t match the performance of some of its more expensive tri-band rivals. Even so, its 1.8Gbps Wi-Fi speed is more than fast enough to work with most domestic broadband services, and it didn’t have any trouble dealing with an annoying wi-fi deadspot that we have in our building.

Our aging office router falls well short of the maximum 150Mbps provided by our office broadband connection, generally falling to 120Mbps even for devices that are nearby in the same room. Our old router also struggles to reach an office located at the back of the building, leaving us with a Wi-Fi deadspot where we have to rely on a set of PowerLine adaptors to provide a wired connection instead.

The Eero dealt with both scenarios admirably, immediately bumping our Wi-Fi speed right up to 150Mbs for devices in the same room when running the Ookla Speed Test, and also for large file downloads from Steam. It wasn’t bothered by our office deadspot either, effortlessly maintaining that 150Mbs speed as we picked up our laptop and walked along the corridor to that back office. There’s no doubt that the low cost of the Eero 7 means that its features and performance are fairly basic – but at least it gets the basics right, providing respectable performance and welcome ease of use for home users who simply want to upgrade an older router that still has Wi-Fi 5 or 6.

Performance: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Eero 7?

Also Consider

If our Eero 7 review has you considering other options, here are a few good choices.

Virgin Media went down in the UK earlier today, leaving thousands without internet access in an unwelcome start to the working week – but it seems the issues have now been resolved.

The first reports of internet issues started at around 9.50am, according to Downdetector – and they peaked at just under 10,000 reports at just after 11am GMT. Fortunately, at the time of writing, the reports have now fallen to around the 300 mark.

This morning at around 11.45am GMT, Virgin Media told us it was "aware that some customers are experiencing intermittent issues with their services" and that it was "working to fix this as a priority".

Later, at 5pm GMT, a company spokesperson told us that services had been "fully restored for all customers, following an earlier outage". Downdetector is still showing some reports of issues, but there's should hopefully now dwindle following Virgin Media's statement – here's how the problems played out today...

The latest news

• The Virgin Media internet issues started at around 9.50am GMT
• Most of the problems were related to landline internet and TV streaming
• Virgin Media says internet has now been "fully restored for all customers"

Welcome to an unfortunate start to the week...

Hello, and commiserations if you're a Virgin Media customer who's having internet issues this morning. You're not alone – almost 10,000 customers have reported problems with landline internet this morning on Downdetector (above).

That includes several people on TechRadar. We've reached out to Virgin Media for comment on what's causing the problems and will report back as soon as we hear – but hopefully that dip in the graph above suggests that there are already signs of recovery (for some)...

And... Virgin's service checker is down

As if Virgin Media customers needed their blood pressure raising any higher today, the company's service tracker – which should tell you about known issues in your area – is currently down for many.

Looking at the map of Virgin Media reports on Downdetector, though, it's safe to say this is a nationwide issue, with issues reported from Plymouth to Dundee. We're currently bugging Virgin for an explanation and will update you as soon as we hear back.

A statement from Virgin

Virgin Media has just got back to us with the following statement: "We’re aware that some customers are experiencing intermittent issues with their services. We apologise for any inconvenience and are working to fix this as a priority".

There's currently no estimated timescale for the fix, but it's good to get some acknowledgement that Virgin is working on it. In the meantime, it's back to phone tethering for many, or perhaps trying one of the best VPNs in case the issues are related to DNS problems...

It isn't just Virgin Media...

While Virgin Media has been by far the worst affected this morning, Downdetector is also showing smaller but notable spikes on other services – including BT, Xbox, Microsoft 365 and more.

Sometimes these parallel spikes are simply down to the ways people are reporting the problems (for example, recording it as a Teams rather than Virgin Media issue). But it also suggests that the issues could be DNS (or Domain Name System) related, which means you can't connect to the server to access websites.

When Community Fibre internet went down in the UK last week, many reported that logging into their router and choosing a different DNS (like '8.8.8.8') temporarily solved their problems, as it did using a VPN. Although there's not yet any evidence that doing this will help with today's Virgin outage...

Could you get compensation?

If you're working from home and still struggling with Virgin Media internet issues, your thoughts might be turning to compensation.

To its credit, Virgin Media is pretty clear about that on its compensation page (even if some might claim that's because it's down so often). Under its 'Automatic Compensation scheme' you're apparently eligible for "£9.76 per day for a total loss of service after 2 full working days from registering the loss of service to us".

On the downside, the issues need to be a "total loss of service" and you need to register the problems with Virgin Media either on the phone or using its service checker, which many on the TechRadar team have found to be very flaky today.

So while compensation is possible, there's a chance today's problems (currently heading towards three hours) may not qualify – and even if they do, claiming could be more trouble than it's worth.

Signs of recovery?

The good news for Virgin Media customers is that reports on Downdetector have now plummeted to around the 1,500 mark at the time of writing (from a peak of 10,000 at around 11.10am GMT).

That doesn't necessarily mean that all of the problems have been fixed, just that there aren't waves of new customers adding to the pile of complaints. But this is usually a good sign – and anecdotally some on the TechRadar team have found that their internet connection is back to full fitness.

We've asked Virgin Media to tell us in a statement when it's officially resolved the issues and will (hopefully) bring that to you soon.

Virgin is mid-table for broadband complaints

While Virgin Media customers might not be enamoured with their service today – which seems to be on the mend, according to Downdetector – it might be a small comfort to know that it's by no means the worst for complaints.

According to Ofcom data published two weeks ago, it's bang in the middle of the "complaints per 100,000" broadband tables (cue the Top of the Pops countdown music). At the top is TalkTalk, followed by EE and Now.

Virgin Media, which was once in TalkTalk's shoes, is now down in fourth place, ahead of Vodafone, BT, Plusnet and Sky, which had the fewest complaints in the period from July to September 2024.

Of course, that could all change in 2025 – and Virgin Media customers will be hoping today's issues are going to be rarity, otherwise it could be moving in the wrong direction in Ofcom's table of broadband shame.

The complaints rumble on...

While the Virgin Media internet issues seem to have eased for most, they certainly haven't gone away according to Downdetector – with the complaints sitting at a steady 500 or so for the last two hours, which is well above the typical baseline.

That's a lot less than the peak of around 10,000 we saw earlier, but it suggests the problems are proving to be stubborn in some areas – with the hotspots continuing to be London, Manchester, Birmingham and Belfast. Virgin Media hasn't yet commented on the root cause of the problems, but we'll update you as soon as we hear anything more.

Virgin Media is back for the "vast majority"

The good news is that, according to Virgin Media's social media team, it has now "restored services for the vast majority of customers who were impacted by an earlier outage".

The bad news? If you've come to this page we're guessing that doesn't include you – and Virgin Media still attempting to fix some residual issues. It says "our teams are working tirelessly to fully restore services for all remaining customers, and we apologise again for any inconvenience caused".

Virgin Media still hasn't commented on the root cause on the issues, which have hit companies as well as individuals – the Student Loans repayment company (above), for example, said at 2pm GMT that it could only offer general guidance rather than a full service.

The outage is now (hopefully) over

A Virgin Media spokesperson has just told us: "We have now fully restored services for all customers, following an earlier outage. We would like to apologise again to customers who were impacted for any inconvenience caused.”

So, that's that – or is it? Downdetector is still showing a few hundred reports of issues, at the time of writing. Now that Virgin Media's resolved the issues, though, these residual problems should hopefully clear up soon. And with that, we bid you farewell for this liveblog – as long as those problems stay fixed, that is.

• Eero's launching two new models, both of which support Wi-Fi 7 and up to multi-gigabit speeds
• The Eero 7 and Eero Pro 7 sit below and next to the Max 7
• It's a 'comprehensive lineup' for Wi-Fi 7, according to CEO Nick Weaver

Amazon’s Eero brand is turning 10, and as it has been since day one, it’s all about making Wi-Fi easy and hassle-free. Now, as Eero CEO Nick Weaver told TechRadar, it’s launching “a comprehensive lineup for customers, all with the latest Wi-Fi technology.” That lineup comprises the new Eero 7 and Eero Pro 7, both of which join Amazon’s existing Wi-Fi powerhouse, the Eero Max 7.

Perhaps most importantly, both the standard Eero 7 and the Pro 7 deliver Wi-Fi 7 support at way more affordable prices. The Eero 7 starts at $169.99 / £169.99 for one, and the Eero Pro 7 is $299.99 / £299.99 – both models will also arrive in Australia at a date and price yet to be confirmed. The launch comes just over a week before Amazon's next devices launch event, at which we expect the brand to show off its new supercharged Alexa experience.

The Eero 7 and Eero Pro 7 fully integrate with Eero’s existing ecosystem and live within the companion Eero app for iOS and Android. There, you can get your network online, monitor which devices are connected, troubleshoot any issues, opt for Eero Plus features if you subscribe, and easily add another access point.

All of this comes together as the secret sauce that’s made Eero so successful, and cemented it as one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems around – the brand is now 10 years burning down the road after launching on February 3, 2015. Just like the Eero Max 7, the 7 and Pro 7 both support the Wi-Fi 7 standard, but there’s a key difference between the two.

