Durham Broadband Statistics
Durham has the second-best fibre access out of all medium-sized towns in the North East, and is among the 100 worst-off medium-sized 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 13% of residents. UltraFast 300+ Mbps is available to 50% of residents, while SuperFast 30+ Mbps broadband is available to 95% of Durham's households.
Poor broadband infrastructure results in very low speed test averages in Durham postcodes like DH1 and DH99. Over the past year, we’ve recorded a 25 Mbps median internet speed in Durham, which is 32% below the United Kingdom national median of 37 Mbps.
Durham increased access to Gigabit speeds by 6.65 percentage points in the past year. The buildout rate is also better than neighbouring medium-sized towns like Blyth (gained 4.53 percentate points), Great Aycliffe (gained 3.54 percentate points), and Thornaby (gained 2.77 percentate points). In addition, real-world speed test data shows that Durham is significantly outperformed by Framwellgate Moor (43% faster) and Bearpark (24% faster).
Local broadband speeds over time
The median broadband speed in Durham has increased by 79% over the last five years.
Local broadband speeds in context
As of 2022, the median broadband speed in Durham is 39% lower than the North East and 47% lower than the UK overall.
| Durham | 25 Mbps | |
| North East | 35 Mbps | |
| United Kingdom | 37 Mbps |
Durham 2022 Broadband Scorecard
▲ 2nd highest fibre access
Medium-Sized Towns, North East
▼ 39% below regional broadband speed
North East
▼ 47% below national broadband speed
UK Overall
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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 Durham 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 Durham 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.
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Broadband Network Infrastructure in Durham
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Ofcom Fibre Access Analysis for Durham
See the chart below for annual reporting on fibre build rates in the Durham 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 | 12.79% | 49.83% | 95.42% |
| 2020 | 6.14% | 43.84% | 95.07% |
| 2019 | 1.68% | 37.65% | 94.85% |
| 2018 | 0.46% | 30.85% | 93.93% |
| 2017 | 0.07% | 29.46% | 93.34% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 92.61% |
Map of Durham's Fibre Broadband Availability by Postcode
Gigabit Availability
12.79%
of people living in Durham can obtain to 1,000+ Mbps broadband speeds
Ultrafast Speeds
49.83%
of Durham residents can get 300+ Mbps internet service
Superfast 30+ Mbps Broadband
95.42%
availability in Durham
Poor Broadband Speeds
4.39%
of Durham is limited to broadband speeds under 30 Mbps
Durham Broadband Speeds Report
Average Broadband Speeds in Durham
| Year | Durham Average | United Kingdom Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 15.76 Mbps | 26.27 Mbps | 40.01% Slower |
| 2019 | 16.78 Mbps | 30.63 Mbps | 45.22% Slower |
| 2020 | 32.27 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | 59.82% Slower |
| 2021 | 30.46 Mbps | 66.05 Mbps | 53.88% Slower |
Durham Broadband Speed Distribution
| Percentage of Speed Tests in Speed Range | ||
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed Range | Durham | United Kingdom |
| Very Slow: under 10 Mbps | 28.67% | 19.92% |
| Slow: 10-30 Mbps | 29.17% | 25.74% |
| Adequate: 30-60 Mbps | 25.77% | 25.20% |
| Good: 60-80 Mbps | 8.34% | 10.20% |
| Fast: 80-300 Mbps | 6.55% | 15.33% |
