December 05, 2025

The UK’s great festive switch-on is almost here. New research from Hyperoptic reveals that the first weekend of December is officially the nation’s favourite moment to put up the Christmas tree, with over a third (38%) of households decking the halls that weekend.

But while the baubles go up, broadband speeds across the country could be quietly going down.

With nearly 90% of people planning to connect a smartphone this Christmas, and more than three quarters relying on smart TVs and streaming devices, home Wi-Fi networks are about to face their busiest season yet. Over half of households also expect to power up games consoles and smart speakers - including brand-new Christmas gifts being unwrapped on the day.

Combine that with oversized trees, fairy lights, and festive furniture reshuffles, and it’s no surprise many homes accidentally block, weaken or distort their Wi-Fi signal.

As families gear up to stream Christmas films, video-call loved ones and unwrap new gadgets, Hyperoptic is urging households to think about where their router sits before the tinsel takes over.

Hyperoptic’s quick fixes for a stronger festive connection:

• Keep routers in sight - avoid hiding them behind trees, decorations or furniture.
• Go high - a shelf or raised surface beats the floor every time.
• Dodge electrical interference - microwaves, baby monitors and Bluetooth speakers can all disrupt signal strength.
• Think central - placing the router in the middle of the home helps deliver more even coverage for everyone online.

Lutfu Kitapci, CCO and ISP MD at Hyperoptic, said: “The festive period is when home Wi-Fi is pushed to the limit - the house is full, everyone’s online, and new devices are being connected all at once. Even small changes to your router placement can make a big difference. And with One Touch Switch making it easier than ever to upgrade, there’s still time to move to faster, more reliable broadband before Christmas. Whether you’re streaming festive favourites or connecting new gadgets, we want every household to stay seamlessly connected.”