The standard Eero 7 is a dual-band router with 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz channels for your devices to connect to. It’s multi-gigabit capable, with promised speeds of up to 1.8Gbps wirelessly and 2.3Gbps wired. Each Eero 7 gets two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports and a USB-C port for power, and a cable and wall plug are included in the box. A single Eero 7 offers coverage up to 2,000 square feet, making it likely plentiful for an apartment or smaller home with just a few devices.

However, if you want more channels for devices to connect to and to avoid interference, a tri-band router potentially – and therefore network – is likely the route. And that’s where the Eero Pro 7 comes in – it looks like a Max 7, meaning it’s a sort of an oval-like tower design with a fanless design to help keep things cool. Basically, it sucks the heat in at the bottom and back, then pushes it out the top.

Each Pro 7 is tri-band with 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, and 6GHz channels, giving however many devices you have connected plenty of room on your network. It’s multi-gigabit, and designed to handle even more traffic and offer even better connectivity, as it’s rated for up to 3.9Gbps wireless speeds and up to an impressive 4.7Gbps when wired. The Eero Pro 7 trades the 2.5Gb ports of the standard Eero 7 for two 5Gb Ethernet ports, which makes it better if you have a multi-gigabit connection from your service provider. A single Pro 7 can cover 2,000 square feet like the standard 7, but can handle up to 200 devices connected to a single point.

Beyond the differences between dual-band and tri-band, and the Ethernet ports, the Eero 7 and Pro 7 also pack smart home connectivity in that Matter, Thread, and Zigbee devices can get connected as these also act as border routers or home hubs.

You’ll also get three major benefits from Eero courtesy of dedicated features – TrueChannel, which picks the best channel for your device to connect; TrueRoam, which can pass your connected device from access point to access point without interruption; and TrueMesh, which routes your device via the best possible route. It’s some excellent naming, but really speaks to the technology in these routers, and the Eero OS working to give you the strongest network connection possible and prioritizing the various devices connected to the network.

If you have a Wi-Fi 7-capable device, you can also take advantage of standard features, such as multi-device connections, allowing your device to be on two channels simultaneously. As more devices adopt Wi-Fi 7, you’ll be set for quite some time with the Eero 7 and Pro 7, as they offer plenty of future proofing. And if you need to grow your network, you can also mix and match or expand your Eero system. This means you can start with an Eero Pro 7 as your main router, get one extra Pro 7 to act as an access point somewhere else in your home, and maybe opt for a standard 7 for your garage. It’s all pretty plug-and-play.

I’m particularly excited to see how the Eero Pro 7 pairs with a Max 7 as the main point – Eero’s flagship model has brought new speeds and endurance to my home network, but at $599.99 for one, it never really did tick the ‘affordable’ box. The Pro 7 trickles down the improved design with still really strong network chops for a good chunk of change less. The Max 7, for comparison, covers 2,500 square feet with just one unit, delivers wireless speeds up to 4.3Gbps, and has four Ethernet ports (two of which are 10Gb).

We’ll be testing the new Eero 7 and Eero Pro 7 as soon as we can set them up and connect them. If you’re already sold, Eero is taking orders for the new models right now. Shipments will start on February 26, 2025. The US and UK are the launch countries, and as mentioned they’ll launch in Australia later this year.

Here’s the pricing breakdown, and you can order these at Amazon now.

• Eero 7 single: $169.99 / £169.99
• Eero 7 two-pack: $279.99 / £279.99
• Eero 7 three-pack: $3499.99 / £3499.99

• Eero Pro 7 single: $299.99 / £299.99
• Eero Pro 7 two-pack: $549.99 / £549.99
• Eero Pro 7 three-pack: $699.99 / £699.99

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As I bask in the aftermath of CES 2025, I’ve been taking a bit of time to catch up on other tech sites’ coverage of the event. It’s like the tech journalist equivalent of an athlete watching sports highlights to improve their game next time around. One that really caught my attention was iFixit’s ‘Worst in Show’ awards, which are mostly humorous jabs at tech companies, but also featured one inclusion that suddenly has me a bit concerned about my home Wi-Fi system.

This entry was the new TP-Link Archer BE900, a powerhouse quad-band Wi-Fi 7 router - not a product I plan to buy, but I do already have a TP-Link Deco M9 Plus mesh Wi-Fi system set up in my home. As highlighted by Paul Roberts of SecuRepairs (an iFixit partner site formed by cybersecurity professionals who support right-to-repair), TP-Link is the biggest router brand in the US, but its ties to the Chinese government have resulted in some less-than-consumer-friendly problems with security on its devices.

I’m always learning new things about the tech world - it’s an industry that moves at a shockingly rapid pace - but this was one that took me by surprise. I know that TP-Link was a Chinese company, of course; we’ve featured TP-Link hardware on the site many times, with inclusions in our best router and best mesh Wi-Fi system guides. The brand is a regular fixture at events such as CES. But as iFixit and SecuRepairs point out, Chinese law mandates that any security flaws identified in its products must first be reported to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) before revealing them to the public. I’ll be honest - that’s a big problem.

Digital distrust

As you’ve probably already figured out, this policy essentially means that any malicious actors within the Chinese state have a window in which to potentially execute cyber-attacks before security vulnerabilities are made public. SecuRepairs points out that “hacks of TP-Link devices have been a common theme in China’s state-sponsored hacking campaigns, which are targeting US businesses, government agencies, and critical infrastructure”. The US Departments of Justice and Commerce commenced investigations into TP-Link in late 2024.

Now, I’m not saying that I think that the CCP wants to specifically invade my privacy so they can read my Twitter drafts crapping on Elon Musk, but compromised Wi-Fi devices can be used as part of a network of affected hardware which is then deployed en masse to perform cyberattacks such as password spraying and DDOS assaults. Unsurprisingly, I don’t like the sound of that.

But global politics aside, it’s also just a seriously anti-consumer practice. I appreciate that TP-Link wasn’t the one to create that law, but at the end of the day, the company is willing to cooperate with the MIIT and effectively leave security holes un-plugged for longer than they need to be - even if China doesn’t enact state-sponsored cyberattacks with that knowledge, leaving a known system vulnerability out of the public eye like that potentially opens the door for independent cybercriminals to conduct attacks against innocent individuals.

So in other words, I think I’ll be looking for a new mesh Wi-Fi system soon. I’ve just bought a new house, so it’s a good opportunity to upgrade my home network anyway. I recall that Asus has some rather nice ones…

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Netgear Nighthawk RS200: One-minute review

Netgear has always been happy to sit up at the more expensive end of the networking market but, following a management shake-up earlier this year, we’re pleased to see that it finally seems to be taking a more competitive approach with its pricing. The new Nighthawk RS200 is certainly the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 router that it’s released so far - although that low price does mean that it lacks some key features that most of its Wi-Fi 7 rivals take for granted.

Most notably, the RS200 is a dual-band router, which transmits a Wi-Fi signal on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands – whereas most Wi-Fi 7 routers are ‘tri-band’ devices that can also transmit on the 6.0GHz band as well (as do previous generation routers with Wi-Fi 6E too). Some people might argue that this omission means that the RS200 doesn’t even qualify as a true Wi-Fi 7 router at all, but there are other technical features within Wi-Fi 7 that enable the RS200 to squeeze better performance out of the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. This ensures that it can outperform many of the older dual-band routers that are still in use in many homes, so it may be worth considering as an upgrade for people who are still using an old Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 router that was provided by their ISP.

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $229.99/£199.99/AU$449.00
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, Australia

A price of $229.99/£199.99/AU$449.00 means that the RS200 is one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 routers we’ve seen so far – although, of course, Netgear had to omit support for the high-speed 6.0GHz band in order to achieve that price. However, its top speed of 6.5Gbps should still be adequate for most domestic broadband services. Netgear also states that it can connect to 80 different devices at the same time, and can cover homes up to 2,500sq.ft in size (although regions outside the US may quote that figure at 2,000sq.ft due to differences in national regulations).

• Value: 3.5/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Specs

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Design

• Tower design provides 360-degree Wi-Fi
• 4x Ethernet ports for wired connections
• USB for network storage

I still miss the streamlined design of the original Nighthawk routers, with folding wings that made it look like Darth Vader’s shuttle craft. But, like other new Nighthawk models since the introduction of Wi-Fi 7, the Nighthawk RS200 has a more upright design, looking like a tall, black obelisk that stands a full 249mm high. You’ll need to give it plenty of room when first setting it up, but this design does allow the router’s four internal antennae to more effectively transmit the Wi-Fi signal through 360-degrees all around, in order to achieve the high speeds that are provided by Wi-Fi 7.

And, despite the low price, the RS200 provides wired good connectivity too, with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for a high-speed fibre or cable broadband connection. There’s another 2.5Gbps port to provide a wired connection for a PC or games console, and three Gigabit Ethernet ports for additional connections. It’s also possible to ‘aggregate’ – or combine – two of those Ethernet ports to provide a faster connection if required. There’s even a USB-A (3.0) port that will allow you to connect a USB storage device to your network, so that you can share files with other people at home or in an office.

• Design: 4/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Features

There’s no getting around the fact that omitting the 6.0GHz frequency band is an odd decision for a Wi-Fi 7 router, as anyone who has a shiny new PC or smartphone that supports Wi-Fi 7 will want all the speed they can get from it. However, a speed of 6.5Gbps is still more than adequate for most home users, and many business users too, and the RS200 does include Wi-Fi 7 features – such as reduced latency – that still give it an edge over older dual-band routers.

