Broadband in Edinburgh

About broadband in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has excellent broadband coverage across most areas of the city. But the devil is in the detail.

Overview

Edinburgh is covered universally by the big national providers offering services via the Openreach network, and partially by Virgin Media, which runs its own network. In addition, Edinburgh has attracted a clutch of local, independent alternative networks. The city is well covered.

In this guide we'll be taking a closer look at the situation on both a micro and macro level when it comes to Edinburgh broadband provision. Here is what we will be covering:

• National providers: Providers present in Edinburgh that are also available nationally
• Local providers: Altnet providers either exclusively or inclusively available in Edinburgh that have a small, non-national footprint
• Speeds: What speeds are available in Edinburgh?
• Areas: Providers and speeds broadly available by area
• Future outlook: Full Fibre isn't ubiquitously available in Edinburgh. If you can't get it yet, when can you expect it?

National broadband providers available in Edinburgh

Edinburgh boasts a variety of national broadband providers, each offering unique packages tailored to different needs. BT provides a range of services from standard broadband (ADSL, only available if you can't get anything else) to ultrafast Full Fibre connections. With extensive coverage across Edinburgh, BT's packages cater to households of all sizes, ensuring smooth streaming, gaming, and remote working. Virgin Media offers some of the fastest speeds available in the city. Its Gig1 package promises lightning-fast download speeds of 1130Mbps, ideal for heavy internet users, large families and gamers.

Sky and TalkTalk are also significant players in Edinburgh’s broadband market. Sky is well-known for bundling broadband with TV services, making it a convenient choice for those looking to combine their internet and entertainment needs. Its Superfast and Ultrafast packages provide reliable speeds suitable for multiple devices. TalkTalk, on the other hand, is popular for its budget-friendly options, offering competitive prices without compromising on speed or reliability. Its Fibre 65 package is particularly appealing for moderate users and medium-sized households. There are more of course: NOW Broadband, EE Broadband, Rebel Broadband and several others. Edinburgh residents are spoilt for choice, with each provider bringing something unique to the table and at their own set price point.

Here is an overview of the main providers you'll find in Edinburgh and what they broadly offer:

Note that full availability means almost every household will be able to get the provider's services, though the actual speeds you can get will vary depending on where you live. Partial availability means the provider is not available to a substantial proportion of Edinburgh homes.

Prices were correct at the time of publishing (Friday 19 July 2024), however these will vary over time and serve only as a guideline. Please enter your postcode to use the comparison table above and see current pricing.

Local broadband providers available in Edinburgh

Local providers tend to operate either exclusively in the area in question (Edinburgh) or in small clusters of locations around the region or country. Often referred to as 'altnets' (standing for alternative networks), they operate on their own unique networks and as such can often offer higher speeds, lower prices, and symmetrical upload and download speeds (where your upload speed is the same as your download speed).

One of the notable local providers is Hyperoptic, which specializes in delivering full-fibre broadband with speeds up to 900Mbps, ensuring very fast and reliable internet access for residents and businesses alike. Its presence is particularly strong in newer residential developments and apartment complexes. Similarly, B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) offers gigabit speeds to more rural and underserved areas around Edinburgh, meaning some rural outskirts of the city can benefit from top-tier internet connectivity.

Another key player is Lothian Broadband, a community-focused provider that aims to bring high-speed broadband to remote and rural parts of the Edinburgh region. Its services include bespoke installation and tailored packages to meet the specific needs of local communities. Additionally, CityFibre, a network only provider like Openreach, in partnership with other providers, is expanding its footprint in Edinburgh with a citywide full-fibre network rollout in the works. These altnets and local providers are crucial in ensuring that all areas of Edinburgh, including those that might be overlooked by largerproviders, receive high-quality broadband.

Here is an overview of altnet/local broadband providers in Edinburgh. Note that this list is not exhaustive:

Types of broadband available in Edinburgh

Edinburgh offers a range of broadband speed options, from traditional ADSL to cutting-edge Full Fibre. Understanding these options is crucial for selecting the best service for your home.

ADSL Broadband

ADSL is the oldest type of broadband available. It uses the old copper telephone network to deliver connectivity, and while it was once the standard, its limitations are increasingly evident. ADSL offers download speeds of up to 17Mbps, but average speeds are more like 10-11Mbps. In Edinburgh, ADSL is available throughout the city, but it is often only offered if you can't get anything faster/more modern.

Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC)

A more advanced option is Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC), also known as 'fibre broadband' or 'superfast fibre' uses fibre optic cables to the street cabinet and then copper lines to the home. This hybrid technology offers significantly improved speeds over ADSL, typically ranging from 35Mbps to around 65Mbps. FTTC is widely available across Edinburgh, providing a reliable and faster-enough broadband for most residents.

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP)/Full Fibre

For those seeking the fastest and most reliable internet, Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP), also known as Full Fibre, is the best option. This technology uses fibre optic cables directly to the home, offering speeds from 74Mbps to 1.6Gbps. In Edinburgh, Full Fibre is rapidly expanding, with areas like the city centre and newly developed districts seeing significant growth in availability. Network providers such as Openreach, CityFibre and Hyperoptic are spearheading this rollout, making ultra-fast broadband accessible to more and more residents. FTTP is ideal for heavy internet users, gamers, and households with multiple connected devices.

4G/5G Broadband

In addition to fixed broadband options, mobile broadband through 4G and 5G networks is also available in Edinburgh. Providers like Three Broadband and Vodafone offer these services, providing an alternative for those who might not have access to high-speed fixed broadband or need a more flexible solution. 4G broadband offers speeds comparable to FTTC, while 5G can rival mid-tier FTTP packages. Mobile broadband is particularly useful in areas with limited fixed broadband infrastructure or for those who require internet on the go.

Broadband Availability in Edinburgh

Overall, broadband availability in Edinburgh is extremely good, with a mix of technologies catering to different needs. According to recent data, FTTC covers approximately 95% of the city, while Full Fibre is available to around 60% of households and businesses. Mobile broadband coverage is also extensive, with 4G available citywide and 5G rapidly expanding, particularly in central Edinburgh and high-density areas of the city.

Here is an overview of the different broadband technologies available in Edinburgh:

Broadband in Edinburgh by area

In Edinburgh, where you live can really change what kind of internet you can get. In the busy parts of the city like the Royal Mile and Haymarket, people can choose from lots of fast and ultrafast broadband options. Big companies like BT and Virgin Media operate here.

But if you go to quieter or older parts of Edinburgh, like Stockbridge or Corstorphine, the internet might not be so fast. These areas have older types of internet like FTTC or ADSL. This happens because it's harder to put new internet cables in these parts without disturbing the historical buildings. Luckily, new broadband network providers like Hyperoptic and CityFibre are working to bring faster internet to these places too.

Here's a quick overview of the broadband availability situation across different areas of Edinburgh. Note, this is not exhaustive, but instead designed to demonstrate how the landscape differs across different parts of the city:

Future outlook – is faster broadband coming to Edinburgh?

In Edinburgh, Openreach is working hard to spread their Full Fibre network across the city, focusing first on central and busy areas but gradually expanding to more areas. Virgin Media is also prominent, offering fast speeds with their own cable network in many parts of Edinburgh. Additionally, alternative networks (altnets) like Hyperoptic and CityFibre are growing their presence, particularly in central Edinburgh and newer residential developments.

For detailed updates and coverage maps, you can visit the websites of Openreach, Virgin Media, and other local broadband providers. In the meantime, here is a rough guide on the status of Openreach's Full Fibre rollout in Edinburgh: