Wirral Broadband Statistics
Wirral is among the 10 worst-off for fibre access out of all major cities in the North West, and is among the 50 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 52% of residents. UltraFast 300+ Mbps is available to 76% of residents, while SuperFast 30+ Mbps broadband is available to 98% of Wirral's households.
Despite poor broadband infrastructure, we see high speed test averages in Wirral postcodes like CH43, CH63, CH62, CH41, and CH45. Over the past year, we’ve recorded a 40.21 Mbps median internet speed in Wirral, which is 9.09% above the United Kingdom national median of 37 Mbps.
Wirral increased access to Gigabit speeds by 19 percentage points in the past year. The buildout rate is also better than neighbouring major cities like Oldham (gained 11 percentate points), Wigan (gained 9.40 percentate points), and Cheshire West and Chester (gained 8.00 percentate points).
Local broadband speeds over time
The median broadband speed in Wirral has increased by 73% over the last five years.
Local broadband speeds in context
As of 2022, the median broadband speed in Wirral is 8.26% higher than the North West and 8.33% higher than the UK overall.
| Wirral | 40 Mbps | |
| North West | 37 Mbps | |
| United Kingdom | 37 Mbps |
Wirral 2022 Broadband Scorecard
▼ 6th lowest fibre access
Major Cities, North West
▲ 8.26% above regional broadband speed
North West
▲ 8.33% above 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 Wirral 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 Wirral 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 Wirral
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Ofcom Fibre Access Analysis for Wirral
See the chart below for annual reporting on fibre build rates in the Wirral 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 | 51.72% | 76.05% | 98.28% |
| 2020 | 32.76% | 68.82% | 97.40% |
| 2019 | 6.26% | 57.58% | 96.96% |
| 2018 | 0.43% | 41.01% | 96.10% |
| 2017 | 0.35% | 18.69% | 95.92% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 0.07% | 95.26% |
Map of Wirral's Fibre Broadband Availability by Postcode
Gigabit Availability
51.72%
of people living in Wirral can obtain to 1,000+ Mbps broadband speeds
Ultrafast Speeds
76.05%
of Wirral residents can get 300+ Mbps internet service
Superfast 30+ Mbps Broadband
98.28%
availability in Wirral
Poor Broadband Speeds
1.67%
of Wirral is limited to broadband speeds under 30 Mbps
Wirral Broadband Speeds Report
Average Broadband Speeds in Wirral
| Year | Wirral Average | United Kingdom Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 39.19 Mbps | 26.27 Mbps | 49.18% Faster |
| 2019 | 29.13 Mbps | 30.63 Mbps | 4.90% Slower |
| 2020 | 81.15 Mbps | 80.31 Mbps | 1.05% Faster |
| 2021 | 69.57 Mbps | 66.05 Mbps | 5.33% Faster |
Wirral Broadband Speed Distribution
| Percentage of Speed Tests in Speed Range | ||
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed Range | Wirral | United Kingdom |
| Very Slow: under 10 Mbps | 18.47% | 19.92% |
| Slow: 10-30 Mbps | 23.14% | 25.74% |
| Adequate: 30-60 Mbps | 26.04% | 25.20% |
| Good: 60-80 Mbps | 10.30% | 10.20% |
| Fast: 80-300 Mbps | 18.10% | 15.33% |
| Very Fast: over 300 Mbps | 3.94% | 3.60% |
How Wirral 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 |
| Bristol | 943.13 Mbps | 30.38—109.93 Mbps | 42.32 Mbps | Faster |
| Wirral | 937.28 Mbps | 30.64—93.01 Mbps | 40.21 Mbps | - |
| Birmingham | 2786.06 Mbps | 29.31—107.04 Mbps | 38.5 Mbps | Slower |
| Liverpool | 1134.53 Mbps | 25.56—89.74 Mbps | 34.61 Mbps | Slower |
| Nottingham | 2371.49 Mbps | 16.11—40.25 Mbps | 18.99 Mbps | Slower |
| Sheffield | 934.82 Mbps | 23.76—68.87 Mbps | 32.08 Mbps | Slower |
| Glasgow | 913.93 Mbps | 20.63—71.33 Mbps | 32 Mbps | Slower |
| Leicester | 935.89 Mbps | 27.47—99.31 Mbps | 37.03 Mbps | Slower |
| Edinburgh | 874.24 Mbps | 29.96—107.51 Mbps | 38.06 Mbps | Slower |
Wirral 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 Wirral Compares for Internet Speed in Wirral
| Position | City / Town | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wirral | 937.28 Mbps | 30.64—93.01 Mbps | 40.21 Mbps | - |
Wirral Internet Speed Test Results
We analysed the results of people in Wirral testing broadband providers multiple times, with each test starting no more than 30 minutes after the previous speed test. On average, people in Wirral ran 3 internet speed tests per session. Looking at broadband download speeds, if the Wirral 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 Wirral's residents, of the internet speed tests we measured, 40.42% were fast, 22.76% slow, and 36.82% broadly the same.