The Nighthawk app is well designed too, and makes it easy to set up your new network in just a few minutes. There’s a QR code printed on top of the router, and you can just scan this code and then leave the app to set everything up for you automatically. You can simply use the default network name and password if you want, but the app allows you to create a new name and password for extra security. The only thing that slows you down is the need to create a Netgear account in order to keep using the app after the initial installation.

To keep things as simple as possible, the Nighthawk app combines the two frequency bands into a single network and automatically connects your computers and other devices to the fastest band available in that particular location within your home or office. But while the app is very easy to use, it doesn’t offer many additional features.

You can create a guest network, and there are tools for running a speed check and monitoring network traffic to ensure that everything is working properly. However, the app’s parental controls are very basic, simply allowing you to pause Internet access for individual devices. There are no weekly scheduling controls, or content filters to block web sites that might be unsuitable for children.

If you do want those additional features then you’ll need to pay a subscription fee for Netgear’s Smart Parental Controls service. There’s a 30-day free trial available, but once the trial ends you’ll need to pay $7.99/month or $69.99/year to continue the service. The same thing applies to Netgear’s Armor security service, which also provides a 30-day trial, but then costs $99.99 per year.

As we’ve said – many a time in the past – there are rival routers that provide better parental controls free of charge, so parents that do need these features may want to consider alternative routers.

• Features: 3.5/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Performance

• 6.5Gbps speed
• Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4GHz/5.0GHz)
• 4 internal antennae

The lack of support for the 6.0GHz frequency band is clearly disappointing – and for some users it may well be a deal-breaker. Even so, the improved performance of the Nighthawk RS200 still allows it to beat the aging dual-band router in our office, which was provided by our ISP.

Our office broadband runs at 150Mbps, but our old router can normally only manage a top speed of 120Mbps even when connecting to devices that are close by in the same room.

We also have an office at the back of the building that our old router struggles to reach at all, forcing us to rely on PowerLine adaptors to provide a wired network connection instead. In contrast, the RS200 immediately hit the full 150Mbps speed that was available when connecting to devices in the same room for both the Ookla Speed Test and for large file downloads on Steam.

That speed did dip slightly as I picked up my laptop and wandered along the hall to the back office, but the RS200 took just a few seconds to roll up its sleeves and bump the speed back up to 150Mbps once more, and eliminate the need for those PowerLine adaptors. If you already own an expensive laptop or iPhone 16 that has full support for tri-band Wi-Fi 7 then it probably doesn’t make much sense to compromise on an entry-level router such as the RS200 that doesn’t support the 6.0GHz band. However, the RS200 can still provide a fast, reliable upgrade for people who are using an older dual-band router that is past its sell-by date.

• Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the Netgear Nighthawk RS200?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Netgear Orbi 770: One-minute review

We were pleasantly surprised by the Nighthawk RS300 router that Netgear released recently as it marked a move towards slightly more affordable pricing than we’d seen from the company in the past. It looks like that trend is continuing, as Netgear has now launched a new addition to its range of mesh Wi-Fi systems in the form of the Orbi 770, which is considerably less expensive than previous models in the Orbi range.

It’s still not exactly cheap – after all, Wi-Fi 7 is still the current state-of-the-art for Wi-Fi technology – but the Orbi 770 provides tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with a top speed of 11Gbps, which should be more than fast enough for most homes and small businesses. And, more importantly, it’s a lot less expensive than previous Orbi models, and can even compete with mesh systems from rivals such as Linksys and TP-Link as well. The only sting in the tail, as always, is Netgear’s fondness for selling subscription services that provide additional parental controls and security features.

Netgear Orbi 770: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $999.99 / £899.99 / AU$1,499.00
• When is it available?: Available now
• Where can you get it?: Available in the US, EU, UK and Australia

There are two options for the Orbi 770 series, with prices starting at £649.99/$699.99 for a two-piece system that consists of one primary router and one secondary ‘satellite’. Netgear states that this two-piece system is capable of covering areas of up to 5,500sq.ft, although regions such as the UK and EU may quote slightly lower coverage areas due to differences in local regulations. However, we tested the top-of-the-range three-piece system that includes a router and two satellites, covering up to 8,000sq.ft, for a total price of £899.99/$999.99. That three-piece system is the only option currently available in Australia, where it is priced at AU$1499.00.

That’s a fraction of the price of Netgear’s high-end Orbi 9700, but also compares well with rivals such as the Linksys Velop Pro 7, which provides similar speeds and features. However, people who need parental controls or more advanced security features may want to shop around to see how much rival manufacturers charge for those features and services.

Value: 4 / 5

Netgear Orbi 770: Specs

Netgear Orbi 770: Design

• Upright design boosts Wi-Fi signal
• Primary router with two ‘satellite’ units
• 2.5GB Ethernet for WAN/LAN connections

Many mesh Wi-Fi systems simply provide you with two or three routers that are completely identical, but the Orbi 770 – like all of Netgear’s Orbi range – consists of a primary router and two additional ‘satellites’. The router and satellites do look very similar, with a tall, upright design that helps them transmit the Wi-Fi signal through a full 360-degrees all around, but there are a number of differences between them. The primary router – which has a helpful sticker on the front that says ‘ROUTER’ in capital letters – has a 2.5Gb Ethernet port (WAN) port for connecting to your existing broadband router or modem, along with three additional 2.5Gb ports to provide wired (LAN) connections for devices such as a games console or set-top box that might work better with a wired network.

In contrast, the satellite units each have just two 2.5Gb port for wired connections. It’s also a little disappointing that there are no USB ports at all, which would allow you to connect a hard drive or other storage device that you could share with other people on your network. The white plastic casing of all three units also feels a little lighter and less sturdy than it does with some of the more expensive Orbi models, so parents with young children should probably place them out of reach of eager little hands.

Design: 4 / 5

Netgear Orbi 770: Features

• Good app with simple set-up
• Can create guest and IoT networks
• Some features require subscriptions

Netgear’s Orbi app has always been easy to use, so getting started is very straightforward – apart from the fact that the router and satellites take a rather leisurely few minutes to warm up before their status lights announce that they’re ready for action.

The app starts by telling you to set up the main router on its own, and you can simply scan a QR code on the router to connect to the new Orbi network. You can use the default network name and password if you want, but you’re also given the option of creating new login details for improved security. You are then prompted to set up the satellites in different locations around your home, and the app automatically connects the three units together to complete your new network.

The Orbi 770 is a tri-band router that can transmit a Wi-Fi signal on the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz, and 6.0GHz frequency bands, with a top speed of 11Gbps (strictly speaking it’s actually 10.8Gbps but Netgear’s marketing info tends to round the numbers up).

To keep things simple for home users, the Orbi app combines all three bands to create a single network, but there are other options as well. Like most routers and mesh systems, the Orbi 770 allows you to create an additional guest network, but it also introduces a third ‘IoT’ network – or ‘Internet Of Things’ – that sets aside the 2.4GHz frequency band specifically for use with smart devices such as lights and security cameras.

It also supports Wi-Fi 7 features such as MLO – multi-link operation – that allow it to use the 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands together to improve performance (although your computers and other devices will also need to support Wi-Fi 7 in order to use MLO).

But while the Orbi app is easy to use, it’s not exactly overflowing with additional features, and more advanced users might prefer an app that provides more detailed control over your network settings. That rather barebones approach also allows Netgear to try and sell you additional subscriptions that provide more advanced parental controls and security features.

The basic parental controls that are available within the app merely allow you to pause internet access for individual devices, but there are no scheduling features that can limit Internet access to specific times, or content filters for blocking unsuitable websites.

If you want those features then you’ll need to sign up for Netgear’s Smart Parental Controls service, which costs £6.99/$7.99/AU$10.99 per month, or £49.99/$69.99/AU$99.99 per year. You do get a 30-day free trial with Netgear’s Armor security service, but after that you’ll need to pay for an annual subscription starting at £84.99/$99.99/AU$145.00.

As we’ve noted on many occasions in the past, there are rival routers and mesh systems that provide some of these features free of charge, so parents in particular might want to consider some of the alternatives in our list of best mesh systems.

Features: 4 / 5

Netgear Orbi 770: Performance

• 11Gbps, tri-band Wi-Fi 6
• 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
• Supports MLO and other Wi-Fi 7 features

It might be far less expensive than other models in the Orbi range, but the Orbi 770 doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to performance. Its 11Gbps speed is more than fast enough to cope with most domestic broadband services, and even many business networks as well, and it’s not even slightly bothered by the troublesome Wi-Fi ‘deadspot’ that we have in an office located towards the back of our building.

Our normal office router can provide the full 150Mbps provided by our office network when connecting to devices that are close by. However, its Wi-Fi signal struggles to reach that back office, which means that we normally have to rely on a set of PowerLine adaptors to provide a more reliable wired network connection. As expected, the Orbi 770 doesn’t provide any real improvement for devices that are close to its primary router, simply matching the 150Mbps that we normally get when running the Ookla Speed Test or downloading games from Steam.

However, the Orbi satellites do a great job of extending our new Wi-Fi network into that back office, allowing us to maintain that 150Mbps speed for both Ookla and Steam with no trouble at all.

Admittedly, the Orbi 770 may still be overkill if you’re using older devices that only support Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6, but it provides a competitively priced Wi-Fi upgrade for owners of newer devices that have Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7.

