Digital technology is transforming the UK’s healthcare sector. From picture-archiving communication systems (PACS) in radiology suites to electronic medication charts in care homes and on-demand fitness apps in gyms, every part of modern care relies on a fast, resilient internet connection. Yet many facilities are still running on ageing fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) or even ADSL lines—architectures never designed for today’s data-hungry workloads or the regulatory pressure that surrounds patient information.

This guide explains exactly what to look for when you compare broadband for healthcare services and why a full-fibre provider such as Hyperoptic removes many of the bottlenecks (and hidden costs) associated with legacy networks. We cover hospitals, care homes and gyms—the three settings where our teams most frequently deploy specialist connectivity—before wrapping up with a concise checklist, a sustainability breakdown and a real-world case study.

Key takeaways: Broadband essentials for hospitals, care homes and gyms

1. Hospitals require enterprise-grade resilience. Look for symmetrical gigabit speeds, 24/7 monitoring, ISO-accredited security practices and optional Ethernet circuits for mission-critical systems (e.g. imaging or ICU telemetry).

2. Care homes need user-friendly Wi-Fi with iron-clad safeguarding. Resident streaming and video calling must coexist with clinical workflows, so prioritise solutions that isolate guest traffic, offer content controls and meet DSPT requirements.

3. Gyms benefit from scalable bandwidth and simple self-service. Class livestreams, trainer wearables and high-density guest networks peak at specific times; a flexible contract with easy speed upgrades prevents over- or under-provisioning.

For an executive summary of what business broadband should deliver in any vertical, see our companion piece: 5 things you need from your business broadband provider.

Technology trends reshaping healthcare connectivity

Before diving into site-specific guidance, it’s useful to understand the macro forces behind bandwidth growth:

• Telehealth & remote diagnostics. NHS England’s Digital First strategy predicts that 70 % of outpatient follow-ups will move online by 2026—doubling video-consultation traffic in two years.

• Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). Connected infusion pumps, smart beds and wearable monitors can produce 50 GB / day in a single ward, all of which must be uploaded securely to EHR platforms.

• AI-assisted imaging. Cloud-based radiology platforms use GPU clusters to analyse CT scans in real-time, but only if the raw DICOM files reach the server fast enough (often 500 MB+ per study).

• Environmental reporting. Greener NHS targets require granular energy-use dashboards; these IIoT sensors also need consistent upstream bandwidth.

A copper-based connection will struggle to keep up. Full fibre—backed by an upgrade path to 10 Gb symmetrical—creates headroom for the unknown apps of tomorrow.

Broadband and Wi-Fi for Hospitals

Modern hospitals generate terabytes of data each day. Diagnostic imaging, real-time patient monitoring, digital theatre workflows and back-office systems all compete for bandwidth. At the same time, NHS trusts face stringent uptime and cyber-security targets. Choosing the right connectivity is therefore about more than headline download speeds—it’s about bulletproof reliability and regulatory alignment.

How to choose broadband for a hospital

• Resilience & fail-over. Insist on automatic path diversity and a minimum 99.9 % SLA. Many trusts deploy dual circuits—primary full fibre and secondary 4G/5G—managed by the same provider.

• Latency & jitter. PACS, tele-ICU dashboards or robot-assisted surgery demand <10 ms average round-trip and <1 ms jitter within the UK core.

• Multi-layer security. WPA3 Enterprise encryption, VLAN segregation and ISO 27001 compliance protect patient data and help meet DSPT standards.

• IPv6-readiness. Many new biomedical devices require native IPv6; ensure dual-stack support.

• Scalability. Capacity planning should allow for 25–30 % annual data growth driven by EPR adoption.

Which broadband option is best?

For district-general or teaching hospitals, a dedicated Ethernet service layered on a 10 Gb-ready full-fibre core is the gold standard. Smaller community hospitals often start with symmetrical 1 Gb FTTP and upgrade as workloads expand.

FTTC / FTTP

FTTC is rarely adequate due to its copper last mile and sub-100 Mb uploads. Full-fibre FTTP up to 1 Gb is viable for outpatient centres or satellite clinics.

SOGEA

SOGEA removes the voice line but still terminates on copper, making it unsuitable for latency-critical medical data.

1 Gb FTTP

A strong entry point for small hospitals: low cost, symmetrical throughput, no shared bandwidth at peak.

Dedicated Ethernet

Offers uncontended speeds from 100 Mb to 10 Gb with sub-millisecond jitter—ideal for imaging archives, large-scale EPR backups and private MPLS peerings.