| Very Fast: over 300 Mbps | 1.49% | 3.60% |
How Durham Compares to Major Cities
| City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | 5794.21 Mbps | 33.04—95.97 Mbps | 45.56 Mbps | Faster |
| Birmingham | 2786.06 Mbps | 29.31—107.04 Mbps | 38.5 Mbps | Faster |
| Liverpool | 1134.53 Mbps | 25.56—89.74 Mbps | 34.61 Mbps | Faster |
| Sheffield | 934.82 Mbps | 23.76—68.87 Mbps | 32.08 Mbps | Faster |
| Bristol | 943.13 Mbps | 30.38—109.93 Mbps | 42.32 Mbps | Faster |
| Glasgow | 913.93 Mbps | 20.63—71.33 Mbps | 32 Mbps | Faster |
| Leicester | 935.89 Mbps | 27.47—99.31 Mbps | 37.03 Mbps | Faster |
| Edinburgh | 874.24 Mbps | 29.96—107.51 Mbps | 38.06 Mbps | Faster |
| Durham | 919.98 Mbps | 18.11—48.81 Mbps | 25.15 Mbps | - |
| Nottingham | 2371.49 Mbps | 16.11—40.25 Mbps | 18.99 Mbps | Slower |
Cities and Provider Internet Speeds in Durham
| Position | City | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | # Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Aycliffe | 918.29 Mbps | 27.55—58.19 Mbps | 34.71 Mbps | 8 |
| 2 | Pelton | 831.66 Mbps | 27.45—60.6 Mbps | 33.82 Mbps | 7 |
| 3 | Monk Hesleden | 707.59 Mbps | 26.3—63.45 Mbps | 33.13 Mbps | 8 |
| 4 | Wingate | 768.2 Mbps | 24.18—55.35 Mbps | 32.25 Mbps | 7 |
| 5 | Bishop Auckland | 900.23 Mbps | 25.78—62.48 Mbps | 32.2 Mbps | 11 |
| 6 | Bearpark | 620.96 Mbps | 23.18—53.37 Mbps | 31.11 Mbps | 8 |
| 7 | Bournmoor | 734.26 Mbps | 24.36—57.34 Mbps | 31.06 Mbps | 9 |
| 8 | Cassop-cum-Quarrington | 415.44 Mbps | 22.77—62.55 Mbps | 30.41 Mbps | 7 |
| 9 | Barnard Castle | 690.45 Mbps | 21.57—66.64 Mbps | 30.38 Mbps | 7 |
| 10 | Healeyfield | 892.93 Mbps | 22.96—64.25 Mbps | 30.33 Mbps | 8 |
| 11 | Trimdon | 776.11 Mbps | 23.05—64.01 Mbps | 30.27 Mbps | 7 |
| 12 | Edmondsley | 934.23 Mbps | 20.98—55.91 Mbps | 28.52 Mbps | 8 |
| 13 | Ferryhill | 270.32 Mbps | 20.2—49.21 Mbps | 27.95 Mbps | 8 |
| 14 | Stanley | 537.83 Mbps | 19.24—50 Mbps | 27.56 Mbps | 9 |
| 15 | Spennymoor | 720.31 Mbps | 21.74—49.68 Mbps | 27.19 Mbps | 8 |
| 16 | Easington Colliery | 919.59 Mbps | 18.18—55.95 Mbps | 26.72 Mbps | 8 |
| 17 | Easington Village | 622.55 Mbps | 19.14—53.19 Mbps | 25.77 Mbps | 8 |
| 18 | Durham | 919.98 Mbps | 18.11—48.81 Mbps | 25.15 Mbps | 10 |
| 19 | Stanhope | 378.9 Mbps | 18.66—36.8 Mbps | 20.32 Mbps | 5 |
| 20 | Cotherstone | 468.78 Mbps | 7.12—36.49 Mbps | 12.79 Mbps | 7 |
| 21 | Barningham | 72.08 Mbps | 9.66—23.29 Mbps | 9.74 Mbps | 1 |
Durham 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 Durham Compares for Internet Speed in Durham
| Position | City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Easington Village | 622.55 Mbps | 19.14—53.19 Mbps | 25.77 Mbps | Faster |
| 27 | South Hetton | 72.85 Mbps | 20.15—42.95 Mbps | 25.65 Mbps | Faster |
| 28 | Durham | 919.98 Mbps | 18.11—48.81 Mbps | 25.15 Mbps | - |
| 29 | Stanhope | 378.9 Mbps | 18.66—36.8 Mbps | 20.32 Mbps | Slower |
| 30 | Cotherstone | 468.78 Mbps | 7.12—36.49 Mbps | 12.79 Mbps | Slower |
Durham Internet Speed Test Results
We analysed the results of people in Durham testing broadband providers multiple times, with each test starting no more than 30 minutes after the previous speed test. On average, people in Durham ran 4 internet speed tests per session. Looking at broadband download speeds, if the Durham 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 Durham's residents, of the internet speed tests we measured, 46.83% were fast, 25.35% slow, and 27.82% broadly the same.
