Lockdown leads to 99% increase in high-speed broadband sales

According to research by price comparison site MoneySuperMarket, purchases of the highest speeds (61+ Mbs) for the three weeks from when social distancing measures were introduced on March 16 saw a spike after the government advised working from home where possible.

For the same period in 2019, the sales of high-speed internet dropped by 33%, indicating that this isn’t simply a seasonal trend but one sparked by the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the nationwide lockdown.

In Scotland, sales of high-speed broadband during this period were on average three times higher, with South Lanarkshire seeing the highest rise.

Region – Rise (number of times bigger)

South Lanarkshire – 6.6

Glasgow – 3.2

Edinburgh – 3.1

Falkirk – 3.1

Aberdeen – 3.0

Fife – 2.1

North Lanarkshire – 1.9

Highland – 1.3

Emma Spencer, senior channel manager at MoneySuperMarket, said: “Lockdown has had an impact on various aspects of our lives, with many of us now relying on a strong, stable internet connection in order to work from home, stay entertained or keep in touch with family and friends. We’re seeing this reflected in high-speed broadband sales, resulting in a 99% spike following the implementation of social distancing measures.

“It is still possible to switch provider if you find your current connection is running slower than usual, and in the majority of cases an engineer is not required to visit your home to get you up and running. However, there are a number of steps you can also try to boost your speed, such as reducing the number of devices you have connected to your WiFi, ensuring there’s no outside interference from other electronic appliances and making sure all software is updated.

“If you’re looking into a faster internet speed to cope with increased demand, comparing the best broadband and shopping around will ensure you get the right package for you.”