Help for residents

A guide to checking your current connectivity, and the availability of better broadband for your home

It can be difficult to understand the quality and speed of the broadband you have at home, as well as how to improve it.

With lots of broadband providers offering seemingly similar deals and speed guarantees we hope to be able to help you navigate your way to better broadband by laying out a step-by-step process that can be taken by anyone at home as well as deciphering some of the industry jargon to make it easier to understand what you’re actually getting.

Ofcom also offer a simple guide to understanding broadband which can be found here.

1. Firstly, it’s important to understand what your current level of connectivity is. If you have WiFi at home, then you should be able to check the speed and quality of your connection on your account pages on your provider’s website or app.

Alternatively, consumer services such as Which?, USwitch, Compare the Market, Broadband Genie, Compare Fibre and Broadband.co.uk , and many more offer speed checkers to help you understand your current service. A quick internet search for ‘broadband speed checker’ will reveal a host of services you can use. Westminster City Council does not endorse any particular service.

Different download speeds mean you are able to do different things, higher download speeds mean that you will be able stream, game, work, and learn online with a faster and smoother experience – briefly they are:

• 10Mbps – 10Mbps is the minimum broadband speed Ofcom allow broadband providers to offer, if your speed is below this you can benefit from the Universal Service Obligation (USO) which requires your provider to improve your connectivity to meet this standard within 30 days.

With 10Mbps multiple users should be able to browse the internet, stream tv, movies, or games at the same time.

• 30Mbps+ – This is classified as ‘Superfast’ broadband, to stream 4K or UHD videos you need at least 25Mbps so this offers
• 300Mbps+ - This is ‘Ultrafast’ and offers a faster, smoother user experience to higher numbers of users at the same time, ideal for large families or house shares who use the internet regularly at the same time.
• 1Gb+ - ‘Gigabit-capable’ broadband is usually full fibre or FTTP (fibre to the property), this essentially means that the fibre connectivity is delivered straight to your home without going through a cabinet, therefore it offers the fastest and most reliable broadband service available.

2. Once you know what your current broadband service is, you can check whether there are better options available to you. The best way to do this is to use the Ofcom broadband and mobile checker, you simply need to enter your postcode and it will tell you what is available in your area.

If there is better service available it’s time to revisit the comparison sites to see what broadband providers operate in your area, you can also set your preferences on these sites to show the cheapest or best available – make sure any package you choose offers whatever speed you think is most suitable for your property.

It’s also important to note here that if you are in a contract with your current provider and wish to leave early, you may incur an early exit fee. Speak to your provider to see what your options are.

3. If there is currently no faster broadband available in your area, but you are aware of broadband providers delivering gigabit-capable networks nearby, you can register your interest with them directly. This helps them become aware of how much demand there is in an area

Some active broadband providers in Westminster include; Openreach, Virgin Media, Community Fibre, G.Network, and Hyperoptic – others will be available to so make sure you shop around.

Tip – to make sure broadband providers are aware that there is a need or demand for better broadband in your area, ask your neighbours to register their interest too!

4. If you have exhausted your options and are still experiencing poor connectivity then don’t hesitate to fill out our connectivity enquiry form or get in touch with the Digital Place Team.

Once we are aware of any issues in your area we can help you find out what solutions are available, or help you to convey demand in your area to broadband providers, we may even be able to direct toward relevant council or partner initiatives to improve your connectivity. We will do our best to help get you connected to better broadband.

Connect to the internet

Getting connected to the internet is the first essential step to opening up a whole world of digital tools and support. While it might feel daunting, it doesn’t have to be. An easy first step is to check whether you qualify for free broadband using the link below

• broadband availability checker 

Face-to-face help and support

We understand that sometimes the easiest thing is to speak to someone face-to-face and have them guide you through the issue. That’s why we provide a whole range of in-person advice. Use the links below to find the one that works best for you.

• libraries
• Westminster Adult Education Services – community learning workshops
• Westminster Adult Education Service – courses 

Choosing a device

Choosing the right device can have a real impact on how easy it is to access the services and information you need. Have a think about how and where you are going to go online before diving in and investing in a device.

There are four main types of devices available: 

1. Laptop - great for everyday use and entertainment, bulkier to carry around. 
2. Desktop - great for all work, stationary fixed device. 
3. Tablet - useful for browsing the internet and entertainment purposes. The small screen could make some tasks more time consuming, such as writing long emails, great for beginners.
4. Mobile phone - portable, use on the go. The small screen could make some tasks more time consuming e.g. writing long emails, great for beginners.

What to consider when choosing a device

• what you’ll use your device for
• if you’ll need to use it in different places
• how often you’ll use it
• screen size

Useful resources

• help with choosing a device that is right for you - guide, Learn My Way
• help with devices your school has provided through the Department for Education scheme - guide, UK Government
• learn about computer hardware - CK Learn
• picking the best device for you - Leeds and Croydon digital inclusion toolkit

How to get a broadband connection

There are many internet service providers who can provide you access to the internet via broadband.

