More than four million UK households have slower broadband speeds than the average available on the London Underground, according to new research by Uswitch. The average speed on the Tube is 19.8Mbps, while over 4.4 million homes get just 8.8Mbps.
The Bakerloo line was the fastest, with average speeds of 24Mbps, while the District line was the slowest at 5.58Mbps. Edgware Road station offered the fastest download speed at 49.7Mbps, enough to download a one-hour TV show in 48 seconds. Westminster was the slowest station at 0.9Mbps, taking 40 minutes for the same show.
Nick Baker, broadband expert at Uswitch, said: 'It is amazing that the oldest underground network in the world can provide its users with the means to stay connected... But the fact that the current WiFi on the tube offers faster connections than 30% of broadband-connected homes in the UK receive, just goes to show the extent of the digital divide across the country.'
The Government has pledged to bring gigabit-speed broadband to every home and business by 2025, with a £5 billion investment expected in the Budget. Meanwhile, 4G mobile masts are due to be installed on the Jubilee Line later this month, with plans to extend to all platforms and tunnels.
