Bedford Broadband Statistics
Bedford has the lowest fibre access out of all major towns in the East of England, and is among the 50 worst-off major towns in terms of fibre access across the UK as a whole. Our analysis of Ofcom coverage data shows that Gigabit fibre is available to only 1.02% of residents. UltraFast 300+ Mbps is available to 93% of residents, while SuperFast 30+ Mbps broadband is available to 100% of Bedford's households.
Despite poor broadband infrastructure, we see high speed test averages in Bedford postcodes like MK40 and MK41. Over the past year, we’ve recorded a 37 Mbps median internet speed in Bedford, which is 0.33% above the United Kingdom national median of 36.88 Mbps.
Bedford increased access to Gigabit speeds by 0.27 percentage points in the past year. The buildout rate is slower than neighbouring major towns like Brentwood (gained 51 percentate points), St Albans (gained 32 percentate points), and Ipswich (gained 19 percentate points). In addition, real-world speed test data shows that Bedford is significantly outperformed by Clapham (31% faster) and Elstow (23% faster), and is marginally faster than Kempston (14% slower).
Local broadband speeds over time
The median broadband speed in Bedford has increased by 73% over the last five years.
Local broadband speeds in context
As of 2022, the median broadband speed in Bedford is 0.86% lower than the East of England and 0.32% higher than the UK overall.
| Bedford | 37 Mbps | |
| East of England | 37 Mbps | |
| United Kingdom | 37 Mbps |
Bedford 2022 Broadband Scorecard
▼ Lowest fibre access
Major Towns, East of England
▼ 0.86% below regional broadband speed
East of England
▲ 0.32% above national broadband speed
UK Overall
Broadband Providers
Overall Performance
We rank each provider relative to all providers in The United Kingdom based on their median download and upload speeds, measured round trip time latencies, and the percentage of speeds tests that exceed 50 Mbps.
Customer Ratings
Customer ratings are based on local reviews matched to Bedford IP addresses. Providers can be scored on a range of 1 to 10, and ranked relative to all providers in The United Kingdom.
Median Speed Test Result
The median is the middle result in the range of tests we measured for each provider in Bedford in the past year. Median speeds provide a better comparison than raw averages because they control for the longtail of tests related to Wi-Fi issues. The charts below represent the distribution of tests associated with each provider from low to high.
View Local Plans
Enter a postcode to check for fibre deals in your area.
Are you researching this topic? Please contact our team with any questions. We offer free consultation on basic requests.
This content is licensed CC BY-ND 4.0. When referencing or citing FairInternetReport data and content on third-party sites, please link your attribution to the source page on fairinternetreport.com.
Broadband Network Infrastructure in Bedford
Are you looking for research assistance?
Contact Fair Internet Report for insights about broadband in Bedford and the UK. We'll connect you with an expert on our team who can answer questions and support your work.
Questions and Requests
Ofcom Fibre Access Analysis for Bedford
See the chart below for annual reporting on fibre build rates in the Bedford area. Availability is based on population in postcodes marked as served by Ofcom Connected Nations reports, according to the most recent census.
| 1,000+ Mbps | 300+ Mbps | 30+ Mbps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.02% | 92.88% | 99.77% |
| 2020 | 0.75% | 92.67% | 99.85% |
| 2019 | 0.94% | 94.53% | 99.93% |
| 2018 | 0.02% | 93.38% | 99.51% |
| 2017 | 0.02% | 43.51% | 99.33% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 98.82% |
Map of Bedford's Fibre Broadband Availability by Postcode
Gigabit Availability
1.02%
of people living in Bedford can obtain to 1,000+ Mbps broadband speeds
