If you’re looking for a new broadband, youve likely come cross the terms superfast, ultrafast, and hyperfast. But what do they actually mean, and how do you choose the right one? Here’s everything you need to know about high speed broadband and how the different tiers compare.
What is High Speed Broadband?
High speed broadband is a broad term used to describe any connection that delivers a faster-than-basic internet experience. In the UK, it generally refers to connections below 30 Mbps, fast enough for light usage like checking emails and browsing, but less suited to streaming, gaming, or households with multiple users. Most people searching for high speed broadband are actually looking for superfast speeds or above.
What is Superfast Broadband?
Superfast broadband delivers download speeds of 30 Mbps or above and is the standard tier available to most UK households. As of September 2020, Ofcom confirmed that 95% of UK premises have access to superfast broadband, with 80% availability in rural areas. It’s delivered via standard FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) infrastructure and handles everyday demands like HD streaming, online gaming, and large downloads comfortably.
What is Ultrafast Broadband?
Ultrafast broadband starts at 100 Mbps and can reach up to 500 Mbps. It requires more advanced infrastructure than standard FTTC, typically fibre optic, steel coaxial cable, or FTTP (fibre to the premises). At these speeds, multiple users can stream 4K content simultaneously, online gaming runs without lag, and large file downloads complete in seconds. Wildanet’s ultrafast broadband is available at 400 Mbps.
What is Hyperfast (or Gigabit) Broadband?
Hyperfast broadband covers speeds from 500 Mbps up to 2 Gbps. It’s currently only available from select providers in dense urban areas where the infrastructure investment is viable, such as London. As demand grows, driven by 8K streaming, remote working, and connected homes, hyperfast will gradually become more widespread.
As time goes on, we’ll need hyperfast broadband to fulfil online tasks that require heavy download speed, such as multiple users streaming content in 8K, and increased home working households. This is where hyperfast will grow and become more standardised and straightforward.
What’s the Difference between Superfast, Ultrafast and Hyperfast Broadband
Superfast, ultrafast, and hyperfast are the three main broadband types out there, yet there are still lots of different branded variations between providers. When you’re researching your new broadband, or your upgrade, look at these features in particular to understand what you’ll be getting.
Feature | High Speed | Superfast | Ultrafast | Hyperfast |
Speed | >30 Mb/s | 30 – 100 Mb/s | 100 – 500 Mb/s | 500 Mb/s – 2Gb |
Uses | Minimal internet usage (checking emails) | Demanding online usage (streaming, gaming, large downloads) | High demand household broadband usage (multiple gamers, business cases) | Extremely high demand – shared houses, large businesses |
Availability | Full access | Widely accessible | Accessible in urban areas | Available from select providers |
Which Broadband Type Do You Need?
For most households, superfast broadband covers everyday internet use without issue. If your home has multiple people gaming, streaming, or working remotely at the same time, upgrading to ultrafast is worth considering — and it’s often not significantly more expensive. Hyperfast is only worth pursuing if you have genuinely extreme demands on your connection.
If you live in a rural area, getting even superfast speeds can be a challenge. Wildanet is bringing high speed broadband to Cornwall, Devon, and the South West, reaching homes that other providers can’t. Check your postcode to see if we can connect you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between superfast and ultrafast broadband?
Superfast broadband delivers download speeds between 30–100 Mbps and is available to most UK households via standard FTTC infrastructure. Ultrafast broadband starts at 100 Mbps and can reach 500 Mbps, requiring more advanced infrastructure such as fibre optic or FTTP. The key difference is speed and capacity, ultrafast handles heavy, multi-user households far more comfortably.
What is classed as high speed broadband in the UK?
High speed broadband is generally used to describe any connection delivering above-basic internet speeds. In the UK, Ofcom defines superfast broadband as 30 Mbps or above, which is the benchmark most providers use. Anything below this is considered standard or basic broadband.
Is ultrafast broadband worth it?
If your household has multiple people streaming, gaming, or working from home at the same time, ultrafast broadband is worth the upgrade. It typically isn’t significantly more expensive than superfast, and the improvement in stability and speed for busy households is considerable
What broadband speed do I need for streaming and gaming?
For a household with multiple users streaming and gaming simultaneously, a minimum of 100 Mbps, ultrafast broadband, is recommended. A single user can manage comfortably on superfast speeds of 30–100 Mbps, but shared connections benefit greatly from the extra capacity ultrafast provides.