Performance: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Netgear Orbi 770?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also Consider

We’ve all been there. You're in the middle of an intense Netflix binge or a crucial video call, and the Wi-Fi drops out or slows to a crawl.

Sometimes, this is due to the broadband speeds from your internet service provider. But if you've tested your internet speed and all seems OK, then it's time to look at your Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi is the middleman between your devices and the internet. While your broadband is the actual internet service coming into your home, Wi-Fi is how that service gets wirelessly distributed to your gadgets. And just like any middleman, sometimes it doesn’t quite get the job done.

But there's no need to panic. This guide gives you twelve different steps to boost your Wi-Fi strength and get the power you need to work, play, and stream your favorite shows.

Final thoughts

As you can see, when it comes to increasing Wi-Fi signal strength, there are a whole host of different things you can try. We advise starting with the simplest and most cost-effective solutions first. There's no point in shelling out for expensive hardware if all you need to do is restart your router and update its firmware.

However, everyone's circumstances are different, and there are many different factors at play. If the simpler solutions don't give you the signal strength you're looking for, then a new router, extender, or mesh system might be just what you need.

It’s difficult for tech writers like myself to get a broad view on a piece of tech within our day-to-day lives. Many of us live in small rental apartments in the inner city, which severely limits our ability to conduct holistic reviews on more fixed things like doorbells and security cameras. In the case of mesh Wi-FI, the tech’s greatest advantage is consistent coverage across a wide area, so it’s tough to get a good view in a small apartment. My solution with this modem-router? Take it to my dad’s big home out in the suburbs, of course.

Netgear sent me the company’s new Orbi 970 Series mesh routers some months ago, which represent the height of the company’s home internet tech (and the most expensive). They’re some of the first mesh modem-routers equipped with Wi-Fi 7, which offers improvements over Wi-Fi 6E, the most impressive of which being a shared SSID for 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands – no more split network names!

The Orbis came to me at a brilliant time – my dad was having Wi-Fi problems in the (much larger) family home. At the time, the smart home devices in his pool area, including the pump, lights and cleaning robot, required a 5GHz connection that my dad’s old modem-router could not extend far enough across the property, especially with so many walls and obstacles in the way. Moreover, the home was plagued by consistently slow speeds.

Exacerbating the issue was the fact that Dad’s modem-router combination was just old (God bless him, he holds onto tech for as long as he can). It was so old that I remember the very same devices being used seven years ago on an ADSL2+ connection when I was still living in the family home. Certainly not ideal for Australia’s fiber-based National Broadband Network (NBN), nor the 250Mbps-capable plan he’s paying for. I’d been telling my dad to consider mesh for a while, but he didn’t see how it would actually improve anything.

So how did the Netgear Orbi 970 mesh routers perform? Perfectly.

Let's get meshy

Netgear quotes the Orbi 970 mesh routers as capable of providing a consistent Wi-Fi experience across 660 square meters with three modules (the standard allocation of devices) placed evenly across a home. My dad’s block of land is 700 square meters in total, but considering only about 200 square meters of that is the physical home, a single module would have also worked a treat as they’re rated at 220 square meters each.

The gateway module was placed in the garage, where the access point is (in this case, the FTTP NBN box – or fiber to the premises for those who aren’t in Australia). Functioning as a modem-router system, this is all we needed to get started, though this may be different for you depending on the technology type used in your home.

We immediately ran into a problem that slowed setup. Netgear encourages users to stick to the app when setting up their mesh Wi-Fi, however as my dad uses a PPPoE connection (where you typically need to enter a username and a password in the back-end of a modem) we needed to login with an ethernet connection to a computer. Thankfully the Netgear Orbi 970 mesh routers have this functionality (the Eero 6 Pros on the other hand do not, as I had previously found). 

After this, pairing the Orbi modules to the gateway was easy. We placed the remaining two modules throughout the home to achieve the greatest quality Wi-Fi.

The same SSID and password as the previous modem-router combination was used, which allowed almost every device in the home to reconnect quickly without needing to sign in individually. Even without a separate SSID for the 5GHz band, devices that required this connection hopped right on the single setup without a problem.

Up and running speedily

Going from a dinghy modem-router setup to the most expensive commercially available mesh system available in Australia absolutely worked well. My dad’s office, which is a fair distance from the garage, would previously report a maximum speed of 30Mbs – but often much less (as low as 2Mbps)  – on the previous modem-router setup, but with these modules, that cranked all the way up to 266Mbps. I noted this same speed across the house, with some of my dad’s older computers recording a maximum speed of 100Mbps. 

The big takeaway wasn’t necessarily that this was some be-all and end-all mesh router to buy, but that you should really give mesh Wi-Fi a shot if you’re looking to drastically improve Wi-Fi quality in your home. My dad’s home isn’t the biggest by any account, despite the measurements listed in this article, but I can still confidently say that this setup would provide a benefit over a single modem-router setup. As the mesh modules use their own specific band to stitch an even blanket of Wi-Fi coverage between themselves, this solution offers a much more consistent experience than, for example, using a Wi-Fi extender or simply using a more powerful modem.

I’m not sure if I would recommend the Netgear Orbi 970 to pull off this Wi-Fi overhaul in your home, however. The mindblowing £2,199.99 / $2,299.99 / AU$4,299 price tag for the three-module kit is enough to turn away a lot of buyers. It might be worth considering this device if you want Wi-Fi 7, but just keep in mind that many devices don’t currently support this standard (the only one in my household of fairly up-to-date tech is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra).

The bottom line – give mesh a shot. It might be the Wi-Fi upgrade you’ve been waiting for.

You might also like...

• If you're interested in mesh Wi-Fi, these are your best options
• Don't need mesh? Check out Netgear's powerful new Nighthawk router
• Everything you need to know about Wi-Fi 7

If you need to pump up your internet speeds for gaming, you're in luck. Whether you're like me and enjoy kicking back with old-school shooters such as Call of Duty, or enjoy the new age of battle royale games like Fortnite more, if there's one thing we all hate, it's a dodgy connection. 

Whether it's the laggy Discord call with your teammates, or the ping spike at the crucial moment of your duel, poor internet can really cramp your killstreak. Luckily, Sky Broadband has taken it upon itself to attempt to become the go-to solution to your gaming needs, and even created a map inside Fortnite to do this. 

Sky Broadband's latest offers bring you speeds up to 900 Mbps, all for under £43 per month. Plus, you can access Sky's Wall to Wall WiFi Guarantee, Sky Talk upgrades, and even ways to ensure you always have the best connection possible with Sky Broadband Boost options.

My top Sky Broadband deal pick

Other Sky Broadband offers to consider

• Sky Broadband Full Fibre 75 - £28 per month | Up to 76 Mbps download speeds | Up to 19 Mbps upload speeds | 50 Mbps minimum speed guarantee
• Sky Broadband Full Fibre 150 - £28 per month | Up to 152 Mbps download speeds | Up to 28 Mbps upload speeds | 100 Mbps minimum speed guarantee
• Sky Broadband Full Fibre Gigafast - £43 per month | Up to 930 Mbps download speeds | Up to 100 Mbps upload speeds | 600 Mbps minimum speed guarantee | £100 retail voucher included

Looking for a great broadband deal that offers fixed prices, no setup fees and huge savings? Well, Community Fibre's summer sale could provide the perfect option for you. 

Right now, new Community Fibre customers are eligible to save up to £552 on their broadband bills if they sign up by 4th November 2024. As an added bonus, those who do will not be subjected to any price increases during their contract terms. 

Community Fibre's sale runs across its entire range of packages, from its 35Mbps option right through to its 3Gbps deal, which is 43x faster than the UK average download speed and 163x faster than the UK average upload speed, for only a fraction of the price. 

Here's a rundown of the packages that are currently in the Community Fibre sale: 

Why partner with Community Fibre? 

Community Fibre is a London-based ISP. As of November 2023, it supplies connections to 1.3 million homes across and around the capital. Now, more than 185,000 London-based businesses are located within 200 metres of Community Fibre’s network footprint. 

Community Fibre is popular because the company provides a range of packages that offer download speeds of between 35Mbps and 3Gbps. Its fastest packages are 43x faster than the UK average download speed, and 163x faster than the UK average upload speed. On top of this, it's also worth mentioning that, for new customers struggling to get online, Community Fibre also offers its own social broadband tariff at £12.50/month. 

Added to this, the company regularly undercuts the likes of BT, Virgin Media, Sky and TalkTalk when it comes to price and all of its packages come with a Linksys Wi-Fi 6 router (or Technicolor for 3 Gbps), as well as no setup fees. 

Other benefits to partnering with Community Fibre include the company's 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, meaning that if at any point within the first 60 days of installation you are not happy with the new full fibre connection, you can leave your contract without incurring any cancellation fees. Similarly, in terms of customer service, Community Fibre was the UK’s ‘top-ranked broadband provider’ by Which? in March 2024. 

That said, although there's a lot to love about Community Fibre, we should stress that its deals aren't available across the UK. As a result, the packages we've mentioned above may not be available at your property. If this is the case, put your postcode into the widget below and we'll show you all of the best deals that are currently available at your address.  

Looking for a new broadband deal with Full Fibre speeds that won't break the bank? Well, we have found a fantastic offer from Plusnet that may just pique your interest...