5G as backup

A 5G fail-over router ensures connectivity during fibre maintenance or construction damage and gives ambulance bays outdoor Wi-Fi — making it an increasingly useful tool in modern healthcare settings.

Broadband and Wi-Fi for Care Homes

Digital inclusion is transforming social care. Residents expect seamless video calls, smart-speaker companionship and online entertainment, while staff require secure access to electronic care-planning tools. The challenge is delivering all of this without compromising safeguarding or Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidelines.

How to choose broadband for a care home

• Separate SSIDs. Isolate resident, staff and medical-device traffic.

• Content filters. Built-in controls prevent accidental access to inappropriate material.

• Coverage mapping. Older buildings can have thick walls; a professional Wi-Fi survey identifies dead zones and repeater placement.

• Telephony integration. VoIP handsets replace PSTN, aligning with the 2025 switch-off and saving £25–£35 per line each month.

• Future-proof speed. Aim for a minimum 500 Mb symmetrical to handle 4K streaming and cloud EMAR systems simultaneously.

Which broadband option is best?

Symmetrical 1 Gb FTTP with managed Wi-Fi and optional 4G backup balances cost, speed and reliability for most care homes.

For an in-depth look at router selection—especially when adding IoT fall sensors—see our article on healthcare networking.

Broadband and Wi-Fi for Gyms

Fitness centres once needed internet only for the reception PC. Today they livestream spin classes, sync wearable data, run IPTV screens and provide free guest Wi-Fi to hundreds of phones. The right broadband keeps members engaged and operations slick during peak hours.

How to choose broadband for a gym

• Peak-time throughput. Early mornings and evenings require burst capacity; symmetrical 500 Mb or 1 Gb prevents buffering on studio streams.

• Public Wi-Fi branding. Custom splash pages boost upsells and capture marketing consent.

• Short, flexible contracts. Seasonal membership fluctuations may influence cash flow; avoid punitive exit clauses.

• Rugged hardware. Access points should tolerate humidity from pool or sauna areas.

Which broadband option is best?

Most gyms thrive on symmetrical 500 Mb FTTP with managed guest Wi-Fi and the option to upgrade to 1 Gb during expansion.

Case study: Barnbrook Community Hospital

In 2024 Barnbrook Community Hospital (210 beds) migrated from a 200 Mb leased line to Hyperoptic 1 Gb FTTP + Ethernet backup. Key outcomes:

• Imaging turnaround dropped from 18 min to 3 min per MRI set, freeing radiologist capacity.

• Patient Wi-Fi satisfaction rose from 3.4 to 4.7 / 5 on internal surveys.

• Annual OPEX fell by 27 % after PSTN replacement and line-rental removal.

• No unplanned downtime recorded in the first twelve months.

Environmental & financial sustainability

Healthcare providers face twin pressures: reduce carbon emissions and manage shrinking budgets. Full fibre helps on both fronts:

• Lower power draw. Optical signals travel farther with less amplification than VDSL cabinets, cutting energy use by up to 60 % per Mb delivered.

• Longevity. A single fibre strand can support 100 × today’s speeds, delaying costly re-cabling projects.

• Eliminate copper charges. Removing legacy voice lines saves between £15–£20 per channel per month.

• Enable remote care. Reliable video consultations reduce patient transport emissions and staff overtime.

Why choose Hyperoptic as your healthcare broadband provider

• 100 % Fibre-to-the-Premises. No copper, no peak-time slowdowns. Uploads match downloads—crucial for cloud EHR, CCTV off-site backup and large diagnostic files.

• Business-grade SLAs. 99.9 % uptime guarantee, proactive 24/7 monitoring and four-hour target fix on Ethernet circuits.

• Scale from 150 Mb to 10 Gb. Upgrade any time without contract reset—ideal for expanding hospitals or franchise gyms.

• Compliance first. ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus and DSPT alignment give IT teams peace of mind.

• Dedicated UK support. Speak to real engineers, not scripts.

• Proven investment. Read how our £21 million network expansion is focused on healthcare-ready regions.

Switching your gym, care home or hospital to Hyperoptic is simple

1. Check your address. Use the postcode tool above for availability.

2. Pick a package. Our team tailors speeds and hardware to your clinical or fitness workflow.

3. Schedule installation. Most FTTP installs take under 60 minutes; Ethernet is planned at a convenient out-of-hours slot.

4. Seamless migration. We handle number porting, fail-over setup and staff onboarding—with zero downtime.

Ready to upgrade your healthcare connectivity?

Enter your postcode here to see if full fibre is already live at your facility.

Prefer a quick call? Dial 0333 332 1111 to speak with our healthcare specialists, or contact us online.