Sheffield Broadband Statistics
Sheffield has the lowest fibre access out of all major cities in Yorkshire and The Humber, and is among the 20 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 13% of residents. UltraFast 300+ Mbps is available to 56% of residents, while SuperFast 30+ Mbps broadband is available to 98% of Sheffield's households.
Poor broadband infrastructure results in low speed test averages in Sheffield postcodes like S5, S6, S2, S10, and S8. Over the past year, we’ve recorded a 32.06 Mbps median internet speed in Sheffield, which is 13% below the United Kingdom national median of 37 Mbps.
Sheffield increased access to Gigabit speeds by 11 percentage points in the past year. The buildout rate is also better than neighbouring major cities like York (gained 8.49 percentate points), Wakefield (gained 2.70 percentate points), and Barnsley (gained 2.14 percentate points). In addition, real-world speed test data shows that Sheffield is marginally outperformed by Bradfield (11% faster), and is dramatically faster than Stocksbridge (310% slower) and Ecclesfield (23% slower).
Local broadband speeds over time
The median broadband speed in Sheffield has increased by 80% over the last five years.
Local broadband speeds in context
As of 2022, the median broadband speed in Sheffield is 12% lower than the Yorkshire and The Humber and 15% lower than the UK overall.
| Sheffield | 32 Mbps | |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 36 Mbps | |
| United Kingdom | 37 Mbps |
Sheffield 2022 Broadband Scorecard
▼ Lowest fibre access
Major Cities, Yorkshire and The Humber
▼ 12% below regional broadband speed
Yorkshire and The Humber
▼ 15% below national broadband speed
UK Overall
Searching for providers...
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 Sheffield 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 Sheffield 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 Sheffield
Are you looking for research assistance?
Contact Fair Internet Report for insights about broadband in Sheffield 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 Sheffield
See the chart below for annual reporting on fibre build rates in the Sheffield 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 | 13.20% | 55.66% | 98.08% |
| 2020 | 2.13% | 51.61% | 97.35% |
| 2019 | 0.99% | 52.15% | 96.88% |
| 2018 | 0.74% | 40.35% | 95.45% |
| 2017 | 0.63% | 44.04% | 92.99% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 0.37% | 89.57% |
Map of Sheffield's Fibre Broadband Availability by Postcode
Gigabit Availability
13.20%
of people living in Sheffield can obtain to 1,000+ Mbps broadband speeds
Ultrafast Speeds
55.66%
of Sheffield residents can get 300+ Mbps internet service
Superfast 30+ Mbps Broadband
98.08%
availability in Sheffield
Poor Broadband Speeds
1.64%
of Sheffield is limited to broadband speeds under 30 Mbps
Sheffield Broadband Speeds Report
Average Broadband Speeds in Sheffield
| Year | Sheffield Average | United Kingdom Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 18.27 Mbps | 26.27 Mbps | 30.45% Slower |
| 2019 | 25.3 Mbps | 30.63 Mbps | 17.40% Slower |
| 2020 | 54.45 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | 32.20% Slower |
| 2021 | 51.52 Mbps | 66.05 Mbps | 22.00% Slower |
Sheffield Broadband Speed Distribution
| Percentage of Speed Tests in Speed Range | ||
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed Range | Sheffield | United Kingdom |
| Very Slow: under 10 Mbps | 21.60% | 19.92% |
| Slow: 10-30 Mbps | 26.44% | 25.74% |
| Adequate: 30-60 Mbps | 25.35% | 25.20% |
| Good: 60-80 Mbps | 10.74% | 10.20% |
| Fast: 80-300 Mbps | 14.02% | 15.33% |
| Very Fast: over 300 Mbps | 1.86% | 3.60% |
How Sheffield 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 |
| Sheffield | 932.42 Mbps | 23.73—68.81 Mbps | 32.06 Mbps | - |
| Nottingham | 2371.49 Mbps | 16.2—40.46 Mbps | 19.1 Mbps | Slower |
| Glasgow | 913.93 Mbps | 20.58—71.34 Mbps | 32 Mbps | Slower |
Cities and Provider Internet Speeds in Sheffield
| Position | City | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | # Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradfield | 925.75 Mbps | 25.79—93.14 Mbps | 35.57 Mbps | 15 |
| 2 | Sheffield | 932.42 Mbps | 23.73—68.81 Mbps | 32.06 Mbps | 19 |
| 3 | Ecclesfield | 833.48 Mbps | 18.27—50.67 Mbps | 26 Mbps | 13 |
Sheffield 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 Sheffield Compares for Internet Speed in Sheffield
| Position | City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradfield | 925.75 Mbps | 25.79—93.14 Mbps | 35.57 Mbps | Faster |
| 2 | Sheffield | 932.42 Mbps | 23.73—68.81 Mbps | 32.06 Mbps | - |
| 3 | Ecclesfield | 833.48 Mbps | 18.27—50.67 Mbps | 26 Mbps | Slower |
| 4 | Stocksbridge | 514.47 Mbps | 5.49—23.49 Mbps | 7.81 Mbps | Slower |
Sheffield Internet Speed Test Results
We analysed the results of people in Sheffield testing broadband providers multiple times, with each test starting no more than 30 minutes after the previous speed test. On average, people in Sheffield ran 4 internet speed tests per session. Looking at broadband download speeds, if the Sheffield 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 Sheffield's residents, of the internet speed tests we measured, 40.67% were fast, 24.09% slow, and 35.24% broadly the same.
