Broadband map shows how you could be paying too much

Average monthly broadband bills in countries all across the globe have been revealed thanks to new research and it does not look good for the UK. In their analysis of 3,703 fixed-line broadband deals across 219 countries, Cable.co.uk found that Britain ranked just 76th cheapest in the global table with a price comparison map showing just how different things are across the world. The broadband site gathered data from January 2 2023 and March 1 2023 to discover that the average cost of broadband per month in the UK was $34.20 (£28.16) during this period.

This was four times more than the cost of broadband in war-torn Ukraine, which was just $7.87 (£6.48) per month.

Meanwhile, broadband customers in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) had some of the cheapest bills of all the regions between January and March, costing an average of $19.22 (£15.80) and $14.99 (£12.33) respectively.

Although UK broadband bills seem expensive, our bills are still lower than the average for Western Europe, which came in at a whopping $50.87 (£41.89).

Britons also paid far less than Norwegians, who between January and March paid $87.36 (£71.94) for broadband per month, the most expensive in the region.

On the other side of the Atlantic, costs were even higher. The monthly average across North America was an eye-watering $104.33 (£85.77), making it the most expensive region on the globe for broadband. Bills in Greenland were highest, costing $114.19 (£93.88) The US came in second, with average broadband bills weighing in at $59.99 (£49.32).

However, the gap looks set to narrow as broadband firms across the board in Britain have warned they will be hiking up prices in the coming weeks.

In fact, all of the major Internet Service Providers (ISPs), including BT, EE, Vodafone, Plusnet, Virgin and Sky have confirmed they will raise prices, with some bills rising by as much as 14.4 percent in a change that will affect millions.

Commenting on the findings of the research, Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms analyst at Cable.co.uk, said: “It is not altogether too surprising that the most advanced, developed nations tend to have some of the most expensive broadband.

“After all, earnings are higher, and investment and rollout of new technologies tends to be ahead of the curve. Or so one would think.

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“It is interesting, however, that the cheapest broadband in the world tends to be in Eastern Europe and CIS nations. These countries tend to have some of the most advanced infrastructure (high percentage full fibre FTTP coverage), and are somehow able to offer it to users at very low prices.

“In a way it obliterates the notion that regions such as Western Europe and North America pay more because of the cost of rolling out new technologies, and actually points more readily to the idea that people in these countries are made to pay more simply because they can be.”

While bills may be getting even higher in the UK, you can try a simple trick to get broadband for free.

Which? has also offered vital tips that could help you avoid forking out extra cash when prices rise later this month.