If your current broadband plan feels fast enough, you might be wondering why everyone’s talking about multi-gig internet. But broadband in the UK is changing fast — and for the first time in years, it’s not just about download speed.
Over the next few years, more UK homes will get access to full fibre broadband capable of multi-gigabit speeds — that means 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps and beyond. It’s powered by new fibre tech like XGS-PON, and it’s rolling out postcode by postcode across Openreach, CityFibre and Virgin Media’s networks.
So what’s the point of going beyond 1Gbps?
It’s not just about faster Netflix. Homes are busier online now. There are game downloads, cloud backups, 4K streaming, video calls, smart cameras and files flying in both directions. Multi-gig plans give you more room to breathe, especially when several people are using the internet at once.
Upload speeds are catching up too. That’s a big change for the UK, where uploads have been stuck at 20–50Mbps on most plans. With full fibre, many providers now offer hundreds of megabits up — or even symmetrical plans where uploads match downloads.
But you won’t feel the benefit of a faster connection if your Wi-Fi or devices can’t keep up. That’s where Wi-Fi 7 comes in — the latest generation of wireless tech, designed for multi-gig internet and modern homes.
If you’re upgrading your broadband — or just planning ahead — it’s worth knowing what to look for in your router, mesh system and devices.
We’ve broken it all down in our full guide:
Read the full guide: The UK’s Next Broadband Jump – Multi-Gig, Wi-Fi 7 and Beyond
It covers what’s coming, how the main UK providers are preparing, and how to make sure your home is ready for what’s next.
