The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
You're just a few steps away from seeing our best deals where you live.
Deals last updated: 15th July 2024
Birmingham is home to some of the best broadband deals, with residents having access to a variety of the top broadband providers. Knowing what broadband is best for your household – whether it’s full fibre broadband for gaming or a reliable connection for work – can help you make the right decision when picking a package and finding the best price.
Some of the largest broadband providers operate in Birmingham, including Virgin Media, TalkTalk, Sky and BT. Not every broadband provider in your area will offer the best speeds, so it’s important to consider smaller providers, too.
Sky is one of the largest broadband providers in the country, meaning that Birmingham has access to ultrafast full fibre broadband with speeds as high as 900Mbps. You can also bundle Sky Broadband with a range of TV packages, including film, TV and sports channels.
Birmingham residents can receive speeds of up to 900Mbps using Virgin Media. The company offers broadband, TV, landline and sim card packages as well as fibre broadband, depending on where you live.
TalkTalk does not serve the entirety of Birmingham, so we recommend checking its website to see if you live in an eligible area. The company is known for its competitive pricing and TV and landline bundles, which can include the TalkTalk TV hub.
BT serves Birmingham and wide swathes of the West Midlands, offering full fibre broadband with speeds of up to 900Mbps. Eligible postcodes can benefit from TV and broadband packages, which include Netflix and NOW.
Plusnet may not come with any TV packages, but it does serve the majority of Birmingham households. Broadband packages range from standard to full fibre, with the option to include a landline device with your deal.
Vodafone offers free installation of its full fibre broadband for eligible customers, offering speeds of up to 910Mbps. Vodafone mobile customers also receive a monthly discount on their broadband, with optional TV and landline deals supported.
NOW offers no-contract broadband packages with a £60 activation fee, ideal for those in rented accommodation who cannot commit to a lengthy contract. Our research shows that some areas of Birmingham cannot access full fibre broadband, but NOW’s standard package is available throughout the city. NOW also offers TV packages on its streaming services, which include cinema, TV and sports channels for an additional £6 per month.
Hyperoptic only serves 8,000 households in Birmingham currently, so not every postcode will be eligible for its services. Those who are can experience full fibre broadband on a rolling contract basis, with the option to include a landline.
Birmingham is supported by a wide variety of broadband providers. Residents can choose between broadband-only, broadband and phone or broadband and TV packages. However, it’s worth noting that not every broadband provider in this area can offer these services.
When choosing the best broadband provider for your household, consider a few crucial factors before committing to a package. To help find the most reliable broadband deals for your area, use our postcode checker.
To help you find the best provider, we surveyed* over 2,000 broadband customers to find out how satisfied they are with their current providers. Our survey revealed that 82 per cent of West Midlands broadband customers are satisfied with their current provider. However, 94 per cent said they had considered switching within the last year.
Here are some of the key factors to think about when choosing a broadband provider in Birmingham based on our survey data.
Broadband companies will offer different types of broadband and coverage in different areas. Ensure the speed of your broadband deal is adequate for your household. Those living in larger homes with more people will require faster speeds than someone living alone with less online activity. Find out what broadband speeds you need and how to measure your speeds using our guide.
Depending on your broadband needs, you may not be able to opt for the cheapest deal. Most broadband deals will be paid via a monthly contract and some come with an initial one-off installation fee. Consider the needs of your household and how much you're willing to budget for your broadband.
A majority of broadband providers offer contracts over 12, 24 or 36 month periods. However, some companies offer monthly rollover or no-contract broadband deals. These are preferable for those living in rented accommodation who cannot commit to a lengthy contract period.
If a deal looks too good to be true, it might be from an unreputable provider. Be sure to research a company before committing to a contract, even if it has been operating for a long time. Reading customer reviews can also offer insight into the reliability of the service and provider.
In the unfortunate event that something does go wrong with your broadband, you’ll need good customer service to help you solve the problem. Access to a dedicated customer support phone line or online chat feature can be paramount when dealing with any issues that may arise during your contract.
According to our survey data, customers are most satisfied with EE’s (73 per cent), Three’s (74 per cent) and Vodafone’s (69 per cent) customer service.
A wifi booster can be used to extend coverage to low-signal areas in your home. While helpful, ideally you want a broadband package that works across your home without additional hardware. To avoid this issue, make sure you check your Birmingham postcode with speed checkers to find a suitable broadband deal.
Birmingham has a range of broadband speeds available; the speed of your broadband will largely depend on your area, your provider and whether full fibre is available for your postcode.
According to the Ofcom speed checker, the average broadband speed in Birmingham is 82Mbps.
Using Ofcom’s speed checker, we calculated the average superfast broadband speed for different areas of Birmingham. These results will be significantly lower for households that do not have access to ultrafast gigabit broadband.
| Area in Birmingham | Average broadband speed |
|---|---|
| Birmingham City Centre | 80Mbps |
| Westside | 72Mbps |
| Edgbaston | 63Mbps |
| Highgate | 80Mbps |
| Bournville | 80Mbps |
| Digbeth | 73Mbps |
| Pelham | 69Mbps |
| Sutton Coldfield | 82Mbps |
| Selly Oak | 62Mbps |
| Kings Health | 55Mpbs |
| Erdington | 75Mbps |
| Harborne | 72Mbps |
There are a number of different broadband options in Birmingham. However, you may find that some areas do not yet have support for fibre broadband, which will be reflected in the packages offered by various providers.
Currently, over 93 per cent of homes in Birmingham have access to ultrafast full fibre broadband, according to a Cable report, allowing them to access speeds of up to 900Mbps. This makes it likely that your household will be eligible for fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband.
Place your router in a location where it can offer a strong signal to every room in the home, if possible. Disconnect any devices that are not in use to create a stronger connection and consider purchasing a wifi extender to allow for a better connection in more areas of the home.
Households that regularly stream online content will require a faster broadband connection to ensure a smooth and consistent experience. Generally, speeds between 20 and 30Mbps are suitable for streaming, although speeds of 50Mbps and above will be best, especially if you stream content in HDR or 4K.
Since Birmingham has a high level of full fibre coverage within the city, most residents will find their broadband to be reliable and fast. Standard broadband is also available to everyone in the city.
Broadband speeds will still be dependent on location, provider and package, however, Birmingham does enjoy comparably fast and stable connections to other areas in the UK.
Explore our picks of the best broadband deals in Birmingham
Deals checked by Gemma Ryles, our broadband expert
With her expert advice and knowledge, you can trust Gemma to guide you to the best broadband deal for your needs.