published: 24th June 2026
Just like our roads, the UK’s broadband network hits a ‘rush hour.’ Between 7pm and 11pm, as we all settle down to stream, game, or catch up with friends, the surge in traffic can cause serious broadband congestion on traditional networks. But does your connection have to slow down just because your neighbours are online?
what is network congestion?
Network congestion typically occurs when data traffic exceeds the network’s available capacity. This can be due to older router hardware or poor network design. However, it’s likely that if your broadband lacks the speed or capacity to keep up with everyone’s scrolling, streaming and gaming, it results in a slower connection for all users.
how to fix network congestion?
There are many options available for reducing networking congestion including avoiding heavy usage during peak hours. No, we’re not talking about sitting in the dark, but if you know that you have a large update to do on your games console, it might be best to do this outside peak hours.
One way to reduce network congestion is to consider your wi-fi signal strength:
- is your router in the best location?
- is there any furniture interfering with your wi-fi signal?
- are you using the latest wi-fi technology?
If you’re having regular problems with network congestion, it might be time to consider a faster broadband speed that can keep up with everything everyone is trying to do at the same time! If you think of a 4 lane motorway compared to a single country lane, more cars can travel at once and faster. But if the same number of cars tried to travel down a country lane at once it would cause a huge traffic jam! Broadband’s the same, a faster speed means there’s enough Mbps to go around for everyone with multiple lanes of traffic supporting everyone’s streaming and gaming.
A faster speed from just any provider might not be the solution. You should seek out providers that offer symmetrical broadband speeds. This means that just as much data can be received by your router as sent out for the best broadband experience. If we go back to our road analogy, non-symmetrical broadband is like a give way road, but if there’s a constant stream of cars coming, the traffic that has to give way will struggle to get through. A symmetrical broadband service means traffic can travel freely in both directions on the road!
why toob delivers on speed
We believe in fast, affordable, and reliable broadband for everyone. We’ve built our very own 100% full-fibre network from the ground up and offer every single customer symmetrical download and upload speeds. This means we can deliver the speeds we promise at the point of sale, ensuring your home is ready for all your current and future digital demands, without the peak-time slowdown.
We’ve also partnered with industry wholesaler CityFibre to expand our network reach further across England and Scotland, so more people can make the most of our ultrafast full-fibre broadband.
Nick Parbutt, toob CEO and Founder, said: “Broadband users shouldn’t have to accept slower speeds just because it’s peak time. Whether you’re streaming, gaming or working from home, your connection should perform just as reliably at 8pm as it does at 8am.
“Broadband Genie’s findings reflect the principle our network is built on – consistently delivering the ultrafast speeds customers rely on, whenever they need them.
“Our own network is built using 100% full-fibre, the UK’s most reliable broadband technology3. This means we’re able to offer a broadband experience that’s not only fast, but resilient and dependable for the demands of our digital first-first world”
Don’t just listen to us, here’s what our customers have to say:
ready for life in the fast lane?
In the UK, 8.8 million broadband customers are currently free to switch. With toob, you can sign up to an ultrafast deal and still reduce your monthly outgoings. Check your postcode to see if we’re at your address.