At the moment, you can get Plusnet's 'Full Fibre 300' tariff for the affordable price of £29.99 a month. On top of this, you don't need to pay any upfront fees (these are usually £20), you get unlimited data and some top router tech included. 

As you might be able to work out from the name of the package, you get average download speeds of 300Mbps. However, you also receive upload speeds of up to 50Mbps and a 'minimum speed guarantee' of at least 165Mbps. All of this, combined with the top-spec router and the fact Plusnet uses the dependable Openreach network to supply its broadband, means you're sure to get excellent performance when online. 

As such, we think this deal can be ideal for most properties with high internet usage, as you should be able to stream, download, game and browse across multiple devices at once, without any issues. In fact, Plusnet even states this deal is 'perfect for streaming'. There's even free antivirus thrown in with Plusnet SafeGuard and Plusnet Protect. 

In order to get this deal you need to enquire via our link, however, you will also need to have access to Plusnet's Full Fibre network - but you can check this directly when you try to sign up. A final consideration here is that Plusnet states that 'on 31 March each year the monthly plan price will increase by £3 for broadband'.

This week's best Plusnet broadband deal

Should I choose Plusnet for my broadband?

From our featured deal you'll be able to see that there's lots to love with Plusnet and that one of the biggest appeals of this provider is that you can get low prices on its tariffs. However, Plusnet has a lot more to offer as well, which is why it ranks firmly amongst the UK's best and most popular broadband providers. 

Another positive about Plusnet is that it has packages to suit pretty much any household - which are again often available at great value prices. These range from slower ADSL speeds up to gigabit-capable ones. 

Here are its current tariffs:

• Plusnet Unlimited Broadband - 10Mbps (ADSL for remote areas only)
• Plusnet Unlimited Fibre - up to 66Mbps (depending on location)
• Plusnet Full Fibre 74 - 74Mbps
• Plusnet 145 - 145Mbps 
• Plusnet 300 - 300Mbps
• Plusnet 500 - 500Mbps
• Plusnet 900 - 900Mbps

Plusnet can also offer more flexibility than most in terms of contract lengths, as on selected packages you can get 12, 18 or 24-month options. There are also other perks to enjoy, such as:

• Award-winning and UK-based customer services
• Mobile tariff bolt-ons
• Loyalty schemes and discounts at selected retailers
• Money-off your bill referral schemes
• Easy switching

Despite all of this though, you can still argue that Plusnet is a 'no frills' provider that's very much focussed on broadband and in particular lacks things like extra TV bundles. So if this is a deal-breaker for you, simply head over to our best broadband deals guide to find a package that better suits your needs.

Feel free to also enter your postcode into our widget below, as you'll then be able to see all the packages on offer right now in your area.

Searching for the best broadband deals available at the moment, but haven't quite found one that's either fast enough or rewarding enough? Well, your search might be over. 

Until 8th August, BT's Full Fibre 300 is available for the discounted price of £34.99 a month when you sign a 24-month contract. Plus, there are absolutely no upfront fees to pay and you'll receive a £50 reward card that can be redeemed anywhere that accepts Mastercard. 

This Full Fibre package runs on the dependable Openreach network. As the name suggests, it provides average download speeds of 300Mbps. This means that it should be more than fast enough for the requirements of most households. As part of this, BT claims that with this deal you'll be able to 'stream and download as much as you like'. In addition to this, you also get unlimited data, a 'Stay Fast Guarantee' of 150Mbps and 49Mbps upload speeds.

However, before you click on our link and sign up for the package, there are a couple of things you'll need to consider. For example, in order to be eligible, you'll need to be able to access the Full Fibre Openreach network at your property. On top of this, BT also highlights that there are 'monthly price increases [of] £3 for broadband plans on 31 March each year'. 

OUR BT BROADBAND DEAL

More great reasons to choose BT Broadband

There are lots of reasons to love BT and it's easy to see why the company is one of the UK's best and most popular internet service providers.

One reason why BT is so popular is the range of packages it offers. The superfast 300Mbps deal we've highlighted here actually sits in the middle of its offering. As well as offering an ADSL option (10Mbps), a couple of basic fibre deals (30-60Mbps) and entry level Full Fibre packages that offer speeds of around 80Mbps, the company also offers plans that go all the way to 900Mbps. 

Added to this, BT is considered to be a market leader when it comes to broadband and TV bundles. This is particularly the case now the company has partnered with EE and provides TV packages through EE TV. Due to this, the company sits alongside the likes of Sky and Virgin Media in terms of the range of packages you can receive. 

On top of this, BT also provides some of the highest levels of customer service in the industry and customers can get support from a variety of channels, including over the phone, via email, social media, apps and online accounts. Similarly, according to the latest Ofcom data, the company scores better than average in terms of complaints handling.

That said, although there are a lot of reasons to love BT, the company isn't perfect. For example, BT is very much viewed as a 'premium provider' and, when its packages aren't on offer, they can be expensive. 

Unsure whether BT is the right provider for you? Or would you like to see how the company's packages compare with others that are available at your address? Use our widget below and we'll show you all of the very best packages you can get in your location today.

If you're on the lookout for a new broadband deal that gives you great speeds without big monthly costs, then this offer from Virgin Media might just pique your interest...

Right now, you can get Virgin's M125 Fibre Broadband package for the low cost of £26 a month, with no upfront costs to pay either. This deal will see you get ultrafast average download speeds of up to 132Mbps, upload speeds of up to 20Mbps and Virgin's class-leading WiFi Hub for this cheap price.

When you throw in the fact you'll also get a dependable connection from Virgin's own independent cable broadband network and a minimum speed guarantee of 66Mbps, you can rest assured that you can count on excellent performance whenever you're online. In fact, even larger, busier households and businesses should be able to browse, stream in UHD, download, and more, across several devices at once. 

If you're an O2 customer you should also note that you can also access free perks and benefits - like complimentary speed boosts and WiFi pods. This is because Virgin has an exclusive 'Priority' partnership with the mobile provider, and to get this, you simply have to register your mobile number when you sign up.

The deal itself comes as an 18-month contract and from month 19 the price will return to the usual cost of £54 a month. However, you will be free to find a new deal at this point.

Another thing to note is that you need to be able to access Virgin's broadband network as a new customer in order to be eligible for this offer. What's more, the monthly prices above - according to Virgin - 'will increase each April from April 2025 by the Retail Price Index rate of inflation announced in February each year plus 3.9%'.

Our best Virgin Media broadband deal

More reasons to go for Virgin Media's broadband

If you're still not sure about whether or not Virgin Media is for you, the big positive is that there's much more to love about this company than what's on offer with our featured deal. The reality is that Virgin is comfortably one of the best and most popular broadband providers in the country and here are a few reasons why:

A big choice of broadband speeds

The M125 package shown in our deal is actually Virgin's slowest and there are many more tariffs that are available. These go all the way up to a huge 2Gbps option. This makes Virgin comfortably one of the fastest and most varied UK-wide broadband providers when it comes to package speeds.

Excellent broadband tech

As we've mentioned earlier, Virgin has many excellent WiFi Hubs and signal-boosting pods that can even refresh and improve the connections of your devices. Many of the Hubs for the gigabit-capable tariffs also have WiFi 6 compatibility. 

Top broadband and TV offers

Virgin also has a wealth of broadband and TV bundles available, and the company is considered to be a market leader in this area. Often you can also get a discounted deal with your broadband on packages that feature the likes of Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, TNT Sport, free-to-air channels, and all the latest and best boxsets and streaming services. 

Despite all of this, there are a couple of things that can put some people off going with Virgin, and for balance, it's fair to point out that its customer services could be better. 

It continues to be ranked as one of the worst by Ofcom for its customer complaint handling, although some improvements have been seen in the last year. Also, you can't escape the fact that its independent broadband network isn't as widely available as the Openreach one just yet. This is the main network that is used by the majority of UK broadband providers. 

So, if you want to shop around, head over to our best broadband deals to see what else is on the market right now. Feel free to also enter your postcode into the widget below to see what broadband deals are exclusively on offer in your location.

Whether you're looking to move to a new broadband deal or out of contract with TalkTalk and simply fancy a change, you may be wondering how you go about cancelling your current service.

There may also be some other circumstances for you wanting to cancel, but whatever it is, we're here to help! We'll explain below everything there is to know about when and how to cancel your TalkTalk broadband and all the processes involved.

What's more, we've covered some of the key considerations you need to make before you cancel and give some extra guidance on how and where to find the best new broadband deals.

Before you cancel your TalkTalk broadband

Key considerations before cancelling your TalkTalk broadband

Even if you've already decided you definitely want to leave TalkTalk, you need to find out a few key things first. These are:

If you're still under contract or not

This is arguably the most important aspect, as if you are still under contract with TalkTalk you'll more than likely have to pay exit fees if you want to leave before your existing deal ends. The best thing you can do here is to contact TalkTalk directly to find out what your contract status is, particularly if you can't find your initial contract information or you're not sure what it tells you.

The benefit is that if you are out of contract, or it's just about to expire, you should be able to cancel and switch without incurring any penalty fees.

What broadband you can get in your location

It might be that you've had your head turned by Full Fibre broadband deals that boast huge average download speeds and benefits you couldn't get on your old TalkTalk deal, but it's worth looking into whether you can even access such tariffs right now at your property.

