Connectivity check: are you getting what you paid for

If you signed up for a high-speed service but your internet feels sluggish, the problem could be your provider’s delivery or your home setup. Follow the stages to find out if you need to tweak your setup or go back to your provider.

1. run an Internet Speed Test - Before changing any settings, establish a baseline. The best way to check actual service is to connect a computer directly to your router using an Ethernet cable, rather than via Wi-Fi as this can show lower speeds due to interference, which may not reflect the actual speed entering your home
2. if your speed is less than your contract states, Worcestershire County Council have created a guide for residents and businesses to help on getting the most out of your broadband. 

For more information please visit: Getting the most out of your Broadband Connection.

Better connected - broadband rollout on track

In Worcestershire, superfast speeds continue to exceed the national average. The focus has now changed to gigabit broadband roll out, which has already increased to 86.8% of premises, a rise of 3.2% or roughly 9,600 premises in 2025 alone. This exceeds the national target of 85% expected by the end of 2025, and is well on track for our 2027 target of 90% having access to gigabit service (data from www.thinkbroadband.com). 

It is worth noting that each broadband infrastructure provider will have their own 'Postcode Checker’ where you can enter your details to find out what speeds are available now, whether deployment is planned, or if they are not intending to deploy in your area. In Worcestershire, it is worth checking coverage from: Openreach, Virgin Media, Netomnia/BRSK, Airband, Full Fibre Ltd, Gigaclear, Zzoomm, BeFibre and CityFibre. 

A better picture of mobile connectivity

Residents and businesses are regularly reporting poor mobile connectivity, and thanks to our involvement with the River Severn Partnership, we have completed some real-world data capture throughout our county – further information can be found on our page Mobile Connectivity Data for Worcestershire. The Mobile Coverage Checker allows you to see what the connectivity is in the areas we have collected it.

Maximise coverage with outdoor to indoor boosters

Do you run a business that is reliant on mobile connectivity, but connectivity fails when inside your office space? The Wildwood Offices are just such a space. With funding from the River Severn Partnership, we trialled, and continue to use, a commercial outdoor to indoor mobile booster solution. This provides not only tangible benefits to the organisation but also welfare benefits to staff. Read our Case Study for further information.

Download:

• Case Study Outdoor to Indoor Mobile Booster Wildwood (PDF)

Digital switchover is coming

The UK’s landlines are getting an upgrade and soon most phone calls will be made over a broadband line – you won’t lose your landline or number and 99% of handsets will still work. Some areas, including parts of Worcestershire, have already started switching. Your phone provider will contact you to explain the changes and help the move to the new service before 2027. 

Find out more at The Digital Switchover is coming. 

Listen to this Webinar to hear about BT's plans for the Digital Home Switchover:

• BT’s Digital Voice Expert Preparing for the UK Landline Switchover

Working with our communities to improve mobile connectivity

We are creating spaces where neutral infrastructure providers and communities that are keen to improve mobile signal in their communities can come together and discuss potential solutions. You can simply borrow some of the equipment from us and trial it in your home or pop into our office to see how it works and see if it can provide a temporary improvement for you. We are also trialling small cells in areas where there is no network signals, providing up to 3km coverage – results of the trial will be available early next year.