Ultrafast Speeds
92.88%
of Bedford residents can get 300+ Mbps internet service
Superfast 30+ Mbps Broadband
99.77%
availability in Bedford
Poor Broadband Speeds
None
of Bedford is limited to broadband speeds under 30 Mbps
Bedford Broadband Speeds Report
Average Broadband Speeds in Bedford
| Year | Bedford Average | United Kingdom Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 25.36 Mbps | 26.27 Mbps | 3.46% Slower |
| 2019 | 32.27 Mbps | 30.63 Mbps | 5.35% Faster |
| 2020 | 80.95 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | 0.80% Faster |
| 2021 | 66.81 Mbps | 66.05 Mbps | 1.15% Faster |
Bedford Broadband Speed Distribution
| Percentage of Speed Tests in Speed Range | ||
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed Range | Bedford | United Kingdom |
| Very Slow: under 10 Mbps | 17.91% | 19.92% |
| Slow: 10-30 Mbps | 24.33% | 25.74% |
| Adequate: 30-60 Mbps | 26.64% | 25.20% |
| Good: 60-80 Mbps | 11.67% | 10.20% |
| Fast: 80-300 Mbps | 16.53% | 15.33% |
| Very Fast: over 300 Mbps | 2.92% | 3.60% |
How Bedford Compares to Major Cities
| City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | 5794.21 Mbps | 33.1—96.06 Mbps | 45.61 Mbps | Faster |
| Birmingham | 2786.06 Mbps | 29.35—107.11 Mbps | 38.56 Mbps | Faster |
| Bristol | 943.13 Mbps | 30.46—109.99 Mbps | 42.42 Mbps | Faster |
| Leicester | 935.89 Mbps | 27.49—99.53 Mbps | 37.05 Mbps | Faster |
| Edinburgh | 874.24 Mbps | 29.98—107.56 Mbps | 38.13 Mbps | Faster |
| Bedford | 937.17 Mbps | 29.92—78.92 Mbps | 37 Mbps | - |
| Liverpool | 1134.53 Mbps | 25.63—89.99 Mbps | 34.68 Mbps | Slower |
| Nottingham | 2371.49 Mbps | 15.99—39.85 Mbps | 18.81 Mbps | Slower |
| Sheffield | 936.79 Mbps | 23.81—68.97 Mbps | 32.12 Mbps | Slower |
| Glasgow | 913.93 Mbps | 20.72—71.44 Mbps | 32.11 Mbps | Slower |
Cities and Provider Internet Speeds in Bedford
| Position | City | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | # Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clapham | 936.29 Mbps | 36.74—177.77 Mbps | 48.42 Mbps | 8 |
| 2 | Elstow | 935.09 Mbps | 33.79—110.09 Mbps | 45.45 Mbps | 12 |
| 3 | Bletsoe | 709.56 Mbps | 35.62—92.9 Mbps | 43.87 Mbps | 10 |
| 4 | Bedford | 937.17 Mbps | 29.92—78.92 Mbps | 37 Mbps | 12 |
| 5 | Kempston | 921.2 Mbps | 25.28—71.89 Mbps | 32.54 Mbps | 8 |
| 6 | Bolnhurst and Keysoe | 842.64 Mbps | 22.82—70.3 Mbps | 26.59 Mbps | 2 |
Bedford Broadband Speeds Over Time
We class broadband speed distributions as follows: very slow under 10 Mbps; slow 10-30 Mbps; adequate 30-60 Mbps; good 60-80 Mbps; fast 80-300 Mbps; very fast over 300 Mbps.
How Bedford Compares for Internet Speed in Bedford
| Position | City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Elstow | 935.09 Mbps | 33.79—110.09 Mbps | 45.45 Mbps | Faster |
| 4 | Bletsoe | 709.56 Mbps | 35.62—92.9 Mbps | 43.87 Mbps | Faster |
| 5 | Bedford | 937.17 Mbps | 29.92—78.92 Mbps | 37 Mbps | - |
| 6 | Kempston | 921.2 Mbps | 25.28—71.89 Mbps | 32.54 Mbps | Slower |
| 7 | Bolnhurst and Keysoe | 842.64 Mbps | 22.82—70.3 Mbps | 26.59 Mbps | Slower |
Bedford Internet Speed Test Results
We analysed the results of people in Bedford testing broadband providers multiple times, with each test starting no more than 30 minutes after the previous speed test. On average, people in Bedford ran 3 internet speed tests per session. Looking at broadband download speeds, if the Bedford resident's final test is 10% faster than their starting download speed, we count that as a succesful and faster speed test result. We count an unsuccessful, slower result if the final result is 10% slower than the starting result; we'd hope their ISP contacts them ASAP! For broadband speed tests that don't vary by that much, we consider the final result to be the same. For Bedford's residents, of the internet speed tests we measured, 41.64% were fast, 23.05% slow, and 35.32% broadly the same.
