A new study has identified the UK areas most affected by broadband congestion during peak evening hours, with Wigan (WN1) topping the list. Broadband Genie analysed 144,509 speed tests to pinpoint where performance drops most significantly between 7pm and 11pm.
In Wigan, average download speeds fall from 167Mbps during off-peak times to just 75Mbps in the evening – a drop of 55%. Other heavily affected postcodes include Galashiels (TD1), Harrogate (HG1), Exeter (EX1), and Rochester (ME1).
Conversely, some areas see improved speeds in the evening. Newport ranked best, followed by Oxford, Glasgow, Blackburn, and Cambridge. Regionally, Scotland performed highest overall, while the South West saw average speeds fall by around 15% during peak periods.
Broadband Genie commented: “Just like our roads, internet networks can experience congestion. Customers in Wigan experienced the largest drop, with average speeds falling by 55% during the busiest hours.”
Experts suggest keeping routers in open, central positions and regularly rebooting them to help improve home connections.
