Luton Broadband Statistics
Luton has the lowest fibre access out of all major cities in the East of England, and is the worst major city 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 0.18% of residents. UltraFast 300+ Mbps is available to 95% of residents, while SuperFast 30+ Mbps broadband is available to 100% of Luton's households.
Poor broadband infrastructure results in very low speed test averages in Luton postcodes like LU2, LU3, LU1, and LU4. Over the past year, we’ve recorded a 15.13 Mbps median internet speed in Luton, which is 59% below the United Kingdom national median of 37 Mbps.
Luton's access to Gigabit speeds stagnated in the past year. The buildout rate has also stagnated relative to neighbouring major cities like Peterborough (gained 36 percentate points), Chelmsford (gained 33 percentate points), and Southend-on-Sea (gained 28 percentate points).
Local broadband speeds over time
The median broadband speed in Luton has decreased by 119% over the last five years.
Local broadband speeds in context
As of 2022, the median broadband speed in Luton is 147% lower than the East of England and 144% lower than the UK overall.
| Luton | 15 Mbps | |
| East of England | 37 Mbps | |
| United Kingdom | 37 Mbps |
Luton 2022 Broadband Scorecard
▼ Lowest fibre access
Major Cities, East of England
▼ 147% below regional broadband speed
East of England
▼ 144% below 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 Luton 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 Luton 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 Luton
Are you looking for research assistance?
Contact Fair Internet Report for insights about broadband in Luton 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 Luton
See the chart below for annual reporting on fibre build rates in the Luton 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 | 0.18% | 95.16% | 99.71% |
| 2020 | 0.50% | 95.56% | 99.84% |
| 2019 | 0.52% | 96.87% | 99.88% |
| 2018 | 0.05% | 91.71% | 99.90% |
| 2017 | 0.05% | 80.04% | 99.22% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 99.08% |
Map of Luton's Fibre Broadband Availability by Postcode
Gigabit Availability
None
of people living in Luton can obtain to 1,000+ Mbps broadband speeds
Ultrafast Speeds
95.16%
of Luton residents can get 300+ Mbps internet service
Superfast 30+ Mbps Broadband
99.71%
availability in Luton
Poor Broadband Speeds
None
of Luton is limited to broadband speeds under 30 Mbps
Luton Broadband Speeds Report
Average Broadband Speeds in Luton
| Year | Luton Average | United Kingdom Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 18.17 Mbps | 26.27 Mbps | 30.83% Slower |
| 2019 | 54.86 Mbps | 30.63 Mbps | 79.11% Faster |
| 2020 | 285.47 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | 255.46% Faster |
| 2021 | 63.04 Mbps | 66.05 Mbps | 4.56% Slower |
Luton Broadband Speed Distribution
| Percentage of Speed Tests in Speed Range | ||
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed Range | Luton | United Kingdom |
| Very Slow: under 10 Mbps | 41.27% | 19.92% |
| Slow: 10-30 Mbps | 26.28% | 25.74% |
| Adequate: 30-60 Mbps | 11.88% | 25.20% |
| Good: 60-80 Mbps | 4.17% | 10.20% |
| Fast: 80-300 Mbps | 12.43% | 15.33% |
| Very Fast: over 300 Mbps | 3.97% | 3.60% |
How Luton 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 |
| Liverpool | 1134.53 Mbps | 25.63—89.99 Mbps | 34.68 Mbps | Faster |
| Nottingham | 2371.49 Mbps | 15.99—39.85 Mbps | 18.81 Mbps | Faster |
| Sheffield | 936.79 Mbps | 23.81—68.97 Mbps | 32.12 Mbps | Faster |
| Bristol | 943.13 Mbps | 30.46—109.99 Mbps | 42.42 Mbps | Faster |
| Glasgow | 913.93 Mbps | 20.72—71.44 Mbps | 32.11 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 |
| Luton | 917.35 Mbps | 8.99—87.22 Mbps | 15.13 Mbps | - |
Luton 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 Luton Compares for Internet Speed in Luton
| Position | City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luton | 917.35 Mbps | 8.99—87.22 Mbps | 15.13 Mbps | - |
Luton Internet Speed Test Results
We analysed the results of people in Luton testing broadband providers multiple times, with each test starting no more than 30 minutes after the previous speed test. On average, people in Luton ran 4 internet speed tests per session. Looking at broadband download speeds, if the Luton 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 Luton's residents, of the internet speed tests we measured, 45.04% were fast, 25.95% slow, and 29.01% broadly the same.
