Basic home maintenance can speed up broadband

New data from internet service provider TalkTalk shows that easily-rectified problems in the home could speed up many broadband connections.

fibre optic cables arranged neatly at a junction box
fibre optic cables arranged neatly at a junction box Credit: Photo: ALAMY / Thorbjorn Fredh

"A bit of basic home maintenance and some re-jigging of the wiring in the living room could speed up internet connections no end," said TalkTalk engineer Dan Downham.

Some customers may be experiencing speeds up to four megabits-per-second slower than expected because of problems between their phone line and their computer. The average speed of a broadband connection in the UK is 7.6Mbps.

The most common problems within the home included faulty wiring, which affected almost a third of homes visited by engineers, and poorly configured routers, which accounted for a further fifth of home visits.

These problems could prevent common internet applications such as the BBC iPlayer - which requires 3.2Mbps to deliver HD video - from functioning correctly or at all.

Even forgetting to install ADSL filters or not connecting the ADSL modem or router directly to the master phone socket could have a significant impact on speeds, TalkTalk said.

"People need to think of broadband in the same way as water and electricity," said Mr Downham. "It's a commodity that can go to waste if you're not careful."