Most Recent Tests
| Provider | Start Time | # Tests | Duration | Start Speed | End Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 23:55:52 | 2 | 64 secs | 7.1 Mbps | 45.62 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 23:48:42 | 2 | 22 secs | 14.08 Mbps | 17.78 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 23:25:43 | 2 | 2 mins | 38.69 Mbps | 70.14 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 23:14:43 | 3 | 3 mins | 15.48 Mbps | 15.47 Mbps | |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 22:28:48 | 3 | 16 mins | 79.12 Mbps | 66.34 Mbps | Needs help |
| TalkTalk | 18 Jan 2022 22:41:57 | 3 | 49 secs | 0.61 Mbps | 20.95 Mbps | Improved |
| Plusnet | 18 Jan 2022 22:22:51 | 2 | 4 mins | 30.94 Mbps | 36.56 Mbps | Improved |
| Plusnet | 18 Jan 2022 22:07:07 | 3 | 10 mins | 17.7 Mbps | 36.58 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 22:09:57 | 2 | 48 secs | 26.43 Mbps | 23.53 Mbps | Needs help |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 22:04:14 | 3 | 76 secs | 60.81 Mbps | 63.42 Mbps | |
| Pine Media | 18 Jan 2022 22:03:08 | 2 | 30 secs | 2.48 Mbps | 4.46 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 21:42:00 | 3 | 2 mins | 10.15 Mbps | 12.46 Mbps | Improved |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 21:27:11 | 2 | 13 mins | 3.09 Mbps | 0.2 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 21:01:43 | 4 | 33 mins | 34.31 Mbps | 124.78 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 21:28:56 | 3 | 75 secs | 33.16 Mbps | 32.98 Mbps | |
| TalkTalk | 18 Jan 2022 21:05:58 | 2 | 3 mins | 39.15 Mbps | 12.31 Mbps | Needs help |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 21:07:13 | 2 | 74 secs | 19.4 Mbps | 6.55 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| EE | 18 Jan 2022 21:06:33 | 2 | 24 secs | 40.47 Mbps | 39.73 Mbps | |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 20:51:11 | 3 | 7 mins | 69.71 Mbps | 70.27 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 20:49:23 | 2 | 3 mins | 182.64 Mbps | 183.88 Mbps |
Summary of Internet Service Providers in Sheffield
| # | Provider Name | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KCOM | 787.38 Mbps | 129.58—755.51 Mbps |
| 2 | Hyperoptic | 920.97 Mbps | 61.41—220.01 Mbps |
| 3 | Zone Broadband | 594.21 Mbps | 28.69—84.8 Mbps |
| 4 | Glide | 866.88 Mbps | 42.76—154.52 Mbps |
| 5 | Pine Media | 784.4 Mbps | 35.59—186.85 Mbps |
| 6 | Virgin Media | 921.36 Mbps | 44.79—138.98 Mbps |
| 7 | iDNET | 786.52 Mbps | 7.56—89.77 Mbps |
| 8 | Zen Internet | 635.82 Mbps | 58.81—62.92 Mbps |
| 9 | BT | 920.82 Mbps | 25.93—67.93 Mbps |
| 10 | Vodafone | 932.42 Mbps | 26.71—59.89 Mbps |
| 11 | EE | 911.38 Mbps | 25.34—58.87 Mbps |
| 12 | TalkTalk | 523.78 Mbps | 21.91—51.69 Mbps |
| 13 | Sky Broadband | 506.69 Mbps | 18.07—52.42 Mbps |
| 14 | uno | 373.71 Mbps | 18.21—46.05 Mbps |
| 15 | Plusnet | 250.58 Mbps | 17.73—50.14 Mbps |
| 16 | Origin Broadband | 389.04 Mbps | 14.69—42.24 Mbps |
| 17 | Shell Energy | 74.5 Mbps | 6.94—34.01 Mbps |
| 18 | Andrews & Arnold | 26.44 Mbps | 3.48—21 Mbps |
| 19 | CIX | 73.26 Mbps | 1.79—28.53 Mbps |
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Sheffield
How many broadband providers in Sheffield are there?
Sheffield has 19 ISPs tested by its 582,506 residents.
Who is the fastest broadband provider in Sheffield?
KCOM is the fastest broadband provider in Sheffield with 787.38 Mbps, and an average internet speed range of 129.58—755.51 Mbps.
Who is the best internet provider in Sheffield?
The best internet provider in Sheffield is KCOM, and their users typically see broadband speeds in the range of 129.58 to 755.51 Mbps.
What is the average internet speed in Sheffield?
Users in Sheffield see an average internet speed of 23.73 up to 1145 Mbps, and the fastest speed we've seen is 932.42 Mbps.
Is Sky Broadband available in Sheffield?
Broadband service from Sky Broadband is available in Sheffield, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 506.69 Mbps.
Is BT available in Sheffield?
Broadband service from BT is available in Sheffield, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 920.82 Mbps.
Is Virgin Media available in Sheffield?
Broadband service from Virgin Media is available in Sheffield, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 921.36 Mbps.
Is BT full fibre available in Sheffield?
Yes, BT offers full fibre to the home (also called FTTH or FTTP) to 2012 of Sheffield's postcodes.
Who is the most popular broadband provider in Sheffield?
The broadband provider with the most users in Sheffield is Sky Broadband.
Author: Thomas Buck
Last Reviewed By: Tyler Cooper
Published: 10 Nov 2019
Last Updated: 18 Jan 2022