Currently, the UK's Full Fibre coverage across all network providers (e.g. Openreach and Virgin Media) is around 68%, whereas fibre is available to 98% of the country. So again, it's a smart move to enquire with a few providers first about broadband availability in your region.

If there are indeed better deals right now

Last, but not least, you should look through the latest broadband deals on the market to see if there are indeed better value packages out there for you to choose from. If not, you might want to consider renewing with TalkTalk instead or asking to move to a rolling option until something better comes up.

How to cancel TalkTalk broadband

How to cancel TalkTalk broadband

As we mentioned earlier, there can be many reasons why you may want to cancel your TalkTalk broadband and each can have a bearing on the leaving process. Below we've broken down the most common examples and have explained what to do:

How to cancel TalkTalk broadband if you're out of contract

If you are out of contract and you want to switch to a new provider who also uses the Openreach network like TalkTalk (e.g. Sky, BT, or Plusnet) then cancelling is really simple and your new Openreach provider will handle the whole process for you.

However, if you want to move to a provider who isn't on the Openreach network (e.g. Virgin Media) or you just want to stop getting broadband services, it's a little more complicated.

You instead need to contact TalkTalk directly to notify them you want to switch/cancel and you can do this in a few different ways:

Phone - by calling 0345 172 0088 - open Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm, and closed on Sunday

Live chat - chatting online - open Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm, and closed on Sunday

Text relay - this is a 'text-to-voice and voice-to-text translation for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired with the aid of a relay assistant'. You can access this by dialing 18001 followed by 0345 172 0088. The opening hours are the same as above.

With all of the above, you will need to have your account details ready, so your name, address, account number, and potential answers to security questions. Also, be prepared for the advisors to try and make you stay with TalkTalk and possibly offer you a different deal.

Another, albeit slower, method is to cancel via post. If you want to do this you need to send a signed and dated letter with your account information on it and an explanation as to why you want to cancel. The address to send this to is:

TalkTalk
Soapworks
Colgate Lane
Salford
M5 3LZ

The only other thing to bear in mind with the postal service is that TalkTalk will probably ring you anyway to discuss your letter once it arrives. 

How to cancel TalkTalk broadband if you're still in contract

If you want to cancel mid-contract, then you need to follow the same manual steps listed in the last section but be aware that you will most likely have to pay what TalkTalk refers to as 'early termination charges' on the final bill of the notice period.

These will be discussed with you by TalkTalk and can vary depending on how long you have left on your contract and what tariff you're on. These typically range from £10.20 - £10.80 per month remaining on your contract, but again this can change regularly. 

It is worth noting that if you are in the first 30 days of your contract and you want to cancel, TalkTalk has what it calls its 'Great Connection Guarantee'. This will allow you to leave for free, so long as it's within this initial period.

Cancelling TalkTalk broadband due to a bereavement

TalkTalk also offers a bereavement cancellation service. This includes a specialist team who can assist you with sorting out, switching, or closing the account. 

You can access this service Monday - Friday between 09:00am - 7:00pm  and Saturday 09:00am - 6:00pm by calling 0345 172 0038.

TalkTalk asks that you have the account details to hand when you contact them.

Cancelling your TalkTalk broadband due to moving home

If you're moving home and want to cancel your TalkTalk broadband you might have to pay an exit fee if the property you're moving to can also access the same broadband network you're currently using. However, if it turns out you can't get TalkTalk at your new home, you should be able to cancel for free.

TalkTalk can also have a charge of up to £60 to move your existing connection to your new home if you want to stay with them, but often this can be waived - particularly if you agree to a new contract. TalkTalk also asks you to give at least 14 days' notice if you're moving house.

Cancel TalkTalk broadband: frequently asked questions

To help cover all the bases with cancelling your TalkTalk broadband, we've answered a few more commonly asked questions about this subject here:

Finding a new broadband provider

How to find a new broadband provider

As we mentioned earlier in this guide, if you are definitely looking to leave TalkTalk and move to a new provider on a better deal, we can help with our guide to the latest and best broadband deals.

At the same time, if you have concerns about the availability of different broadband in your location, you can enter your postcode into our widget below. This will then list out all the top offers that you can get exclusively in your area today:

It's quite rare to be able to get top-end Full Fibre broadband speeds for under £40 a month, but we've found a fantastic new broadband deal with Sky that offers this and more...

If you act quickly, you'll be able to get Sky's 'Ultrafast+' package for the affordable price of just £32 a month. With this you get average download speeds of 500Mbps, upload speeds of 60Mbps, unlimited data, and a 400Mbps 'minimum speed guarantee' - plus, the dependable connection of the Openreach network that Sky uses. 

With all this, pretty much any size of household will be able to enjoy an excellent experience online, even on multiple devices that are in use at the same time. Sky says this tariff is 'perfect for streaming in UHD and competitive online gaming' and that you can download an HD movie in just 23 seconds. 

All you need to do is use our link and sign up for a 24-month contract. There is a £5 upfront fee to pay, but this can be refundable if you're a new Sky Broadband customer. You'll be eligible for the £80 gift card once your broadband is setup which can be spent at a choice of retailers, including Sainsbury's, John Lewis, Waitrose, Tesco, Giftcloud, and M&S.

Lastly, there are a few considerations to make it you do want this particular deal. One is that you must be able to access Sky's 'Full Fibre' network at your property, another is that certain parts of this promotion (such as the voucher) are for new Sky Broadband customers only. Finally, the offer is only available until July 25. So be sure to enquire now. 

Our Sky Broadband Deal

Why should I choose Sky Broadband?

It's no secret that Sky is considered one of the UK's best and most popular broadband providers, as the company has millions of satisfied customers that use its services every day. 

As you can see in our featured deal, you can pick up some great offers with Sky. Added to this, at the same time, Sky has one of the widest choices of broadband packages, meaning there's sure to be a speed option that suits your needs.

At the time of writing, the current Sky tariffs are:

• Essential Plus - average download speeds of 11Mbps (ADSL)
• Superfast 35 - average download speeds of 35Mbps (Fibre)
• Superfast 80 - average download speeds of 61Mbps (Fibre)
• Full Fibre 100 - average download speeds of 100Mbps (Full Fibre)
• Ultrafast - average download speeds of 145Mbps (Full Fibre)
• Ultrafast+ - average download speeds of 500Mbps (Full Fibre)
• Gigafast: average download speeds of 900Mbps (Full Fibre)

Sky - alongside Virgin Media and EE - is of course also a leading provider of broadband and TV bundles. Like the company's broadband tariffs, you can get lots of different options to suit different needs. For instance, you can pick and choose from channel selections with just free-to-air listings, through to comprehensive ones with Sky's Cinema and Sports channels. There's also lots of top TV tech available to enhance your viewing experience.

Another big positive is that Sky is one of the best providers when it comes to customer service. Recent Ofcom reports show that Sky is once again the best at managing customer issues and its complaints data shows it gets far fewer complaints than the average provider. 

The flip side to this is that when Sky isn't running promotions on its packages, it can be quite expensive. This is particularly noticeable when you want to bundle in extras and get the Full Fibre speeds. Equally, you might also not be able to get things like Sky's Full Fibre in your location just yet. 

In any case, if you want to shop around with your broadband, just head over to our best broadband deals guide. You can also enter your postcode into our widget here and we'll show you the top deals you can get in your location right now.

Searching for the very best broadband deals on the market but haven't quite found one that works for you? Well, EE is here to save the day.

EE's summer sale is now in full swing – so, regardless of whether you're looking for a cheap broadband-only package or a broadband and TV bundle – it's well worth checking out the excellent range of packages.

From now until 8th August, EE has slashed the price of its broadband packages, including its popular Full Fibre 150 package and its Busiest Homes Bundle. Sign up for the latter today and you'll save £209 over the course of a 24-month contract!

In addition, the company has also cut the price of various broadband and TV packages, including EE Entertainment, EE Sport, EE Big Sport, and the Full Works plans.

So, without any further delay, let's take a look at the best broadband-only deals and TV packages that are available in the EE sale:

The best broadband-only deals from EE

The best TV deals from EE

• Take a look at our EE promo codes for our full list of deals. 

Why partner with EE?

We think that EE is one of the best broadband providers on the market today. This is something that BT Group thinks too. After all, EE was recently made the flagship broadband provider for the BT Group, overtaking BT. 

It's easy to see why EE is so loved. The company offers a great range of packages, including options that have everything from 36Mbps average download speeds all the way through to 1.6Gbps - this is one of the fastest widely available packages on the market today. 

Added to this, as you can see above, the company also offers a wide selection of broadband and TV bundles via EETV. Plus, when these packages are on sale (like they are now), they're cheaper than comparable plans from the likes of Sky and Virgin Media. 

The only real downside with EE is that when the company's packages are full price, they can be expensive. However, there's no need to worry about this because all of the packages we've mentioned above are on sale until 8th August.

Broadband Deals Comparison

Still not sure that EE is the broadband provider for you? Just put your postcode into the widget below and we'll show you all of the very best deals that are available at your address. 

When you’re after a new broadband deal, you’ll probably be keen to get it set up as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, it isn’t always this simple.

The reality is that how long it takes for you to get your broadband sorted can be affected by many different factors, such as your broadband type, the provider you choose, your personal circumstances, and more. 

