Broadband Speeds - Clueless

[GreenTinsel]

Not really sure what topic to post this in - grateful for suggestions if somewhere else would be better.

I have home broadband from Claranet - they're mostly a business supplier these days, I've been with them since dial-up days when they were targetting home users more. Yes, I know I'm probably paying too much and could get better service elsewhere, but suffer from lack of time and inertia to change things.

However, the broadband speeds I'm getting are now more like dial-up and it can't even support a one-to-one zoom call. I don't work from home, but do need to do a certain amount of admin/business from my own connection.

I'm currently getting 6.01Mbps download/0.74Mbps upload on wifi and 5.56/0.76 with an ethernet cable plugged into the router.

Thing is, I don't know how to find out if I would get anything better by changing provider - they all say 'super-fast', but if they're using the same infrastructure, will it actually be any different? The router is plugged into the domestic BT telephone wall outlet with an ethernet adapter. The building has 12 flats, some have satellite dishes, I don't (watch freeview TV via an ariel in the loft).

Would I have to get additional cables or a dish installed to get faster speeds? Or would a wifi dongle be more sensible? This is in suburban London, so not the middle of the countryside.

Thank you!

Most main providers still do a service via the copper phone lines into the home. Usually called fibre broadband because the connection to the road cabinet is fibre, they just run the last bit into your home on copper.

I've just moved to fibre to the home when the copper cable is replaced by an optical fibre which gives more bandwidth. We don't really need it, but it was cheaper than the old connection and useful to have the fibre connection for free. On on the cheapest 150 Mbps connection which is plenty for a family. Cost less than £25 per month.

As you are in a flat it might be hard to get a new cable installed due to needing freeholder agreement to drilling, routing the cable.

Put your postcode into EE's website (now part of BT) to see what your address can get.