Wi-Fi warning issued to homes using BT, Sky or Virgin Media - check your router now

All UK homes are being urged to check their routers and consider asking their Internet Service Provider (ISP) for an upgrade. The new advice, issued by the team at Broadband Savvy, alerts consumers to advancements in Wi-Fi technology and the issue of using out-of-date systems.

According to Broadband Savvy, many UK homes still have Wi-Fi 5 routers plugged into their walls with most ISPs - including Sky, BT and Virgin - continuing to offer this ageing technology to users.

For those not in the know, Wi-Fi 5 is now over 10 years old and it’s since been superseded by improved platforms such as Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and even Wi-Fi 7.

Although Wi-Fi 5 continues to offer a decent connection, it simply can't match those upgraded routers when it comes to overall speed and reliability.

It's also no good for homes with lots of internet-connected devices, and anyone with a busy home will definitely find switching to Wi-Fi 6, 6E or 7 improves things.

"Compared to more modern standards, like WiFi 6, 6E, and 7, WiFi 5 has significant limitations for the end-user,” Tom Paton, founder of Broadband Savvy explained.

"WiFi 5 is fine for slower broadband connections, such as the 30-50 Mbps packages that were popular in 2010-2015, as long as you don't have lots of internet-connected devices.

"But certain providers are still shipping these routers to customers buying an ultrafast broadband plan, even though they're not designed for this."

There is another reason to ask your ISP about what router they will be supplying as most plans want customers to sign up for lengthy contracts. That means what you get now, you'll be stuck with.

"Most broadband plans on the market at the moment come with a 24 month contract. In two years' time, WiFi 5 will be essentially obsolete, which is why we're urging broadband providers to at least offer the option of a better router on their fast fibre plans," Paton added.

It can be pretty hard to know what your router is capable of, but it's worth checking with your ISP to see if an upgrade is available.

It's also worth noting that there are many Wi-Fi boosters on the market—such as Amazon's Eero—that offer Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. These so-called mesh networks plug into your current router and offer an instant upgrade.

"When buying, insist on at least a WiFi 6 router - but be aware that one or two major providers still don't offer this as an option," Paton said.

"For example, as a cheaper, more basic provider, Plusnet is still shipping the Smart Hub 2 WiFi 5 router, even on their ultrafast 500 Mbps and 900 Mbps plans. On the other hand, EE offers the choice of a WiFi 6 or WiFi 7 router across all of their tariffs."

If you want to future-proof your speeds, speak to your ISP.