Fear not – we’ve put together this how-to guide that goes over all the basics of broadband installation and gives you a better understanding of the setup timescales you could be facing in different situations.

What broadband installation can involve

Broadband installation: at a glance

When you choose a broadband deal you will get a choice of ADSL, fibre, Full Fibre or cable connections, but if you’re getting broadband for the first time – or upgrading to a faster one – you’ll probably go through an installation process like this:

• Sign up and get an estimated time and date for your broadband to be connected.
  
• Your provider will tell you what installation work you need and will set a date and a time slot.
  
• On the allotted day an engineer will arrive to carry out the work, this can involve:
  • Have a box/socket fitted on the outside of your property to connect to the broadband network.
  • Fitting new internal connections for the broadband.
  • Connecting these two separate outlets together. 
  • Connecting and setting up your new router or broadband hub.
    
• Once some or all of the above are sorted, your broadband should be tested by the engineer before they sign off the job as complete.

However, it’s important to note here that the installation you need with your broadband will depend on whether or not a particular broadband type is available at your property. For instance, if you’re moving to Virgin Media from an Openreach provider, you might need to have a cable installed underground from the main network into your home - which, as you may expect, can take longer to complete.

Equally, if you’re switching between different providers that use the same network, it’s likely that you won’t need certain installation work done and that your setup time will be overall much faster. 

Another point to make here is that if you opted for say 4G or 5G broadband, you wouldn’t need any invasive installation work, as this relies on a mobile network signal. Often you just have to plug in your new 4/5G router and connect to it. The caveat is that you’ll need to live in an area where you have access to these signals. 

Broadband provider setup times

Different broadband provider installation times

Now you know what the installation process can involve, let’s consider how this can affect the timescales. 

As a general rule of thumb, broadband setup can take between five and 14 days, but as we’ve mentioned above, this will depend on the broadband type you’ve chosen and what installation work you need.

A little research into average wait times shows that typically broadband providers who use the Openreach network - so the likes of BT, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk and Vodafone - will complete the process in 14 days. However, if you need a landline installed too (for ADSL and fibre) it can take up to 21 days.

Some Openreach providers also state that if you’re already a customer and you want to switch to a package with the same connection type, this could also be completed within the same day.

Broadband and TV installation

How long does it take to install a broadband and TV bundle?

If you want to get a broadband and TV bundle, the turnaround and activation time does tend to be similar to just broadband, and more often than not a provider will ensure all your services are connected at the same time. 

This will more than likely be the case if you opt for a streaming TV service, as this will just rely on your broadband being up and running.

However, a key difference here is that if you choose a TV service that requires a satellite dish or additional cabling, then you can face further delays. Getting an aerial or dish fitted via a provider can in some cases add over two weeks to the total installation time frame. 

Possible broadband delays

What else can delay getting your broadband set up?

Beyond some of the reasons we’ve mentioned above - such as getting a new landline or cable fitted - there are a few other reasons why your broadband can take longer to set up. Here are some common examples:

Living in a new build

Before you can get broadband or have a phone line, your property needs to have a registered postcode. As such, if you’ve just moved into a newly built home, then it might be the case that your address hasn’t been confirmed just yet, meaning you’ll have to wait for this to be sorted first before you can get your internet set up.

Living in an apartment

There can be added complications to installing broadband connections in high-rise flats and buildings which can cause delays in finishing the set up.

Living in rented accommodation

For those who are renting, you may need to get permission from your landlord before you can get any invasive installation work done by an engineer.

Similar issues with business premises

You can also apply the same to any business premises you might have, in that if they’re rented you’ll likely need to get permission for installation work.

Availability for your appointment

It might sound a little silly, but something that can delay everything is simply being able to find a day that works for you and your provider’s engineer. Similarly, if you book a slot and miss your appointment this can also result in further delays as you look to rearrange. Some providers can even charge you a fee for missing these appointments.

Finding your next broadband deal

Looking for a new broadband provider?

Hopefully with the information in this guide, you should have more of an idea of how long you’ll have to wait for your new broadband tariff to be in place and up and running. However, another tip here is to simply check with a provider directly on their typical turnaround times on their broadband packages. 

Last but not least, we can also help you find the right package from all the most popular providers in the UK via our guide to the best broadband deals. If you enter your postcode into the widget below you can also see what offers you can get right now in your location. 

For those of you in the market for a new broadband deal, you may not have thought about getting a 5G broadband package just yet – but that might be about to change thanks to this top offer from Three.

As the UK's leading provider of 4G and 5G broadband, Three's latest promotion can see you get its 5G Home Broadband plan for just £12 a month, for the first six months of a 24-month contract. After this period, the price goes back up to £24 p/m - but for average download speeds of 150Mbps, this is still a cheap price. 

In addition, you get unlimited data to use, there aren't any upfront fees to pay and you can easily install your new broadband with the simple 'plug and play' setup. Three even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not happy with your new broadband. Plus, place an order before 8 pm and you will receive your new 5G hub on the next working day.

With these speeds and no data caps, this package can suit small to medium-sized households with lots of users online at once. This means you can stream in UHD, download and even online game all at the same time. However, the big caveat is that you will need to have access to Three's 5G signal in your location, as its broadband is delivered through its mobile network. 

This coverage issue is something you can check with Three though when you enquire about this deal. You should also note that this plan is subject to 'Annual Airtime price rises' of the relevant
CPI +3.9%.

Our Three 5G Broadband Deal

Why should I choose Three's 5G broadband?

As you can see from the above deal, there are plenty of things to love about Three.

Beyond the fact you can get average download speeds for a more affordable price than most similar Full Fibre tariffs and your 5G broadband can be up and running in next to no time, Three has much more to shout about.

For example, you can get a flexible monthly rolling contract instead of a fixed one. This is also only slightly more expensive than the £24 a month package. Whichever you opt for, you can also count on getting top quality customer service, as well as account management tools via the handy Three app. 

In terms of extras and bolt ons, you can also get:

• Paramount+ streaming services
• Device insurance cover
• Rewards via the additional Three+ app
• Referral scheme bonus payments

As we've mentioned earlier, a stumbling block here can be if you live in an area of the UK without Three's 5G coverage. So if this is the case for you at the moment, you can still check out our guide to the best broadband deals to see what offers you can get right now instead.

You may also want to enter your postcode into the below widget and we can show you all the broadband offers that are specifically available in your area today:

Have you been scouring the market for a new broadband deal, but haven't yet found something that provides ultrafast speeds at an affordable price? Well, we may have ended your search... 

At the moment, NOW Broadband's impressive and reliable Full Fibre 100 package (which is now powered by Sky) has been reduced to just £25 per month when you sign a 24-month contract. Plus, the activation and delivery fees have both been cut to £0! 

We love this Full Fibre deal because it's cheap, reliable, and quick. It provides estimated download speeds of 100-108Mbps and estimated upload speeds of 18-19Mbps. According to NOW, this means you can download an HD movie in under two minutes. Added to this, if you take out this deal today, you'll also receive a 'wall-to-wall Wi-Fi Guarantee'. 

Although this is a great deal, you should be aware that it's only available to 49% of UK homes. Thankfully, you can check your eligibility via the link below. 

OUR NOW BROADBAND DEAL

Why partner with NOW Broadband?

There are several reasons why NOW Broadband is considered to be one of the UK's most popular and best broadband providers. 

After all, as our featured deal shows, its packages are both fast and affordable. That said, the provider doesn't offer the widest collection of deals, and it only offers three packages: 

• NOW Superfast - 61Mbps
• NOW Full Fibre 75 - 75Mbps
• NOW Full Fibre 100 - 100Mbps

However, all of these packages are cheap, reliable and powered by Sky. Added to this, switching to NOW is also quick and simple if you're currently with BT, TalkTalk, EE or Plusnet. 

Similarly, NOW Broadband offers a great collection of broadband and TV bundles via its popular TV Memberships. Current options include: 

• NOW Entertainment - which features hundreds of Sky Channels, Freeview Channels and box sets
• NOW Cinema - which gives you access to Sky's movie channels
• NOW Sports - which gives you access to Sky's sports channels
• NOW Hayu - which has more box sets and all the latest and best reality shows

As you may expect, the more of these Memberships you add to your package, the more expensive it becomes. However, the options with NOW are considerably cheaper than most of the packages offered by the likes of Sky, BT and Virgin Media. 

Unconvinced by NOW Broadband or looking for a package that's even quicker? Head over to our best broadband deals page, where we've highlighted all of the best offers on the market at the moment. 

Alternatively, put your postcode into the widget below and we'll show you all of the best deals that are available at your property. 

If you're in pursuit of an amazing new broadband deal, TalkTalk may have just the thing for you. Right now, you can snag the popular Full Fibre 150 package for the price of Full Fibre 65. For just £28 per month, you'll receive average download speeds of 152Mbps as well as the award-winning eero 6 WiFi router (RRP £109). With no setup fees to be had, You'll also get an eero Secure subscription and easy-to-use parental controls and security features at no additional cost. 

This mid-tier package is a great option for those looking for a speedy broadband package at a sub-£30 price point. At nearly double the speed of the Full Fibre 65 package at the same price, it's worth a look for households with heavy streamers, gamers or those who work from home. 

Not sure that Full Fibre 150 is right for you? For a limited time, you can also save a total of £60 on TalkTalk TV with a NOW Entertainment Membership. 

