Sunderland Broadband Statistics
Sunderland has the second-best 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 10% of residents. UltraFast 300+ Mbps is available to 69% of residents, while SuperFast 30+ Mbps broadband is available to 99% of Sunderland's households.
Poor broadband infrastructure results in low speed test averages in Sunderland postcodes like SR4, SR5, SR3, SR2, and DH4. Over the past year, we’ve recorded a 34 Mbps median internet speed in Sunderland, which is 7.71% below the United Kingdom national median of 37 Mbps.
Sunderland increased access to Gigabit speeds by 3.46 percentage points in the past year. The buildout rate is also better than neighbouring major cities like Gateshead (gained 1.85 percentate points) and Stockton-on-Tees (gained 0.22 percentate points). In addition, real-world speed test data shows that Sunderland is dramatically faster than Hetton (54% slower).
Local broadband speeds over time
The median broadband speed in Sunderland has increased by 75% over the last five years.
Local broadband speeds in context
As of 2022, the median broadband speed in Sunderland is 2.56% lower than the North East and 8.35% lower than the UK overall.
| Sunderland | 34 Mbps | |
| North East | 35 Mbps | |
| United Kingdom | 37 Mbps |
Sunderland 2022 Broadband Scorecard
▲ 2nd highest fibre access
Major Cities, North East
▼ 2.56% below regional broadband speed
North East
▼ 8.35% 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 Sunderland 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 Sunderland 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 Sunderland
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Ofcom Fibre Access Analysis for Sunderland
See the chart below for annual reporting on fibre build rates in the Sunderland 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 | 10.00% | 68.70% | 98.58% |
| 2020 | 6.54% | 65.45% | 98.78% |
| 2019 | 3.26% | 62.72% | 98.91% |
| 2018 | 0.27% | 58.07% | 98.22% |
| 2017 | 0.04% | 54.93% | 97.72% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 97.34% |
Map of Sunderland's Fibre Broadband Availability by Postcode
Gigabit Availability
10.00%
of people living in Sunderland can obtain to 1,000+ Mbps broadband speeds
Ultrafast Speeds
68.70%
of Sunderland residents can get 300+ Mbps internet service
Superfast 30+ Mbps Broadband
98.58%
availability in Sunderland
Poor Broadband Speeds
1.14%
of Sunderland is limited to broadband speeds under 30 Mbps
Sunderland Broadband Speeds Report
Average Broadband Speeds in Sunderland
| Year | Sunderland Average | United Kingdom Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 21.29 Mbps | 26.27 Mbps | 18.96% Slower |
| 2019 | 24.32 Mbps | 30.63 Mbps | 20.60% Slower |
| 2020 | 99.09 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | 23.38% Faster |
| 2021 | 59.78 Mbps | 66.05 Mbps | 9.49% Slower |
Sunderland Broadband Speed Distribution
| Percentage of Speed Tests in Speed Range | ||
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed Range | Sunderland | United Kingdom |
| Very Slow: under 10 Mbps | 21.17% | 19.92% |
| Slow: 10-30 Mbps | 26.73% | 25.74% |
| Adequate: 30-60 Mbps | 26.50% | 25.20% |
| Good: 60-80 Mbps | 7.81% | 10.20% |
| Fast: 80-300 Mbps | 14.81% | 15.33% |
| Very Fast: over 300 Mbps | 2.99% | 3.60% |
How Sunderland 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 |
| Sunderland | 927.81 Mbps | 26.34—72.97 Mbps | 34 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 Sunderland
| Position | City | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | # Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunderland | 927.81 Mbps | 26.34—72.97 Mbps | 34 Mbps | 13 |
| 2 | Hetton | 561.07 Mbps | 15.7—52.41 Mbps | 22.06 Mbps | 7 |
Sunderland 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 Sunderland Compares for Internet Speed in Sunderland
| Position | City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunderland | 927.81 Mbps | 26.34—72.97 Mbps | 34 Mbps | - |
Sunderland Internet Speed Test Results
We analysed the results of people in Sunderland testing broadband providers multiple times, with each test starting no more than 30 minutes after the previous speed test. On average, people in Sunderland ran 4 internet speed tests per session. Looking at broadband download speeds, if the Sunderland 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 Sunderland's residents, of the internet speed tests we measured, 38.43% were fast, 23.81% slow, and 37.76% broadly the same.