Most Recent Tests
| Provider | Start Time | # Tests | Duration | Start Speed | End Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plusnet | 24 Jan 2022 20:51:47 | 2 | 46 secs | 8.41 Mbps | 16.13 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 14:39:05 | 3 | 9 mins | 0.26 Mbps | 4.01 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 12:58:18 | 2 | 24 secs | 0.99 Mbps | 0.93 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 24 Jan 2022 07:32:45 | 3 | 12 mins | 6.07 Mbps | 16.43 Mbps | Improved |
| BT | 23 Jan 2022 10:13:46 | 2 | 63 secs | 67.2 Mbps | 26.85 Mbps | Needs help |
| Vodafone | 23 Jan 2022 09:59:37 | 2 | 108 secs | 17.76 Mbps | 16.7 Mbps | |
| BT | 23 Jan 2022 00:49:38 | 2 | 3 mins | 68.26 Mbps | 52.45 Mbps | Needs help |
| Virgin Media | 22 Jan 2022 01:44:03 | 3 | 2 mins | 0.36 Mbps | 5.09 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 21 Jan 2022 14:54:38 | 3 | 26 mins | 0.83 Mbps | 15.08 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 21 Jan 2022 14:20:20 | 2 | 2 mins | 2.31 Mbps | 2.25 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 21 Jan 2022 13:34:08 | 2 | 59 secs | 2.23 Mbps | 1.87 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 21 Jan 2022 12:31:45 | 2 | 2 mins | 2.15 Mbps | 3.15 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 21 Jan 2022 07:17:09 | 2 | 32 secs | 3.58 Mbps | 3.97 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Vodafone | 20 Jan 2022 16:52:45 | 8 | 25 mins | 28.07 Mbps | 14.62 Mbps | Needs help |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 16:09:07 | 4 | 24 mins | 0.75 Mbps | 16.11 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 11:23:06 | 2 | 58 secs | 6.23 Mbps | 9.3 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 19 Jan 2022 16:15:27 | 3 | 10 mins | 1.69 Mbps | 1.61 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 19 Jan 2022 14:25:09 | 3 | 80 secs | 4.97 Mbps | 9.32 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 19 Jan 2022 12:39:49 | 2 | 11 mins | 7.57 Mbps | 6.6 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 19 Jan 2022 12:00:18 | 2 | 12 secs | 4.96 Mbps | 6.25 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
Summary of Internet Service Providers in Luton
| # | Provider Name | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIX | 658.22 Mbps | 0—87.52 Mbps |
| 2 | BT | 773.36 Mbps | 25.87—80.1 Mbps |
| 3 | Virgin Media | 917.35 Mbps | 7.08—92.93 Mbps |
| 4 | TalkTalk | 524.54 Mbps | 36.08—62.03 Mbps |
| 5 | Vodafone | 73.77 Mbps | 27.77—39.56 Mbps |
| 6 | Plusnet | 74.45 Mbps | 19.24—44.22 Mbps |
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Luton
How many broadband providers in Luton are there?
Luton has 6 ISPs tested by its 214,109 residents.
Who is the fastest broadband provider in Luton?
CIX is the fastest broadband provider in Luton with 658.22 Mbps, and an average internet speed range of 0—87.52 Mbps.
Who is the best internet provider in Luton?
The best internet provider in Luton is TalkTalk, and their users typically see broadband speeds in the range of 36.08 to 62.03 Mbps.
What is the average internet speed in Luton?
Users in Luton see an average internet speed of 8.99 up to 706 Mbps, and the fastest speed we've seen is 917.35 Mbps.
Is Virgin Media available in Luton?
Broadband service from Virgin Media is available in Luton, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 917.35 Mbps.
Is Plusnet available in Luton?
Broadband service from Plusnet is available in Luton, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 74.45 Mbps.
Is TalkTalk available in Luton?
Broadband service from TalkTalk is available in Luton, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 524.54 Mbps.
Is BT full fibre available in Luton?
Yes, BT offers full fibre to the home (also called FTTH or FTTP) to 61 of Luton's postcodes.
Who is the most popular broadband provider in Luton?
The broadband provider with the most users in Luton is Virgin Media.
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?