Most Recent Tests
| Provider | Start Time | # Tests | Duration | Start Speed | End Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 23:47:07 | 2 | 49 secs | 70.03 Mbps | 70.82 Mbps | |
| Sky Broadband | 20 Jan 2022 23:06:09 | 3 | 69 secs | 44.04 Mbps | 22.07 Mbps | Needs help |
| Plusnet | 20 Jan 2022 22:38:03 | 2 | 46 secs | 10.02 Mbps | 36.62 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 20 Jan 2022 22:16:05 | 2 | 43 secs | 40.22 Mbps | 40.53 Mbps | |
| BT | 20 Jan 2022 22:15:43 | 2 | 23 secs | 131.23 Mbps | 140.97 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 22:12:47 | 2 | 64 secs | 190.43 Mbps | 189.39 Mbps | |
| Sky Broadband | 20 Jan 2022 21:53:48 | 4 | 2 mins | 23.43 Mbps | 57.85 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 21:34:17 | 3 | 12 mins | 345.31 Mbps | 169.69 Mbps | Needs help |
| TalkTalk | 20 Jan 2022 21:18:50 | 9 | 12 mins | 35.36 Mbps | 33.53 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 21:05:58 | 4 | 11 mins | 0.88 Mbps | 10.83 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 21:15:05 | 2 | 35 secs | 28.07 Mbps | 34.39 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 20 Jan 2022 20:45:41 | 3 | 5 mins | 17.45 Mbps | 32.13 Mbps | Improved |
| Sky Broadband | 20 Jan 2022 20:42:28 | 2 | 84 secs | 37.9 Mbps | 37.16 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 20:42:11 | 2 | 29 secs | 55.16 Mbps | 67.28 Mbps | Improved |
| TalkTalk | 20 Jan 2022 19:58:03 | 6 | 40 mins | 9.51 Mbps | 16.07 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 19:56:51 | 14 | 36 mins | 9.65 Mbps | 23.37 Mbps | Improved |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 20:20:50 | 10 | 11 mins | 20.79 Mbps | 19.39 Mbps | |
| Sky Broadband | 20 Jan 2022 20:23:38 | 2 | 107 secs | 12.62 Mbps | 12.94 Mbps | |
| Virgin Media | 20 Jan 2022 20:19:01 | 2 | 14 secs | 7.8 Mbps | 914.83 Mbps | Improved |
| BT | 20 Jan 2022 19:48:27 | 2 | 4 mins | 2.63 Mbps | 5.55 Mbps | Needs help, very slow |
Summary of Internet Service Providers in Wirral
| # | Provider Name | Max Speed | Typical Speed Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyperoptic | 654.35 Mbps | 89.31—451.35 Mbps |
| 2 | Glide | 834.63 Mbps | 11.9—21.75 Mbps |
| 3 | Virgin Media | 937.28 Mbps | 54.56—190.69 Mbps |
| 4 | BT | 916.21 Mbps | 36.39—79.53 Mbps |
| 5 | EE | 812.88 Mbps | 28.82—71.25 Mbps |
| 6 | CCS Leeds | 64.71 Mbps | 0—55.31 Mbps |
| 7 | Zen Internet | 906.56 Mbps | 36.48—70.6 Mbps |
| 8 | Sky Broadband | 506.71 Mbps | 21.71—58.24 Mbps |
| 9 | TalkTalk | 492.82 Mbps | 20.2—50.6 Mbps |
| 10 | Vodafone | 512.39 Mbps | 25—52.77 Mbps |
| 11 | Plusnet | 74.78 Mbps | 16.31—45.89 Mbps |
| 12 | CIX | 52.05 Mbps | 6.6—7.48 Mbps |
| 13 | Origin Broadband | 60.33 Mbps | 12.33—17.02 Mbps |
| 14 | Internet Central | 59.38 Mbps | 0.82—17.03 Mbps |
| 15 | Shell Energy | 74.01 Mbps | 5.81—26.27 Mbps |
| 16 | KCOM | 53.43 Mbps | 6.44—17.31 Mbps |
Smaller Towns, Villages, and Wards in Wirral
| Ward | Median Age | Rent Privately | Rent Council | Mortage | Commute via Public Transport | Work From Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birkenhead | 33.0 | 28.59% | 5.21% | 19.88% | 21.68% | 2.15% |
| Wallasey | 46.0 | 11.93% | 1.09% | 39.68% | 15.97% | 4.43% |
Frequently Asked Questions about Internet Providers in Wirral
How many broadband providers in Wirral are there?
Wirral has 16 ISPs tested by its 323,235 residents.
Who is the fastest broadband provider in Wirral?
Hyperoptic is the fastest broadband provider in Wirral with 654.35 Mbps, and an average internet speed range of 89.31—451.35 Mbps.
Who is the best internet provider in Wirral?
The best internet provider in Wirral is Hyperoptic, and their users typically see broadband speeds in the range of 89.31 to 451.35 Mbps.
What is the average internet speed in Wirral?
Users in Wirral see an average internet speed of 30.64 up to 614 Mbps, and the fastest speed we've seen is 937.28 Mbps.
Is Virgin Media available in Wirral?
Broadband service from Virgin Media is available in Wirral, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 937.28 Mbps.
Is BT available in Wirral?
Broadband service from BT is available in Wirral, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 916.21 Mbps.
Is Sky Broadband available in Wirral?
Broadband service from Sky Broadband is available in Wirral, and the fastest speed we've seen from them is 506.71 Mbps.
Is BT full fibre available in Wirral?
Yes, BT offers full fibre to the home (also called FTTH or FTTP) to 5604 of Wirral's postcodes.
Who is the most popular broadband provider in Wirral?
The broadband provider with the most users in Wirral is Virgin Media.
Author: Thomas Buck
Last Reviewed By: Tyler Cooper
Published: 10 Nov 2019
Last Updated: 20 Jan 2022