Lochwinnoch has the fastest average broadband speeds in the UK, it has been revealed.
In tests carried out by the first annual Broadband Genie Speed Index, Lochwinnoch was best, beating cities like London and Glasgow. Bishopton was third in Scotland and neighbours Port Glasgow in Inverclyde was fourth.
Lochwinnoch was found to have average speeds of 409Mb, more than 100Mb faster than the runner-up Monmouth in Wales, which recorded typical speeds of 271Mb. Western Scotland was also named the UK’s fastest broadband region, with its average speeds of 110Mb, nearly nine times as fast as its slowest – the 13Mb rates experienced by families living in the Isles of Scilly.
The study wasn’t all good news for Scotland, however, with Halkirk in the Scottish Highlands revealed to receive average speeds of just 2.8Mb, the slowest in the UK overall.
It means typical broadband in the village is even slower than outdated 3G mobile data speed, and not enough to watch Netflix reliably. It is also barely a quarter of the 10Mb speed that the UK regulator Ofcom says is the minimum “decent” connection homes and businesses should receive, enabling multiple users to browse the internet and use streaming services.
Top five slowest places for broadband in Scotland
| Rank | Place | County | Average speed (Mb) |
| 1 | Halkirk | Caithness | 2.8 |
| 2 | Lockerbie | Dumfries and Galloway | 6.5 |
| 3 | Laurencekirk | Kincardineshire | 12.3 |
| 4 | Jedburgh | Roxburghshire | 13.2 |
| 5 | Kirkcudbright | Dumfries and Galloway | 16.1 |
Top five fastest places for broadband in Scotland
| Rank | Place | County | Average speed (Mb) |
| 1 | Lochwinnoch | Renfrewshire | 409.2 |
| 2 | Bonnyrigg | Midlothian | 149.5 |
| 3 | Bishopton | Renfrewshire | 147.2 |
| 4 | Port Glasgow | Inverclyde | 132.7 |
| 5 | Kirkliston | City of Edinburgh | 128.9 |
Slowest areas for broadband in the UK
| Rank | Place | County | Average speed (Mb) |
| 1 | Halkirk | Caithness | 2.8 |
| 2 | Lockerbie | Dumfries and Galloway | 6.5 |
| 3 | Ringwood | Hampshire | 6.8 |
| 4 | Longhope | Gloucestershire | 12 |
| 5 | Laurencekirk | Kincardineshire | 12.3 |
Fastest areas for broadband in the UK
| Rank | Place | County | Average speed (Mb) |
| 1 | Lochwinnoch | Renfrewshire | 409.2 |
| 2 | Monmouth | Monmouthshire | 270.5 |
| 3 | Pudsey | West Yorkshire | 241.6 |
| 4 | Wooler | Northumberland | 225.1 |
| 5 | Middlewich | Cheshire | 223 |
Broadband Genie is advising households to use a speed test to check their broadband performance is up to scratch. If it is not delivering the speeds you are paying for, it is time to take action.
Alex Tofts, broadband expert at Broadband Genie, comments: “Scotland is at both ends of the spectrum when it comes to its broadband, with both the fastest and slowest areas of the UK found within its borders.
“Our data clearly shows the country has made huge strides in upgrading its connectivity, and residents in Lochwinnoch are now leading the way. However there is still plenty of work to do in getting the north of Scotland up to speed. Bridging this digital divide is key. No broadband customer should accept a sub-par service, least of all in a year when we have seen record price increases in the industry.
“Most of Britain’s biggest providers sign up to Ofcom’s Broadband Speeds Code of Practice. This means they have to be clear about the speeds you should expect at your address, including a guaranteed minimum they must keep above.
“Speed tests are a useful tool for regularly monitoring the performance you are receiving. If they are falling short of what has been promised, contact your provider and raise the issue.
“Poor broadband speeds can also be influenced by factors outside of your provider’s control, so make sure you check these first. Poor home wiring or a poorly positioned or faulty router could be dragging your Wi-Fi down.
“Residents in the slowest towns and cities may also be suffering unnecessarily, with faster speeds available in their area if they switch. If you are out of contract and looking to upgrade your broadband, do a quick comparison online to see the best deals on offer. You may even end up paying less for a better and faster service.”