Research to mark the 25th anniversary of the first UK home broadband connection has found that habits such as online shopping, gaming and TV depend on where people live. Openreach said its data suggested that the city where the average family spends the most time online is Sheffield, with a third saying they spend more than five hours online a day compared to 11% in Brighton, the city with the lowest overall time online.
The busiest hour of the day for internet usage in 2025 is between 8-9pm, followed by 9-10pm and then 7-8pm. And the highest peak of the year so far was on 14 January at 9pm – when a major download coincided with four live Premier League fixtures on streaming services.
The survey also found that almost two thirds of people spend time online between 11pm and 6am – with YouTube (19%) emerging as the most common internet usage during these times, followed by internet shopping (17%). Only a third (34%) of UK adults do not engage with any online activities during off-peak hours.
Manchester and London were the cities in which people are most likely to use their phones between 11pm and 6am, said Openreach. The research coincides with the 25th anniversary of the first UK home broadband connection – which was installed in Basildon, Essex in April 2000.
It revealed that checking emails was the most common online activity for UK adults, with 66% placing this in their “top five most common online activities” outside of work. Katie Milligan, deputy chief executive of Openreach, said: “It’s fascinating to see how different parts of the UK are embracing the online world and adapting to it in unique ways.
“At the same time, it’s encouraging that many recognise the importance of taking time away from devices and digital connectivity.” The survey was conducted among 2,000 consumers.
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