Most Recent Tests
| Provider | Start Time | # Tests | Duration | Start Speed | End Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE | 20 Jan 2022 20:02:47 | 3 | 65 secs | 5.94 Mbps | 24.33 Mbps | Improved |
| Plusnet | 20 Jan 2022 20:02:25 | 2 | 60 secs | 3.42 Mbps | 3.62 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| TalkTalk | 20 Jan 2022 11:41:36 | 2 | 28 secs | 35.84 Mbps | 32.21 Mbps | Needs help |
| Sky Broadband | 20 Jan 2022 08:26:59 | 2 | 15 mins | 24.77 Mbps | 0.29 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Plusnet | 20 Jan 2022 00:55:39 | 3 | 16 mins | 0.14 Mbps | 3.89 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| TalkTalk | 19 Jan 2022 23:06:59 | 2 | 36 secs | 25.21 Mbps | 25.34 Mbps | |
| Plusnet | 19 Jan 2022 20:16:08 | 2 | 15 secs | 0.27 Mbps | 13.25 Mbps | Improved |
| BT | 19 Jan 2022 18:54:45 | 2 | 30 secs | 24.15 Mbps | 24.59 Mbps | |
| TalkTalk | 19 Jan 2022 16:55:28 | 3 | 59 secs | 2.5 Mbps | 4.67 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| EE | 18 Jan 2022 14:32:35 | 2 | 63 secs | 9.21 Mbps | 17.98 Mbps | Improved |
| TalkTalk | 18 Jan 2022 09:48:20 | 6 | 28 mins | 55.86 Mbps | 16.3 Mbps | Needs help |
| Shell Energy | 18 Jan 2022 00:16:56 | 5 | 17 mins | 53.95 Mbps | 55.99 Mbps | |
| TalkTalk | 17 Jan 2022 22:21:50 | 2 | 38 secs | 25.62 Mbps | 25.64 Mbps | |
| Vodafone | 17 Jan 2022 22:01:57 | 2 | 77 secs | 22.63 Mbps | 49.69 Mbps | Improved |
| EE | 17 Jan 2022 21:56:17 | 2 | 27 secs | 45.74 Mbps | 45.75 Mbps | |
| Vodafone | 17 Jan 2022 21:42:50 | 2 | 5 mins | 36.66 Mbps | 62.38 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 17 Jan 2022 19:20:11 | 2 | 94 secs | 55.38 Mbps | 54.22 Mbps | |
| BT | 17 Jan 2022 17:27:46 | 3 | 5 mins | 2.45 Mbps | 4.31 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| TalkTalk | 17 Jan 2022 16:54:43 | 2 | 50 secs | 4.66 Mbps | 4.77 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| TalkTalk | 17 Jan 2022 15:17:13 | 4 | 4 mins | 5.51 Mbps | 6.27 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
Summary of Internet Service Providers in Durham
| # | Provider Name | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virgin Media | 209.72 Mbps | 41.39—100.36 Mbps |
| 2 | Glide | 197.72 Mbps | 6.42—76.45 Mbps |
| 3 | BT | 919.98 Mbps | 19.03—49.65 Mbps |
| 4 | Vodafone | 793.03 Mbps | 29.85—55.27 Mbps |
| 5 | TalkTalk | 513.29 Mbps | 22.04—48.94 Mbps |
| 6 | Zen Internet | 73.5 Mbps | 0.7—19.7 Mbps |
| 7 | Sky Broadband | 144.04 Mbps | 15.41—48.86 Mbps |
| 8 | EE | 307.02 Mbps | 10.06—45.79 Mbps |
| 9 | Plusnet | 74.37 Mbps | 11.89—36.83 Mbps |
| 10 | Shell Energy | 72.81 Mbps | 13.77—32.09 Mbps |
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Durham
How many broadband providers in Durham are there?
Durham has 10 ISPs tested by its 47,785 residents.
Who is the fastest broadband provider in Durham?
Virgin Media is the fastest broadband provider in Durham with 209.72 Mbps, and an average internet speed range of 41.39—100.36 Mbps.
Who is the best internet provider in Durham?
The best internet provider in Durham is Virgin Media, and their users typically see broadband speeds in the range of 41.39 to 100.36 Mbps.
What is the average internet speed in Durham?
Users in Durham see an average internet speed of 18.11 up to 2221 Mbps, and the fastest speed we've seen is 919.98 Mbps.
Is TalkTalk available in Durham?
Broadband service from TalkTalk is available in Durham, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 513.29 Mbps.
Is Plusnet available in Durham?
Broadband service from Plusnet is available in Durham, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 74.37 Mbps.
Is Vodafone available in Durham?
Broadband service from Vodafone is available in Durham, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 793.03 Mbps.
Is BT full fibre available in Durham?
Yes, BT offers full fibre to the home (also called FTTH or FTTP) to 34 of Durham's postcodes.
Who is the most popular broadband provider in Durham?
The broadband provider with the most users in Durham is TalkTalk.
Author: Thomas Buck
Last Reviewed By: Tyler Cooper
Published: 10 Nov 2019
Last Updated: 20 Jan 2022