Most Recent Tests
| Provider | Start Time | # Tests | Duration | Start Speed | End Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 18:38:13 | 27 | 95 mins | 30.85 Mbps | 25.23 Mbps | Needs help |
| Vodafone | 24 Jan 2022 19:37:49 | 5 | 4 mins | 12.64 Mbps | 16.42 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 16:56:24 | 3 | 15 mins | 102.73 Mbps | 12.02 Mbps | Needs help |
| Independent Fibre Networks | 24 Jan 2022 14:04:12 | 2 | 4 mins | 164.57 Mbps | 157.68 Mbps | |
| Sky Broadband | 24 Jan 2022 12:41:42 | 2 | 57 secs | 66.81 Mbps | 66.94 Mbps | |
| TalkTalk | 24 Jan 2022 09:58:02 | 11 | 53 mins | 24.49 Mbps | 3.1 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 10:44:24 | 2 | 40 secs | 42.22 Mbps | 38.94 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 09:45:13 | 2 | 27 mins | 84.64 Mbps | 84.77 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 09:39:51 | 2 | 35 secs | 29.86 Mbps | 34.11 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 23 Jan 2022 21:28:56 | 2 | 34 secs | 10.07 Mbps | 70.5 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 23 Jan 2022 20:16:25 | 2 | 50 secs | 104.2 Mbps | 104.95 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 23 Jan 2022 18:32:01 | 3 | 27 mins | 66.69 Mbps | 98.59 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 23 Jan 2022 16:27:42 | 2 | 23 mins | 54.16 Mbps | 33.8 Mbps | Needs help |
| Plusnet | 23 Jan 2022 07:11:06 | 2 | 27 secs | 19.83 Mbps | 20.65 Mbps | |
| BT | 22 Jan 2022 20:52:15 | 3 | 40 secs | 569.86 Mbps | 582.41 Mbps | |
| BT | 22 Jan 2022 17:57:38 | 3 | 42 secs | 0.12 Mbps | 0.2 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| EE | 22 Jan 2022 16:39:26 | 2 | 3 mins | 193.85 Mbps | 194.69 Mbps | |
| BT | 22 Jan 2022 14:11:25 | 2 | 9 mins | 32.84 Mbps | 33.98 Mbps | |
| BT | 22 Jan 2022 13:21:31 | 4 | 2 mins | 14.86 Mbps | 5.36 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 22 Jan 2022 11:44:17 | 3 | 5 mins | 213.47 Mbps | 54.75 Mbps | Needs help |
Summary of Internet Service Providers in Bedford
| # | Provider Name | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BT | 906.79 Mbps | 44.21—148.18 Mbps |
| 2 | Virgin Media | 937.17 Mbps | 30.68—110.15 Mbps |
| 3 | Independent Fibre Networks | 374.99 Mbps | 39.12—111.42 Mbps |
| 4 | iDNET | 141.92 Mbps | 31.88—31.92 Mbps |
| 5 | Vodafone | 392.87 Mbps | 29.95—55.12 Mbps |
| 6 | EE | 900.56 Mbps | 24.02—54.98 Mbps |
| 7 | TalkTalk | 453.7 Mbps | 24.88—57.94 Mbps |
| 8 | Spitfire | 95.06 Mbps | 16.74—54.45 Mbps |
| 9 | Sky Broadband | 343.7 Mbps | 18.38—51.17 Mbps |
| 10 | Plusnet | 74.36 Mbps | 23.05—38.37 Mbps |
| 11 | Zen Internet | 91.98 Mbps | 18.58—46.63 Mbps |
| 12 | Shell Energy | 74.07 Mbps | 11.82—35.66 Mbps |
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Bedford
How many broadband providers in Bedford are there?
Bedford has 12 ISPs tested by its 171,623 residents.
Who is the fastest broadband provider in Bedford?
BT is the fastest broadband provider in Bedford with 906.79 Mbps, and an average internet speed range of 44.21—148.18 Mbps.
Who is the best internet provider in Bedford?
The best internet provider in Bedford is BT, and their users typically see broadband speeds in the range of 44.21 to 148.18 Mbps.
What is the average internet speed in Bedford?
Users in Bedford see an average internet speed of 29.92 up to 769 Mbps, and the fastest speed we've seen is 937.17 Mbps.
Is BT available in Bedford?
Broadband service from BT is available in Bedford, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 906.79 Mbps.
Is Sky Broadband available in Bedford?
Broadband service from Sky Broadband is available in Bedford, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 343.7 Mbps.
Is Virgin Media available in Bedford?
Broadband service from Virgin Media is available in Bedford, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 937.17 Mbps.
Is BT full fibre available in Bedford?
Yes, BT offers full fibre to the home (also called FTTH or FTTP) to 230 of Bedford's postcodes.
Who is the most popular broadband provider in Bedford?
The broadband provider with the most users in Bedford is BT.
Author: Thomas Buck
Last Reviewed By: Tyler Cooper
Published: 10 Nov 2019
Last Updated: 24 Jan 2022
It looks like your broadband provider is . Is that right?