Depending on where you live, your internet service providers and speed may vary. Please see below for some useful resources that may help you connect to the internet.

You can also:

• find out more about getting online and get help from your local Westminster Digital Ambassadors
• find out if you qualify for free broadband to help home schooling

Useful resources

• learn about what broadband is and the benefits of fast broadband - guide for the different types of broadband available, Ofcom 
• broadband and mobile phone coverage checker - Ofcom 
• check if you can get faster fibre broadband - Openreach

Learning basic digital skills

There are plenty of places online where you can learn basic digital skills.

You may need to register with an email address to access some of these courses.

Here’s how you can get started:

• introduction to email - course, Make It Click
• learn how get started with online basics - course, Learn My Way
• beginners advice and courses on getting the started with technology - BT Skills for Tomorrow
• using your computer or device - course, Learn My Way

Accessing job opportunities online

The internet gives you quick access to details about potential job opportunities. You can also use digital tools to help you create an application to apply for jobs online. 

If you're a Westminster resident, Westminster Employment Service can support you with re-training, upskilling, apprenticeships, and new jobs.

Resources to help you use the internet to get a job

• a tool to help you work out what career you may enjoy working in - guide, National Career Service 
• learn how to search and apply for jobs online - course, Learn My Way 
• learn how to prepare for a job interview - course, Learn My Way 
• learn how to use office programs to write CVs, make budgets and present your ideas to others - course, Learn My Way 
• learn how to work with spreadsheets - video, Lloyds Bank Academy 

Resources to help you retrain, learn a new skill, or change jobs

• learn new skills or change jobs - courses, National Career Service 
• Microsoft’s Digital Skills Hub – Digital skills, Microsoft 

There are a number of different ways you can connect online with friends and family.

You can also use the internet to shop online and connect with services such as online banking, to save time and effort.

Find out how to use the internet to connect to people and services

There are many benefits to getting online, however it can potentially come with the risk of scams and fraud.

You can stay safe online by knowing what to look out for, and what to do if you suspect a scam.

Find out how to stay safe online

Learning to do more online

There are a range of free articles, online courses, and live webinars you can access to help you improve your digital skills.

Useful resources

• Learn My Way - free courses for you to learn digital skills to stay safe and connected
• BT Skills for Tomorrow - free courses and webinars to help you get the most out of technology
• Make it click - explore subjects and find a learning resource that interests you
• Lloyds Bank Academy - free learning to boost your skills and build you confidence
• Google Digital Garage - online courses and webinars to help you in your career

Parents with young children can access educational and entertainment content from a number of safe online resources.

Useful resources

• BBC Bitsize - free courses, videos and activities for children and teenagers
• BT Skills for Tomorrow - activities for children
• YouTube Kids - discover videos and entertainment for children
• UK Safer Internet Centre - online safety advice and resources for young people and children
• BBC Own It - advice for kids, parents and teachers about how to navigate social media and make sure you are staying safe

The internet can be really useful in improving your language skills. There are many websites and apps focused on providing help in this area. A good first step would be to explore the support options we provide. You can find out more about our adult education programmes below.

Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) offers inclusive, high quality adult education programmes in basic skills, English language, community and family learning.

Find out more about English courses provided by WAES

Westminster Adult Education Service

Westminster Adult Education Service is working with Westminster City Council and RBKC libraries to offers a range of free digital courses from beginner to advanced. You can build on your digital skills for your day-to-day life, work, and career. They run courses, workshops, and events all year, so make sure to stay up to date. 

Find out more on the WAES website

or get in touch at:

• email: [email protected]
• phone: 020 7297 7297 and mention ‘Community Learning’ 

You can also visit a WAES centre or your local library and mention ‘WAES Community Learning’.

Community Fibre Digital Ambassadors

Community Fibre Digital Ambassadors provide peer-to-peer and tailored support to residents in their local areas.  

Find out more on the Community Fibre Digital Ambassadors pages

or get in touch at:

• email: [email protected]  

Westminster libraries

Our libraries are open to provide:  

• browsing
• answering enquiries
• limited study space
• access to computers, which can now be booked in advance
• reservations, which are free of charge for the time being

Find out more about our libraries

Getting online gives you access to so many different tools that can help with everything from video calls to consumer advice and shopping. It could be a good idea to start exploring the tools below as they are every popular with online users. 

• WhatsApp – messaging, audio, and video calling 
• Facebook - social media platform
• Instagram - visual social media platform
• YouTube - video entertainment platform
• Microsoft Outlook - email provider 

To further your career perspectives and opportunities have a look at our top recommended digital skills online training courses available for all residents.

• Google Career certificate course
• Microsoft Digital skills course
• Free digital marketing and web development skills bootcamp 
• Amazon web services - This is a free full-time classroom-based training programme provided by Amazon, in order to help prepare individuals for entry-level positions within the digital world. For more information, contact Joseph Ikusika via email [email protected]