Internet speed can make or break local quality of life. From job opportunities to education, slow broadband isn't just an inconvenience; it's a barrier to essential services.

"The divide between towns with good and poor broadband doesn't just affect download speeds; it shapes futures." says Thomas Buck, Head of Broadband at Fair Internet Report:

"Picture a schoolkid, eager to excel, struggling to submit homework on time or unable to access valuable resources like BBC Bitesize. They're not failing because they lack ambition; they're being held back by inadequate broadband.

Parents who could be enjoying a better work-life balance are chained to office commutes because their home broadband can't handle remote work.

A dodgy broadband connection affects more than just your online activity; it constrains every aspect of your daily life.”

The South East’s fastest and slowest towns for broadband speed, as analysed by Fair Internet Report, highlight the difference in internet speed across large towns, and the impact this has on residents’ social equality and their quality of life.

Ewell and Worthing are prime examples of how superior broadband speeds can elevate local economies and social well-being. Ewell, boasting a typical speed of 80 Mbps, has become a hub for small businesses and tech start-ups looking to set up shop. Its robust broadband infrastructure makes it appealing for companies that rely heavily on data and connectivity.

On the other hand, Worthing, with a typical speed of 79 Mbps, has seen an improvement in social equality. The excellent broadband connectivity here means that residents have greater access to online educational resources and telehealth services, making a significant difference in a town with an older population who may have difficulty travelling for these services.

Oxford and Bracknell offer an interesting contrast, highlighting how good broadband can impact different aspects of community life.

In a city like Oxford, where education is a focal point, having an average speed of 79 Mbps ensures that students can access online libraries and resources with ease. This is especially crucial in a town that attracts international students who rely heavily on digital platforms for both study and keeping in touch with families abroad.

Bracknell, with an average speed of 74 Mbps, benefits economically as it's already a burgeoning tech town with companies in the software and cybersecurity sectors. Good broadband acts like the lifeblood of these businesses, securing Bracknell's place as a tech-savvy locale.

On the flip side, New Milton and Newport and Carisbrooke paint a rather grim picture with their lagging broadband speeds.

New Milton, with a typical speed of just 36 Mbps, faces an uphill battle in attracting new businesses, particularly tech-based firms that require high-speed internet. This lack of commercial interest might explain why the town, which has an older demographic, is struggling to boost its local economy.

In Newport and Carisbrooke, where the typical speed is 37 Mbps, social inequalities are a growing concern. These areas already have challenges related to education and employment. Poor broadband only adds to these issues, making it difficult for residents to access vital online resources or even search for jobs effectively.

Totton and Eling and Littlehampton round out the list of towns that desperately need broadband improvements.

Totton and Eling, with an average speed of 37 Mbps, has an existing poor educational background, and the subpar internet further exacerbates this. Inadequate broadband limits the effectiveness of digital classrooms and online tutoring, deepening the educational divide.

Littlehampton's lacklustre speed of 37 Mbps also impacts residents' quality of life. As more people are working from home, poor broadband affects their work-life balance, as slow speeds make telecommuting a frustrating experience. This also has knock-on effects on local businesses that rely on remote workers as customers, like cafes and co-working spaces.


The full list of analysed towns by broadband download speed is:

South East overall: 53 Mbps

1. Ewell - 79.6 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Ewell

2. Worthing - 78.92 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Worthing

3. Oxford - 78.84 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Oxfordshire/Oxford

4. Bracknell - 74.04 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Bracknell-Forest/Bracknell

5. Tonbridge - 73.88 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Tonbridge

6. Earley - 73.68 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Wokingham/Earley

7. Camberley - 73.63 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Camberley

8. Esher - 72.92 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Esher

9. Crawley - 72.85 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Crawley

10. Gosport - 72.84 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/Gosport

11. Staines-upon-Thames - 71.42 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Staines-upon-Thames

12. Aylesbury - 70.67 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Buckinghamshire/Aylesbury

13. Slough - 69.29 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Slough

14. Egham - 68.28 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Egham

15. Folkestone - 67.61 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Folkestone

16. Guildford - 67.29 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Guildford

17. Woodley - 66.69 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Wokingham/Woodley

18. Andover - 65.92 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/Andover

19. Broadstairs and St. Peters - 65.06 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Broadstairs-and-St.-Peters

20. Leatherhead - 62.45 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Leatherhead

21. Woking - 62.21 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Woking

22. Horsham - 61.66 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Horsham

23. Shenley Brook End - 60.66 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Milton-Keynes/Shenley-Brook-End

24. Maidstone - 59.63 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Maidstone

25. Gravesend - 58.62 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Gravesend

26. Aldershot - 56.93 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/Aldershot

27. Abingdon - 56.8 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Oxfordshire/Abingdon

28. Newbury - 55.99 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Berkshire/Newbury

29. Wokingham - 55.43 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Wokingham

30. Sittingbourne - 54.18 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Sittingbourne

31. Reading - 53.49 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Reading

32. Bicester - 53.01 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Oxfordshire/Bicester

33. Winchester - 52.54 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/Winchester

34. Ashford - 52.23 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Ashford

35. Burgess Hill - 51.5 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Burgess-Hill

36. Fareham - 51.08 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/Fareham

37. Maidenhead - 50.59 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Windsor-and-Maidenhead/Maidenhead

38. Reigate - 49.95 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Reigate

39. Ramsgate - 49.67 Mbps

40. Banbury - 49.32 Mbps

41. Bexhill - 48.87 Mbps

42. Dover - 48.54 Mbps

43. East Grinstead - 45.77 Mbps

44. Havant - 45.44 Mbps

45. Witney - 45.32 Mbps

46. Tunbridge Wells - 44.4 Mbps

47. Thatcham - 44.39 Mbps

48. High Wycombe - 44.04 Mbps

49. Margate - 43.54 Mbps

50. Haywards Heath - 42.32 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Haywards-Heath

51. Bognor Regis - 39.71 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Bognor-Regis

52. Eastleigh - 39.66 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/Eastleigh

53. Chichester - 39.04 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Chichester

54. Canterbury - 38.98 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Kent/Canterbury

55. Hastings - 38.47 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/East-Sussex/Hastings

56. Eastbourne - 38.43 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/East-Sussex/Eastbourne

57. Farnham - 38.33 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Surrey/Farnham

58. Littlehampton - 37.43 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/West-Sussex/Littlehampton

59. Totton and Eling - 37.28 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/Totton-and-Eling

60. Newport and Carisbrooke - 37.02 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Isle-of-Wight/Newport-and-Carisbrooke

61. New Milton - 36.36 Mbps
https://fairinternetreport.com/United-Kingdom/Hampshire/New-Milton

The speeds listed represent the median download speed in megabits per second (Mbps). Fair Internet Report uses medians (the middle number in a list of numbers sorted from smallest to largest) as it is less affected by extreme values, giving a more balanced snapshot of a dataset. Averages can be skewed by very high or low numbers, making them less reliable for capturing the 'typical' value.