Claire Nottage | January 25th, 2022
TalkTalk has for years offered affordable broadband deals to customers seeking a straightforward, no-frills package. Now, as well as the standard fibre speeds available from all providers, TalkTalk is moving with the times and also presents customers with a choice of ultrafast fibre services up to 900Mbps enabling lightning-fast connections on all your devices, from games consoles to smartbulbs.
Not everyone needs ultrafast broadband however, so we’ve taken a look at all TalkTalk’s speeds to help you decide which one will be the right choice for your home broadband requirements, from 35Mbps to 900Mbps.
For most households wanting to get online, TalkTalk offers a choice of two fibre connections – Fibre 35 and Fibre 65. Both these fibre speeds are ideal for pretty much all homes, giving you the ability to stream, browse, talk and shop online. The limitations kick in when it comes to how many devices you want to keep connected, how quickly you want your downloads to occur, and exactly what you need your broadband service to be able to do.
If you frequently download large videogames or UHD films, then you will benefit from a faster speed and may want to consider a jump up to TalkTalk’s 150Mbps or 250Mbps. These speeds will comfortably cope with more devices and enable downloads to happen more quickly with less hanging around. Just bear in mind that TalkTalk’s faster speeds – from Fibre 150 to Fibre 900 – are not yet as widely available as Fibre 35 and Fibre 65 so we’d advise using a postcode checker to find out what’s available in your area before you get too excited.
If you can get those faster speeds, then you might want to sign up for Fibre 500 or Fibre 900 – TalkTalk’s two fastest packages. These insanely fast speeds will cope with a very high level of demand and support numerous devices at once, with several people gaming and streaming at the same time. In the majority of cases, not many households will actually need these speeds, but if you want to have the fastest speed available, and you can get it in your area, then why not?
Package | Download speed (average) |
Upload speed (average) |
Router | Contract length |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fibre 35 | 38Mbps | 10Mbps | Wi-Fi Hub Black | 18 months |
Fibre 65 | 67Mbps | 20Mbps | Wi-Fi Hub Black | 18 months |
Fibre 150 | 145Mbps | 30Mbps | Wi-Fi Hub | 24 months |
Fibre 150 | 147Mbps | 30Mbps | Amazon eero 6 | 18 months |
Fibre 250 | 290Mbps | 50Mbps | Wi-Fi Hub | 18 months |
Fibre 500 | 506Mbps | 69Mbps | Amazon eero 6 | 18 months |
Fibre 900 | 920Mbps | 105Mbps | Amazon eero 6 | 18 months |
With an average download speed of 38Mbps, TalkTalk's entry-level speed is comparable to BT Fibre Essential, as well as the entry-level speed offered by most other broadband providers. This speed is ideal for smaller households with two or three devices that are used for streaming and downloading separately.
Fibre 35 is widely available across the UK, and operates on the Openreach network used by many other providers (apart from Virgin Media) to supply their standard fibre broadband connections. It’s an affordable option and if you decide you need more speed, you can easily upgrade to Fibre 65.
As mentioned, Fibre 65 is the next option up from the entry-level Fibre 35. With an average download speed of 67Mbps, it is a healthy speed ideal for supporting a modest household with several devices connected at once, from smartphones to games consoles. The dual-band Wi-Fi Hub Black router will keep your devices connected without issue and has four ethernet ports for wired connections.
The average 20Mbps upload speed will come in handy for video calls, gamers and anyone who regularly uploads data to the web, be it photos or other documents. It costs just an extra couple of quid more than Fibre 35, which may make it an appealing option for many people looking for peace of mind when it comes to getting a broadband service that can cope with your needs.
For busy households with more than ten devices online, one of TalkTalk’s 150Mbps services is the perfect solution. TalkTalk offers two different services at this speed, dependent on which technology is available in your area. Both offer almost identical download speeds, with the Full Fibre option offering an average download speed of 147Mbps and the Ultrafast option coming with 145Mbps average download speed.
Customers wanting a phone line should be aware that the Full Fibre 150 option is a data-only connection and comes with TalkTalk’s latest router, the Amazon eero 6 router. The Ultrafast 150 connection does come with a phone line however, and is supplied with the Wi-Fi Hub router. There is the option to bolt on anytime UK or international class to the Ultrafast 150 if required. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the Ultrafast 150 package is the only TalkTalk broadband service to come on a 24-month contract rather than an 18-month contract.
Recommended for households with more than 15 devices connected, Ultrafast 250 comes with an average download speed of considerably faster than advertised – 290Mbps. The accompanying upload speed averages 50Mbps; ideal for gamers who will also appreciate being able to download a 70GB game in just over half an hour.
This package is supplied with TalkTalk’s Wi-Fi Hub and comes on an 18-month contract with a phone line should you still want to make use of landline calls.
If you have a household of 15 to 20 devices or more, including smart tech such as voice assistants, a Ring doorbell, smart curtains or blinds, you will benefit from having one of TalkTalk’s top two fastest internet connections. Many of these home smart tech items are constantly connected to your internet and will require support as well as the more obvious activities such as streaming, gaming, downloading and general surfing.
With an accompanying upload speed of 69Mbps, the Fibre 500 connection is ideal for modern, big households with several devices all being used at once. It is a data-only service, so is not suitable for anyone wanting a landline. It is supplied with the Amazon eero Pro 6 mesh system with Tri-Band Wi-Fi that provides ultimate speed and coverage around your home.
For households wanting the fastest possible option, Fibre 900 is the way to go. With download speeds averaging 920Mbps and an average upload speed of 105Mbps, Fibre 900 is TalkTalk’s premium internet service. It will support anything you care to throw at it, from multiple UHD streaming to huge downloads and multiple people and devices online at once. It will enable you to download a 70GB file in just under ten minutes, meaning no more waiting around before you can start gaming.
However, like Fibre 500, Fibre 900 is a data-only service without a phone line. If you really want an alternative to your mobile phone, you can choose to have a VoIP handset connected to your line, whereby your calls are routed via the internet.
Yes. TalkTalk supplies its Wi-Fi Hub Black with its slower fibre services, its WI-Fi Hub with its Ultrafast services, and the Amazon eero with its Full Fibre services.
In theory, yes. However, because TalkTalk uses different networks to provide different speeds, it may be that the network providing the faster speed you want has not yet arrived in your area.
Yes. TalkTalk provides comprehensive security and parental controls free with all its broadband packages. Known as Home Safe and Child Safe, they will protect your devices from viruses and malware and allow you to keep your children safe from inappropriate and unsavoury material.
TalkTalk has always offered affordable and straightforward broadband services. It still does so, but with the added advantage of faster speeds now being available that compete with the likes of Virgin Media. Plus, its top-end Full Fibre packages are well catered for with the inclusive provision of the Amazon eero Wi-Fi 6 router, which can comfortably support the high speeds on offer.