Brits are apologising for their dodgy Wi-Fi almost twice a week, new research reveals

New Broadband Speed League reveals how fast your internet could really be

But it turns out we're saying it a lot more often than you might think.

New research from Sky Broadband has revealed that Brits are apologising for their internet connection almost twice a week on average during work calls, with unreliable Wi-Fi becoming an all-too-familiar part of working life.

More than two in five workers (42 per cent) admit that saying "Sorry, my Wi-Fi is playing up" has become a regular occurrence during their working week.

And it's not just an awkward inconvenience.

Almost half (46 per cent) of workers have been forced to switch off their camera during a video call just to keep their connection stable.

Of those affected, more than a third (34 per cent) have missed something being shared on screen, while 27 per cent have missed important instructions and one in five have missed decisions being made.

Meanwhile, 52 per cent have had to ask colleagues to repeat themselves or send follow-up notes because of a poor connection.

It's not just work calls that are suffering

Dodgy broadband is also causing problems outside the nine-to-five.

According to Sky's research, nearly two-thirds of Brits (63 per cent) have experienced freezing screens or dropped connections while catching up with friends and family.

More than a third (34 per cent) have even found themselves apologising for their internet connection during a personal video call in the past month.

And when it comes to patience, Gen Z aren't hanging around.

A whopping 90 per cent of Gen Z respondents admit they've given up on watching content altogether when buffering, freezing or dropped connections get in the way.

With more than half of UK households (53 per cent) regularly having five or more devices connected to their broadband at the same time, it's perhaps no surprise that our home internet connections are feeling the strain.

Sky's new Broadband Speed League reveals just how fast 5Gbps internet really is

But while millions of Brits are still battling buffering and frozen video calls, the UK's fastest broadband speeds are capable of something pretty remarkable.

Sky Broadband has unveiled a new Broadband Speed League, showing just how quickly everyday online tasks could be completed using its fastest Full Fibre 5Gbps Gigafast+ broadband.

And some of the results are seriously impressive.

According to the Speed League, a massive 100GB Call of Duty update could be downloaded in just two minutes and 40 seconds using Sky's 5Gbps broadband.

On the UK's average broadband download speed of 285Mbps, the same update would take almost 47 minutes.

That's the difference between getting straight into a game and having enough time to watch an entire episode of your favourite TV show while you wait.

And the comparisons don't stop there.

A 4K film could be downloaded in just 24 seconds, while an entire 10-episode TV series in 4K could be ready in under two minutes.

Even a hefty 50GB Fortnite update could take just one minute and 20 seconds, compared with more than 23 minutes on the average UK connection.

Broadband Speed League: Sky 5Gbps vs average UK broadband

Here's how Sky's fastest 5Gbps broadband compares with the UK's average broadband speed.

The figures are indicative estimates based on the advertised 5Gbps speed and the UK average broadband download speed of 285Mbps, published in Ofcom's 2025 Connected Nations Report.

Actual download and upload times will vary depending on factors such as your device, Wi-Fi connection, network conditions and server capacity.

Who offers the fastest broadband in the UK?

If you're wondering just how fast broadband can get, Sky's Full Fibre 5Gbps Gigafast+ package offers speeds of up to 5,000Mbps, making it one of the fastest residential broadband options in the UK.

That's around 17.5 times the UK's average broadband download speed.

There's a catch, though.

Sky's 5Gbps broadband is currently available to just 14 per cent of UK homes, meaning not everyone can get their hands on those lightning-fast speeds.

However, Sky has also launched a new Full Fibre 1.6Gbps broadband package, bringing faster internet to millions more households.

The new service is available to nearly four in five UK homes (79 per cent), offering average download speeds more than 20 times faster than Sky's standard part-fibre broadband.

It's designed for busy households where everything from gaming and streaming to working from home is happening at the same time.

Ben Case, Managing Director of Connectivity at Sky, said:

"Our research shows how unreliable broadband can disrupt everything from work meetings to calls with loved ones, which is why Sky Broadband is now bringing lightning-fast Full Fibre 1.6Gbps speeds to nearly 80% of homes in the UK - helping customers stay connected to what matters most."

How much does Sky's new broadband cost?

Sky's new Full Fibre 1.6Gbps broadband package is available to eligible new customers for £38 a month, including existing Sky TV, mobile and smart home customers.

The package comes with Sky's Gigafast+ hub, which uses Wi-Fi 7 technology, and offers average download speeds of 1.6Gbps.

Existing Sky Broadband customers will be able to upgrade at a later date.

Sky is also offering customers switching from another broadband provider up to £200 in credit towards early leaving fees, subject to the offer's terms and conditions.

So while you might not be able to get Sky's fastest 5Gbps broadband just yet, the days of staring at a download bar for the best part of an hour could be numbered.

And hopefully, so could the number of times you have to tell your boss your Wi-Fi is playing up.

Broadband availability and speeds vary by location. Speed League timings are illustrative calculations assuming consistent network conditions and full advertised transfer speeds, rather than guaranteed real-world results. Package pricing and switching offers are subject to eligibility and terms.