Your Wi-Fi May Slow Down This Week Due to ‘Phantom Devices’ Draining Your Connection
As school half-term holidays begin, many UK households are facing an unexpected challenge: slower Wi-Fi speeds. While children enjoy a break from school, the demand on home internet significantly increases, placing strain on routers and bandwidth.
Why Wi-Fi Speeds Are Slowing
A recent survey by Opinium reveals that 77% of parents have noticed their family’s online activity spike during school breaks. With more people streaming, gaming, and video calling, internet usage naturally rises. However, experts warn there’s another hidden culprit behind sluggish connections—so-called “phantom devices.”
Max Beckett, broadband expert at comparison site Uswitch, explains that simply having multiple smart gadgets connected—even if they aren’t actively used—can clog your Wi-Fi. These devices constantly communicate with your router in the background, consuming bandwidth and causing buffering issues.
New data shows the average household juggles 16 connected devices. Alarmingly, one in ten homes connects 30 or more devices simultaneously. This crowded network landscape can seriously degrade performance.
What Are These ‘Phantom Devices’?
Uswitch has identified the top 10 smart devices commonly found in homes that can slow down connections:
- Smart TVs
- Video doorbells
- Smart speakers
- Smart thermostats
- Smart plugs
- Smart washing machines
- Smart smoke alarms
- Smart fridges
- Robot vacuum cleaners
- Baby monitors
“These devices take up bandwidth even when you haven’t used them for days,” Beckett notes. “It’s easy to forget about older tablets or smart plugs still connected and draining your Wi-Fi.”
What Can You Do?
With 60% of Brits expressing frustration over their Wi-Fi speeds in recent months, Beckett advises households to perform a “digital spring clean.” He recommends:
- Disconnecting old or unused devices from your network.
- Turning off smart gadgets when they’re not needed.
- Regularly reviewing connected devices via your router’s management panel.
Taking these steps can free up bandwidth and improve your browsing, streaming, and gaming experiences—especially during busy periods like school holidays.
Other Money and Consumer Updates
Pensioners To Get New Tax Codes for Winter Fuel Payments
State pensioners who earn above £35,000 in 2025-26 will have their winter fuel payments reclaimed through updated tax codes. Those under 80 receive £200 and those over 80 get £300 by default; excess payments will be deducted gradually via their PAYE tax codes next tax year.
Unemployment Reaches Highest Level in Nearly Five Years
Official figures indicate the UK’s unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in December 2025, the highest since early 2021. This news impacted the pound, which briefly fell to an 11-day low against the US dollar and euro.
Discounts on Cinema Tickets for Healthcare and Education Workers
Jobs in healthcare and education now come with perks beyond the workplace: up to 40% off tickets and concessions at major UK cinema chains including Odeon, Cineworld, and Vue. Eligible workers can access deals through dedicated discount platforms.
Consumer Alert: Emergency Plumbing Charges
A reader’s story highlights the importance of scrutinizing service terms. After cancelling an emergency plumbing booking minutes later, she was still charged £270. The company explained a plumber had already been dispatched, making fees non-refundable under their terms—prompting a reminder to understand conditions before booking services.
For more tips on saving money and staying informed about consumer issues, subscribe to the Sky News Money newsletter and follow the Money blog for weekly updates.