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Broadband deals in Leicester 2024

Looking for cheap broadband? Compare prices from top providers and get a great deal

There are lots of broadband providers to choose from in Leicester, whether you’re looking to switch providers or are just browsing. While plenty of postcodes in Leicester should be able to access a range of broadband packages from different providers, the speeds and cheap broadband deals you can enjoy will depend on your postcode. In this guide, we’ve researched the download speeds available for different parts of Leicester and broken down the best broadband in the area.

Plusnet – Full Fibre 145
Monthly Cost
£27.99
Average speed
145 Mb
Contract term
24 months

Monthly prices are subject to increase each year on 31 March by Consumer Price Index rate of inflation + 3.9%.

Our top recommended broadband providers
Plusnet
Fast speeds & reliable customer service
Virgin Media
Ultrafast speeds at affordable prices
Vodafone
Perks for existing mobile customers
BT Broadband
The UK’s largest broadband provider

What broadband options are available in Leicester?

There are various options for broadband plans depending on which provider you opt for. Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive package that combines several services or you just need simple, fast internet, it’s important to browse the broadband providers available to see which of the following services each one offers:

  • Broadband only: if you only need an internet connection, this is the best option for you
  • Broadband and phone: lots of providers offer broadband and phone deals, which is ideal if you still want to use a landline service. However, in general, landlines are being phased out across the UK, and in a matter of years, landline phones are unlikely to be offered to broadband customers
  • Broadband and TV: some providers have a range of broadband and TV deals to browse, which often include limited-time subscriptions to streaming services or even a new TV device

The best broadband providers in Leicester

The best broadband providers offer different incentives, add-ons, packages and monthly costs. Of course, whether you’ll be able to access the packages on offer from each provider will depend on your postcode, but we’ve checked the coverage for each of the top UK providers to ensure they have a wide scope for Leicester.

EE

This is the only large broadband provider to currently offer the fastest average download speeds in the UK, so eligible customers can access speeds of up to 1.6Gbps. EE also has a range of full-fibre and fibre broadband packages available in Leicester, with low prices and incentives for current EE mobile customers.

Plusnet

As a reputable UK provider, Plusnet boasts high levels of customer satisfaction, a variety of fibre and full-fibre packages and fast average download speeds. However, it no longer offers broadband and phone plans, as it’s phasing out its landline services.

TalkTalk

If you want a wide range of packages and plenty of available add-ons, such as Netflix and NOW subscriptions, TalkTalk should be on your radar. Average download speeds for the most comprehensive full-fibre packages reach up to 944Mbps, which is more than enough for several devices to stream films, game and more.

Vodafone

If you’re already with Vodafone mobile, taking out a broadband plan is a good idea, as you’ll get money off on your monthly broadband payment. If you or a family member adds an extra monthly mobile plan to the account, you’ll also get 30 per cent off the new plan. There are even more rewards to enjoy with Vodafone, along with a range of fibre and full-fibre plans on offer.

Virgin Media

Virgin broadband reaches average download speeds of 1,130Mbps, which is one of the fastest among the big UK providers. Lots of the fibre and full-fibre broadband plans come with perks, such as a Netflix subscription, and there are plenty of broadband and phone packages, too.

Sky Media

There are lots of packages to choose from with Sky, including fibre and full-fibre broadband and deals for “broadband for broadband” and “broadband for gaming”. You can also opt for packages that offer a mobile service or a TV add-on, including subscriptions such Netflix and, of course, Sky TV.

NOW Broadband

NOW is a good choice if you’re hesitant to commit to a long contract (most providers will offer 24-36 month options), as there are no-contract broadband deals to choose from. Unsurprisingly, you can also add a NOW TV subscription to your package, with options including cinema, sports and entertainment memberships.

How do I find broadband providers in Leicester, and what factors should I consider?

The easiest way to find broadband providers that serve your area is to input your postcode into our checker. This will display the broadband deals available to you.

When choosing the right deal for you, these are the most important aspects to consider:

Speed

No matter what broadband provider you choose, the average download speeds you’ll get depend on the speeds available in your area. Fibre broadband, and especially full-fibre broadband, generally achieves the highest download speeds, but some areas of the UK are not eligible for these packages yet because it isn’t available there. If you live in Leicester City or another more populated part of Leicester, you should find that the best packages are available with high download speeds, but if you’re in a more remote area, you might not be so lucky. It’s always worth doing a quick broadband speed test to see what speeds you’re currently getting from your broadband provider.

Price

Many of the top UK providers offer similar monthly prices for the same sort of broadband, and generally, the faster the download speed, the more you pay. Some providers require you to pay a setup or activation fee, so it’s worth shopping around to make sure you’re not only getting the best monthly price but also saving on the upfront cost.

