Gateshead Broadband Statistics
Gateshead has the second-lowest fibre access out of all major cities in the North East, and is among the 10 worst-off major cities 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 4.53% of residents. UltraFast 300+ Mbps is available to 75% of residents, while SuperFast 30+ Mbps broadband is available to 98% of Gateshead's households.
Poor broadband infrastructure results in low speed test averages in Gateshead postcodes like NE10, NE9, NE8, NE16, and NE21. Over the past year, we’ve recorded a 32.06 Mbps median internet speed in Gateshead, which is 13% below the United Kingdom national median of 37 Mbps.
Gateshead increased access to Gigabit speeds by 1.85 percentage points in the past year. The buildout rate is also better than neighbouring major cities like Stockton-on-Tees (gained 0.22 percentate points). In addition, real-world speed test data shows that Gateshead is dramatically faster than Lamesley (159% slower).
Local broadband speeds over time
The median broadband speed in Gateshead has increased by 75% over the last five years.
Local broadband speeds in context
As of 2022, the median broadband speed in Gateshead is 8.76% lower than the North East and 15% lower than the UK overall.
| Gateshead | 32 Mbps | |
| North East | 35 Mbps | |
| United Kingdom | 37 Mbps |
Gateshead 2022 Broadband Scorecard
▼ 2nd lowest fibre access
Major Cities, North East
▼ 8.76% below regional broadband speed
North East
▼ 15% 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 Gateshead 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 Gateshead 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 Gateshead
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Ofcom Fibre Access Analysis for Gateshead
See the chart below for annual reporting on fibre build rates in the Gateshead 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 | 4.53% | 74.90% | 97.59% |
| 2020 | 2.68% | 74.14% | 97.32% |
| 2019 | 2.65% | 72.41% | 97.62% |
| 2018 | 1.03% | 69.70% | 95.79% |
| 2017 | 0.29% | 69.75% | 95.13% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 0.26% | 94.33% |
Map of Gateshead's Fibre Broadband Availability by Postcode
Gigabit Availability
4.53%
of people living in Gateshead can obtain to 1,000+ Mbps broadband speeds
Ultrafast Speeds
74.90%
of Gateshead residents can get 300+ Mbps internet service
Superfast 30+ Mbps Broadband
97.59%
availability in Gateshead
Poor Broadband Speeds
2.29%
of Gateshead is limited to broadband speeds under 30 Mbps
Gateshead Broadband Speeds Report
Average Broadband Speeds in Gateshead
| Year | Gateshead Average | United Kingdom Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 25.94 Mbps | 26.27 Mbps | 1.26% Slower |
| 2019 | 24.91 Mbps | 30.63 Mbps | 18.67% Slower |
| 2020 | 49.36 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | 38.54% Slower |
| 2021 | 54.05 Mbps | 66.05 Mbps | 18.17% Slower |
Gateshead Broadband Speed Distribution
| Percentage of Speed Tests in Speed Range | ||
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed Range | Gateshead | United Kingdom |
| Very Slow: under 10 Mbps | 23.31% | 19.92% |
| Slow: 10-30 Mbps | 25.17% | 25.74% |
| Adequate: 30-60 Mbps | 22.66% | 25.20% |
| Good: 60-80 Mbps | 7.53% | 10.20% |
| Fast: 80-300 Mbps | 16.72% | 15.33% |
| Very Fast: over 300 Mbps | 4.61% | 3.60% |
How Gateshead Compares to Major Cities
| City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | 5794.21 Mbps | 33.02—95.86 Mbps | 45.54 Mbps | Faster |
| Birmingham | 941.32 Mbps | 29.29—107 Mbps | 38.47 Mbps | Faster |
| Liverpool | 1134.53 Mbps | 25.52—89.6 Mbps | 34.58 Mbps | Faster |
| Bristol | 943.13 Mbps | 30.35—109.9 Mbps | 42.28 Mbps | Faster |
| Leicester | 935.89 Mbps | 27.45—99.24 Mbps | 37 Mbps | Faster |
| Edinburgh | 874.24 Mbps | 29.96—107.47 Mbps | 38.02 Mbps | Faster |
| Gateshead | 900.64 Mbps | 23.33—75.93 Mbps | 32.06 Mbps | - |
| Nottingham | 2371.49 Mbps | 16.2—40.46 Mbps | 19.1 Mbps | Slower |
| Sheffield | 932.42 Mbps | 23.73—68.81 Mbps | 32.06 Mbps | Slower |
| Glasgow | 913.93 Mbps | 20.58—71.34 Mbps | 32 Mbps | Slower |
Cities and Provider Internet Speeds in Gateshead
| Position | City | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | # Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gateshead | 900.64 Mbps | 23.33—75.93 Mbps | 32.06 Mbps | 15 |
| 2 | Lamesley | 483.51 Mbps | 6.95—30.78 Mbps | 12.4 Mbps | 6 |
Gateshead 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 Gateshead Compares for Internet Speed in Gateshead
| Position | City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gateshead | 900.64 Mbps | 23.33—75.93 Mbps | 32.06 Mbps | - |
| 2 | Lamesley | 483.51 Mbps | 6.95—30.78 Mbps | 12.4 Mbps | Slower |
Gateshead Internet Speed Test Results
We analysed the results of people in Gateshead testing broadband providers multiple times, with each test starting no more than 30 minutes after the previous speed test. On average, people in Gateshead ran 4 internet speed tests per session. Looking at broadband download speeds, if the Gateshead 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 Gateshead's residents, of the internet speed tests we measured, 43.62% were fast, 23.09% slow, and 33.29% broadly the same.
Most Recent Tests
| Provider | Start Time | # Tests | Duration | Start Speed | End Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 22:28:05 | 2 | 58 secs | 16.87 Mbps | 19.31 Mbps | Improved |
| TalkTalk | 18 Jan 2022 21:51:22 | 2 | 50 secs | 14.72 Mbps | 25.8 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 21:10:06 | 2 | 41 secs | 5.73 Mbps | 4.98 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 20:48:54 | 2 | 4 mins | 7.15 Mbps | 5.07 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 20:20:24 | 2 | 52 secs | 32.5 Mbps | 26.56 Mbps | Needs help |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 20:00:36 | 4 | 7 mins | 108.97 Mbps | 34.29 Mbps | Needs help |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 19:18:05 | 4 | 6 mins | 7.33 Mbps | 18.31 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 18:51:13 | 4 | 15 mins | 4.44 Mbps | 4.54 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 18:43:15 | 3 | 15 mins | 25.05 Mbps | 41.12 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 17:57:28 | 2 | 88 secs | 39.1 Mbps | 49.23 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 17:44:17 | 2 | 54 secs | 22.3 Mbps | 25.5 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 17:41:00 | 2 | 79 secs | 39.82 Mbps | 39.78 Mbps | |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 16:50:05 | 3 | 106 secs | 0.49 Mbps | 1.06 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 15:45:47 | 2 | 64 secs | 40.29 Mbps | 40.16 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 15:25:11 | 2 | 20 mins | 68.51 Mbps | 8.77 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 13:37:33 | 3 | 37 mins | 199.4 Mbps | 103.56 Mbps | Needs help |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 13:48:45 | 2 | 52 secs | 6.16 Mbps | 12.09 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 13:29:15 | 2 | 2 mins | 0.89 Mbps | 10.12 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 13:29:57 | 2 | 26 secs | 264.26 Mbps | 235.85 Mbps | Needs help |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 13:19:31 | 2 | 43 secs | 52.97 Mbps | 27.05 Mbps | Needs help |
Summary of Internet Service Providers in Gateshead
| # | Provider Name | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zen Internet | 395.39 Mbps | 14.3—78.06 Mbps |
| 2 | Hyperoptic | 900.64 Mbps | 37.81—145.92 Mbps |
| 3 | Virgin Media | 880.27 Mbps | 43.49—141.42 Mbps |
| 4 | Glide | 109.85 Mbps | 37.6—92.1 Mbps |
| 5 | Andrews & Arnold | 62.35 Mbps | 36.18—62.01 Mbps |
| 6 | CCS Leeds | 189.08 Mbps | 11.92—74.51 Mbps |
| 7 | CIX | 44.32 Mbps | 0—41.71 Mbps |
| 8 | BT | 893.95 Mbps | 16.27—49.75 Mbps |
| 9 | Vodafone | 230.66 Mbps | 27.71—54.44 Mbps |
| 10 | EE | 429.13 Mbps | 14.32—52.5 Mbps |
| 11 | Sky Broadband | 425.45 Mbps | 18.42—48.88 Mbps |
| 12 | TalkTalk | 518.03 Mbps | 14.93—45.21 Mbps |
| 13 | Plusnet | 74.73 Mbps | 10.15—36.54 Mbps |
| 14 | Origin Broadband | 33.77 Mbps | 10.16—25.01 Mbps |
| 15 | Shell Energy | 72.41 Mbps | 6.46—26.17 Mbps |
Smaller Towns, Villages, and Wards in Gateshead
| Ward | Median Age | Rent Privately | Rent Council | Mortage | Commute via Public Transport | Work From Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaydon | 38.0 | 7.50% | 28.29% | 38.01% | 18.00% | 3.32% |
| Ryton | 44.0 | 5.41% | 15.40% | 37.27% | 16.26% | 3.83% |
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Gateshead
How many broadband providers in Gateshead are there?
Gateshead has 15 ISPs tested by its 202,508 residents.
Who is the fastest broadband provider in Gateshead?
Virgin Media is the fastest broadband provider in Gateshead with 880.27 Mbps, and an average internet speed range of 43.49—141.42 Mbps.
Who is the best internet provider in Gateshead?
The best internet provider in Gateshead is Virgin Media, and their users typically see broadband speeds in the range of 43.49 to 141.42 Mbps.
What is the average internet speed in Gateshead?
Users in Gateshead see an average internet speed of 23.33 up to 790 Mbps, and the fastest speed we've seen is 900.64 Mbps.
Is Virgin Media available in Gateshead?
Broadband service from Virgin Media is available in Gateshead, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 880.27 Mbps.
Is Sky Broadband available in Gateshead?
Broadband service from Sky Broadband is available in Gateshead, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 425.45 Mbps.
Is BT available in Gateshead?
Broadband service from BT is available in Gateshead, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 893.95 Mbps.
Is BT full fibre available in Gateshead?
Yes, BT offers full fibre to the home (also called FTTH or FTTP) to 174 of Gateshead's postcodes.
Who is the most popular broadband provider in Gateshead?
The broadband provider with the most users in Gateshead is Virgin Media.
Author: Thomas Buck
Last Reviewed By: Tyler Cooper
Published: 10 Nov 2019
Last Updated: 18 Jan 2022