Most Recent Tests
| Provider | Start Time | # Tests | Duration | Start Speed | End Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 23:46:42 | 2 | 55 secs | 48.38 Mbps | 47.56 Mbps | |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 21:59:27 | 2 | 30 mins | 24.06 Mbps | 65.15 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 22:25:14 | 2 | 3 mins | 3.21 Mbps | 67.06 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 22:13:05 | 2 | 44 secs | 26.76 Mbps | 22.76 Mbps | Needs help |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 21:43:49 | 4 | 8 mins | 203.72 Mbps | 151.73 Mbps | Needs help |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 21:32:15 | 2 | 16 secs | 347.83 Mbps | 327.29 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 21:27:10 | 2 | 19 secs | 54.78 Mbps | 82.37 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 21:09:31 | 2 | 14 mins | 7.73 Mbps | 5.01 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 20:36:38 | 4 | 45 mins | 4.55 Mbps | 2.63 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 21:05:56 | 3 | 7 mins | 6.57 Mbps | 18.04 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 19:28:49 | 25 | 76 mins | 275.64 Mbps | 241.84 Mbps | Needs help |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 20:30:47 | 2 | 108 secs | 15.08 Mbps | 2.69 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 20:19:21 | 2 | 70 secs | 75.24 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 20:13:50 | 2 | 28 secs | 40.4 Mbps | 39.33 Mbps | |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 19:24:29 | 9 | 39 mins | 9.65 Mbps | 6.8 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| TalkTalk | 18 Jan 2022 20:00:28 | 2 | 33 secs | 29.59 Mbps | 29.75 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 18 Jan 2022 19:59:59 | 2 | 36 secs | 30.66 Mbps | 32.05 Mbps | |
| BT | 18 Jan 2022 19:26:33 | 2 | 11 mins | 25.42 Mbps | 30.24 Mbps | Improved |
| Shell Energy | 18 Jan 2022 19:14:19 | 2 | 46 secs | 2.44 Mbps | 1.8 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
| Sky Broadband | 18 Jan 2022 18:48:10 | 2 | 32 secs | 15.18 Mbps | 18.07 Mbps | Improved |
Summary of Internet Service Providers in Sunderland
| # | Provider Name | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyperoptic | 831.11 Mbps | 35.87—163.52 Mbps |
| 2 | Virgin Media | 844.3 Mbps | 52.24—197.53 Mbps |
| 3 | Zen Internet | 185.19 Mbps | 41.4—55.84 Mbps |
| 4 | Andrews & Arnold | 62.23 Mbps | 0—36.87 Mbps |
| 5 | BT | 927.81 Mbps | 25.69—57.75 Mbps |
| 6 | EE | 687.19 Mbps | 23.05—56.72 Mbps |
| 7 | Vodafone | 889.04 Mbps | 24.9—56.77 Mbps |
| 8 | TalkTalk | 497.12 Mbps | 18.54—49.41 Mbps |
| 9 | Sky Broadband | 452.45 Mbps | 20.54—49.46 Mbps |
| 10 | Plusnet | 73.83 Mbps | 15.23—36.62 Mbps |
| 11 | Glide | 95.97 Mbps | 10.87—25.37 Mbps |
| 12 | Shell Energy | 67.32 Mbps | 6.36—27.58 Mbps |
| 13 | Call27 | 9.32 Mbps | 0.13—8.39 Mbps |
Smaller Towns, Villages, and Wards in Sunderland
| Ward | Median Age | Rent Privately | Rent Council | Mortage | Commute via Public Transport | Work From Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton-Le-Spring | 42.0 | 8.90% | 10.96% | 34.96% | 11.09% | 2.66% |
| Ryhope | 41.0 | 8.53% | 15.04% | 36.93% | 14.81% | 2.74% |
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Sunderland
How many broadband providers in Sunderland are there?
Sunderland has 13 ISPs tested by its 277,417 residents.
Who is the fastest broadband provider in Sunderland?
Virgin Media is the fastest broadband provider in Sunderland with 844.3 Mbps, and an average internet speed range of 52.24—197.53 Mbps.
Who is the best internet provider in Sunderland?
The best internet provider in Sunderland is Virgin Media, and their users typically see broadband speeds in the range of 52.24 to 197.53 Mbps.
What is the average internet speed in Sunderland?
Users in Sunderland see an average internet speed of 26.34 up to 885 Mbps, and the fastest speed we've seen is 927.81 Mbps.
Is Sky Broadband available in Sunderland?
Broadband service from Sky Broadband is available in Sunderland, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 452.45 Mbps.
Is Virgin Media available in Sunderland?
Broadband service from Virgin Media is available in Sunderland, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 844.3 Mbps.
Is BT available in Sunderland?
Broadband service from BT is available in Sunderland, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 927.81 Mbps.
Is BT full fibre available in Sunderland?
Yes, BT offers full fibre to the home (also called FTTH or FTTP) to 102 of Sunderland's postcodes.
Who is the most popular broadband provider in Sunderland?
The broadband provider with the most users in Sunderland is Sky Broadband.
Author: Thomas Buck
Last Reviewed By: Tyler Cooper
Published: 10 Nov 2019
Last Updated: 18 Jan 2022