The provider’s reputation

Usually, a larger and more established provider can offer more reliable service, but that’s not always the case. Check the customer reviews and Ofcom reports for your chosen provider, or even better, ask a friend or family member with that provider whether they recommend it.

Customer service

A provider might offer the “best” broadband or the lowest prices, but you want to feel reassured that if something goes wrong with your internet, you’ll get fast, helpful customer service. Customer service varies among providers, with Ofcom reporting that, of the big UK providers, Sky received the fewest customer complaints and Virgin Media received the most.

The need for a wifi booster

Plenty of broadband providers offer a free wifi booster – usually included in the more comprehensive and expensive packages – which can improve your wifi if your internet doesn’t reach all areas of your property. You should consider this before signing up for a plan, as it’ll be frustrating if you have to pay extra after the fact.

What broadband speeds can I expect in Leicester?

The speeds you can access with your broadband will depend on your postcode, so you should always enter it into the site of each provider you’re considering to make sure you know what speeds to expect.

We used Ofcom’s speed checker to find out the average broadband speed in each area of Leicester to give you a rough idea. According to Speedtest.net, the average download speed for Leicester is 137.93Mbps.

Area Average broadband speed
Leicester City 80Mbps
North West Leicestershire 60Mbps
Charnwood 56Mbps
Hinckley and Bosworth 68Mbps
Blaby 68Mbps
Harborough 110Mbps
Melton 55Mbps
Rutland 73Mbps

What are the most common types of broadband available in Leicester?

Lots of areas in Leicester will be able to enjoy fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) and fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband, which will likely give you the best connections and fastest average download speeds if you can access them. If a broadband provider doesn’t offer these types of broadband yet, they will soon, as FTTC and FTTP are continuing to roll out and will eventually serve the whole of the UK. 

  • Asymmetric digital subscriber line: this is the slowest type of internet available and is steadily being replaced by fibre and full-fibre broadband in the UK. The connection uses the copper wires in your landline
  • FTTC: this connection is also known as superfast and delivers broadband to the cabinet on your street, which then connects to your home through copper wires
  • FTTP: also known as ultrafast broadband, FTTP uses fibre optic cables rather than copper wires, and the internet is delivered directly to your home without the need for a landline

Frequently asked questions about broadband deals in Leicester

To get the most out of your broadband, you should place the router in a neutral position in your home that isn’t too far away from the rooms in which you’ll be connecting to the internet. Keep in mind that if you’re connecting to the wifi in a room with several walls and closed doors between the room and the router, you might struggle to get the best connection. If this is a recurring problem, it’s worth investing in a wifi booster – several broadband providers now include second routers or wifi boosters in their packages.

If you regularly play video games online, you’ll need a slightly faster average download speed than if you mostly stream films and TV shows or simply use the internet to browse. If you want to stream in high-quality 4K, you should look for average speeds of at least 50Mbps.

According to an Ofcom report from September 2023, the average download speed in the UK is 69.4Mbps. The average download speed in Leicester is 137.93Mbps, so broadband users in Leicester can enjoy higher-than-average speeds if their broadband package and postcode allow for it, but the speeds won’t be quite as high as those offered by broadband deals in London.

Hannah Holway circle

Hannah Holway

Home Tech Writer

Hannah Holway is a writer with eight years of experience in writing and editing across several different categories. As a home tech expert at Independent Advisor, Hannah researches, tests and writes about broadband services and home security gadgets.

She started her career as a freelance film and culture journalist, and has written for editorial platforms such as Wonderland and Hero magazine, as well as interviewing directors, actors and musical artists. While at Wonderland, she was also Social Media Editor for the brand and Contributing Editor for the publication’s sister print titles.

In 2020 she joined New York Magazine’s The Strategist UK, reporting on evolving shopping trends and writing about everything from period pants and pens to books and the next ‘status’ candle. She then used her consumer trends knowledge and expertise in her role as Shopping Writer for Woman and Home Digital, where she oversaw a range of shopping content, writing product reviews and other features in the realm of health and fitness, beauty, fashion and homes.

Hannah has also had her academic work published in journals and presented at conferences, and she has a BA and MA in Film Studies.

Molly Dyson

Editor

After growing up with a passion for writing, Molly studied journalism and creative writing at university in her home country of the United States.

She has written for a variety of print and online publications, from small town newspapers to international magazines. Most of her 10-year career since relocating to the UK has been spent in business journalism, writing and editing for admin professionals at PA Life magazine and business travel managers at Business Travel News Europe and representing those titles at conferences around the world.

Now an Editor at the Independent Advisor, Molly is an expert in a broad range of consumer topics, that include solar panels and renewables, home improvements and home insurance, and consumer technology such as home security and VPNs.

In her free time, Molly can usually be found exploring the outdoors with her husband and their young son or gardening.