Broadband in Belfast

Fast, reliable broadband in Belfast

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How fast are WiFi internet speeds in Belfast?

If you live in Belfast, you’ll be pleased to know that superfast internet coverage is available almost everywhere across the city.

According to Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations report, 99% of premises in Belfast were able to access superfast broadband in January 2024, with speeds of at least 30 megabits per second (Mbps). Meanwhile, 96% could get ultrafast internet coverage (at least 300Mbps).

Did you know?

When it comes to high-speed internet, Northern Ireland is the top-performing nation in the UK. Full fibre services are available to 91% of the country, compared with 56% in England, 55% in Wales and 53% in Scotland.

Which internet providers offer deals in Belfast?

There’s a great range of internet providers to choose from in Belfast, from the top UK names to smaller, independent providers. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop around and compare the latest deals on offer.

Here are some of the top broadband providers offering deals in Belfast:

BT

The UK's biggest broadband provider offers a wide range of deals for customers in Belfast. Depending on your internet needs, you can find average download speeds ranging from 36Mbps up to 900Mbps.

You can also add an EE TV package to your deal that includes access to Sky channels and discovery+.

NOW Broadband

If you’re looking for a simple, hassle-free broadband deal, NOW offers monthly rolling deals without the need to sign up for a long-term contract. NOW offers 11Mbps Brilliant Broadband, 36Mbps Fab Fibre and 63Mbps Super Fibre deals.

Sky

Sky offers broadband and TV packages that could give you access to a huge range of entertainment, film and sports channels. Sky’s superfast broadband with average speeds of 36Mbps is a good choice for light users, while its gigafast package with average speeds of 900Mbps is ideal for heavy gaming and streaming.

Compare Sky broadband deals

TalkTalk

A good choice for customers on a budget, TalkTalk offers speeds ranging from 38Mbps to 944Mbps. TalkTalk has a variety of home broadband and TV packages to choose from.

You can get broadband-only deals or add call plans and a TV subscription to full fibre packages offering more than 70 channels and access to streaming apps such as Netflix and NOW.

Virgin Media

Virgin is one of the fastest internet providers in Northern Ireland, offering ultrafast speeds of up to 1,130Mbps in Belfast.

Choose from broadband-only deals or bundles that include broadband, TV, phone and mobile all in one package.

Other broadband providers in Belfast

Some smaller providers also operate in and around the Belfast area. These include Fibrus, whose full fibre network delivers speeds of 100Mbps up to 2Gbps.

Earth Broadband, which launched in 2022, offers ultrafast broadband with speeds up to 900Mbps while also helping to save the planet.

What types of broadband are available in Belfast?

There are a number of broadband options available in Belfast, depending on where you live and what your internet needs are.

Standard ADSL – delivers internet to your home through the copper wires of your phone line but is on its way out. Download speeds up to 24Mbps.
Fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) – delivers superfast internet from the telecom cabinet on your road via fibre optic cables. It then travels from the cabinet to your home through the copper wires of your phone. Download speeds up to 80Mbps.
Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) – delivers an ultrafast, full-fibre internet connection directly into your home via fibre cables that go all the way up to your property. Download speeds up to 1.8Gbps.
Cable – a mixture of fibre optic and coaxial cables used by Virgin Media to deliver ultrafast internet speeds of over 1Gbps.

Check the broadband speed in your area with our speed checker

To see what broadband deals are available in your area of Belfast, enter your postcode here

How much does broadband cost?

How much your broadband will cost can depend on a few factors.

Do you want broadband only or a bundled package?

What type of broadband will suit your needs? Standard, superfast or ultrafast?

The length of contract you want.

Enter your postcode

What do I need to find a broadband deal in Belfast?

Finding the right broadband deal for you couldn’t be easier. Simply pop your postcode in the box and we’ll give you a list of deals currently available in your area.

FAQs

Which is the fastest internet provider in Belfast?

The fastest widely available broadband in Belfast comes from Virgin Media, which delivers average download speeds of 1,130Mbps through its Gig1 Fibre package.

Other major providers like BT and Sky also offer ultrafast gigabit broadband across the city. So, depending on where you live, you may be able to access speeds in excess of 900Mbps. Broadband packages offering the fastest speeds generally cost the most, though.

Is full fibre available where I live in Belfast?

According to Ofcom, 93% of homes in Belfast can access full fibre broadband, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get it. But our postcode checker can tell you for sure.

The rollout of ultrafast fibre broadband in Belfast is dominated by Virgin Media and Openreach, part of BT Group.

Virgin Media’s lightning-quick gigabit broadband is now available to more than 400,000 homes in Northern Ireland, including Belfast.

Openreach continues to extend its ultrafast full fibre programme across Northern Ireland, with 80% of the province already covered. In the Belfast area, 148,000 premises now have access to full fibre broadband.

What broadband speed do I need?

We appreciate that it’s all very well talking about ultrafast speeds over 1Gbps, but what does this all really mean for you? Before you start comparing broadband deals, think about the speed you need based on how you use the internet.

Here’s a rough idea of the speeds you’d need for the following internet activities:

Casual use, emails and general browsing – 5Mbps
Online shopping, social media, SD video and music streaming – 10 Mbps
HD video and music streaming, Skype and Zoom video calling, light online gaming – 25 Mbps
Families with multiple devices, Ultra HD video streaming, Netflix and Amazon Prime, gaming, smart home devices and security cameras – 30Mbps
Multiple heavy users, frequently downloading/uploading large files, heavy gamers – 50+Mbps

Like most of us, you may also find that the speed you need has changed since the coronavirus pandemic. For example, if you’re still working from home a lot, you might need more Mbps for Zoom calls and frequent file sharing.

What should I think about when comparing broadband deals?

There are a few factors to consider before choosing a broadband deal. Think about:

The type of broadband you want and what types are available in your area
What you use the internet for and the speed you need
How much you’re willing to pay – is it worth paying more for ultrafast fibre if you don’t actually need it?
How long you’ll be tied into a contract
Do you want to bundle your broadband with a phone and TV package?

Once you have an idea of what you need, you can start comparing deals to find the best one for you. To find out what broadband deals are available where you’re based in Belfast, simply enter your postcode below. We’ll take you to a list of the latest deals in your area.

Enter your postcode here