TalkTalk Full Fibre 150

TalkTalk TV and NOW Entertainment

Need even more to entertain you? You can grab a TalkTalk TV and NOW Entertainment Membership for just £9.99 per month (down from £14.99) for 12 months. With this, TalkTalk TV customers can also enjoy 10,000+ apps from the Google Play store, the best streaming services, On-Demand players, and 70+ live TV channels. Best of all, you'll have the freedom to choose exactly what you want with no long-term commitments, as well as the flexibility to cancel your TV package before the 12 months are up, with no added fees.

Best TalkTalk Broadband Deals

• Full Fibre 65 (£28 a month) 77 Mb/s average download speed, includes TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub.
• Full Fibre 150 (£28 a month) 152 Mb/s average download speed, includes the award-winning eero 6 router (RRP £109).
• Full Fibre 500 (£34 a month) 13x faster than standard fibre, 525 Mb/s average download speed, includes award-winning eero Pro 6 router (RRP £189.99).
• Full Fibre 900 (£39.95 a month) 24x faster than standard fibre, 944 Mb/s average download speed, includes award-winning eero Pro 6 router (RRP £189.99) and Total Home Wi-Fi (RRP £379.98).

For those of you looking for the best broadband deals with superfast speeds, we've found an offer from BT that might be of interest to you.

Right now, you can get BT's popular 'Fibre 2' package for the discounted price of £29.99 a month - down from the usual costs of £36.99p/m. However, you also don't have to pay any upfront fees and if you sign up with our link you're eligible to receive a bonus £50 BT Reward Card. 

The tariff has average download speeds of 74Mbps and unlimited data, and the broadband is supplied via the dependable Openreach network that BT uses. So with this, you can count on having a seamless experience when online. BT also says this package can allow you to 'stream, game and download in HD on lots of devices at once'. You even get a 34Mbps 'Stay Fast Guarantee' for added peace of mind. 

To get this deal you just need to sign-up for a 24-month contract and when you're up and running, you'll get a £50 BT Reward Card which can be used anywhere that takes Mastercard.

You should note that this deal is broadband-only, so you don't get a phone service included. You also need to be able to access BT's fibre broadband network to get it - although, in some cases, you can get the same deal as a 'Full Fibre' version. BT also says that the package is subject to price increases from 31 March 2025. However, these are all things you can check directly with BT as and when you look to take out this particular deal.

OUR BT BROADBAND DEAL

More great reasons to choose BT Broadband

It's no secret that BT is one of the UK's top broadband providers. Every day it supplies millions of customers with quality internet services, but this is also thanks in part to the wealth of other great features it has to offer. 

Across BT's other broadband deals you'll see it has a big choice of tariffs to choose from, which can also suit the needs of pretty much all businesses and households. Whether it's slower ADSL options, a selection of fibre ones (like our featured deal) and several Full Fibre packages, which top out at a huge 900Mbps. 

BT also is renowned for its dependability and its top customer services. The former - as we mentioned earlier - stemming from its use of the Openreach network. If we look to the latest industry data from Ofcom, we also see that BT is below the industry average (in a good way) when it comes to handling customer complaints. 

Another notable positive is the choice of broadband and TV bundles you can get. BT rivals others such as Sky and Virgin Media for such deals, as you can get channel packages that include all free-to-air listings, plus Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and, of course, TNT Sports. All this has also been boosted by its recent partnership with EE, where its bundles are now provided via EETV.

Despite all this, BT has seen some criticism for being expensive - and it's fair to say, when there aren't deals in place, it does sit at the more pricey end of the market. So if you'd prefer to look elsewhere for your next package, head over to our best broadband deals guide to see what you can get.

If you like you can also enter your postcode into the widget below to see what offers are available in your location today.

Searching for a new broadband deal and looking for something that will provide you with rewards? Well, right now, Virgin Media is offering a host of packages that are sure to grab your attention! 

Until the 14th of July, new Virgin Media customers have the opportunity to get their hands on a 43” LG Smart UHD TV worth £379.99 or £250 bill credit, when they purchase selected bundles on an 18-month contract.

Added to this, all customers who sign up for one of the provider's selected deals will also benefit from free setup (usually £35) and a host of content, including recently added themed channels across popular genres such as comedy, crime, and mystery at no extra cost.

Finally, if you sign up before the offer ends, you'll also receive access to Priority from O2. This provides you with a number of additional benefits, including offers, rewards, deals, VIP experiences, and pre-sale ticket access (48 hours before anyone else) to the hottest gigs in town.

Here's a rundown of all the Virgin Media deals where you can get your hands on a 43” LG Smart UHD TV worth £379.99 or £250 bill credit when you sign up for an 18-month contract:

Why we love Virgin Media

Virgin Media is undeniably one of the UK's best and most popular broadband providers. It's easy to see why this is the case. 

After all, the company offers one of the best and widest selection of broadband options, ranging from its entry-level M125 tariff (which still provides superfast average download speeds of 132Mbps), to its mighty Gig2 (2,000Mbps) option, which is one of the very fastest on the market at the moment. 

On top of this, as the above deals and packages show, Virgin Media also offers some of the very best broadband and TV bundles on the market. These offer a great collection of different channels, including options from the likes of Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, and TNT Sport.

That said, although Virgin Media is undoubtedly a leading provider, it isn't perfect. For example, Virgin has faced criticism for the quality of its customer services in recent years. This was most notably shown in the latest Ofcom reports, which have revealed that Virgin Media has been the worst broadband provider in the country when it comes to customer complaints handling.

Best Virgin broadband deals

Unable to get these packages at your address? Or would you like something a little bit cheaper? Simply head over to our best broadband deals, or enter your postcode into our widget below. We'll then show you all the top offers you can get at your address. 

From saving money to moving house or even increasing the speeds you're receiving, there are a number of reasons why you may want to switch broadband providers. 

If you're currently looking at the best broadband deals on the market and you're thinking about moving from one provider to another, then it's likely you'll have questions about this process and how much disruption you're likely to experience. 

Thankfully, help is at hand. In this guide, we've outlined everything there is to know about switching broadband providers, including how long the process takes, whether your provider will handle that process for you and whether you can expect to spend any time offline. 

The switching process explained

How long does it take to switch internet providers? 

Sadly, there's no official timeline on how long the broadband switching process takes. However, if you're switching from one Openreach provider to another, then you should expect the process to take around two weeks. 

If you need an engineer to come and install your new connection, or other complications, then you should expect it to take a bit longer. 

This is because it takes some broadband providers up to six weeks to organise an installation that requires an engineer. That said, some of the best broadband providers on the market will look to complete this process in around a week. 

If you're transferring an entire broadband bundle (like a broadband and TV bundle), or if you're changing the type of connection from fibre to Full Fibre, then it can take even longer. This is because your new set-up will need to be physically installed. 

How long will I be offline during the switching process? 

You will be thrilled to hear that although the switching process will likely take around two weeks, you won't be offline for all of this time. Instead, you should only expect to spend around 30 minutes offline while the physical switch actually takes place. There's also usually no need for an engineer to visit your home, so any disruption should be minimised. On occasion, you may actually experience no interruption whatsoever. 

Even if you need an engineer to come and physically install your broadband, you should only be offline for a couple of hours. 

Our step-by-step guide to the switching process

1. Check your contract status

If you're still within your minimum contract period, then you'll likely need to pay a penalty to leave your current contract early. As a result, you should check your contract status carefully. This will confirm how much, if anything, you'll need to pay in order to leave. 

Added to this, your contract will also tell you how much notice you need to give your current provider about the switch. Using this information, you can decide whether it's worthwhile switching now or waiting until the end of your contract and moving then without paying a penalty. You can also ensure you're giving the right amount of notice to your current provider. 

Speaking from experience, it's often worthwhile waiting until the end of your contract, unless you're incredibly inconvenienced or you've realised your current package is now unsuitable. This is because cancellation fees can be very hefty and usually apply on a per-month-remaining basis. This means that if you have a long time left on your contract, you'll have to pay a lot of money to leave. 

2. Find a new broadband deal

If you've discovered that you're out of contract (or you need to pay so little to leave that it's worth the cost), you should search for a new broadband deal on our best broadband deals page. 

Alternatively, put your postcode into the widget below. We'll then show you all of the best deals that are currently available in your area. 

3. Take out a new deal

Sign up with your chosen provider and confirm your installation date. They'll then run you through the next steps. 

The good news is that if you're switching from one Openreach provider to another (such as BT, Sky, NOW, Plusnet, EE and TalkTalk), then you won’t even need to alert your current ISP. Instead, your current provider will handle the switch for you. 

4. Speak to your current provider about the switch (if required) 

However, if your switch involves moving to a different provider that uses its own network, such as Virgin Media, Hyperoptic or Community Fibre, then you may need to cancel your current contract and tell your old provider about the move. Again, your new provider will confirm that you need to take this step. 

Next, you'll need to tell your old provider that you're moving and the date the switch will take place. Remember though, most providers require at least 30 days' notice. So, to avoid paying twice, schedule your start date with your new provider about a month in advance.

At this point, you've done everything you need to and the switch should take place automatically on the agreed date. Your current provider should also notify you this is the case and confirm both the agreed moving date and whether any fees are applicable. 

Broadband switching: Your FAQs answered