Research by USWITCH finds that 4 out of 5 Brits are unaware that their Christmas decorations could interrupt their broadband signal in the home and affect Wifi speed.

Classic Christmas decorations such as fairy lights, tinsel and even the tree can all impact broadband signals in the home, leading to lower speeds and disruption to the streaming of movies and other digital content. However, the majority (89%) of Brits don’t consider their Wi-Fi at all when decorating their homes for the festive season.

Don’t let the baubles burst your bubble!

Richard Dowden, broadband expert at Uswitch.com comments:

“It’s surely not the festive season without streaming your favourite Christmas film, so it’s good to be aware of the impact a piece of tinsel or fairy lights can have on your broadband. 

“Pretty as they may be, the lights and tinsel could potentially slow down your connection speeds. You should keep them and other electronics such as lamps, speakers, TVs and monitors as far away from the router as possible.

“One-fifth of Brits are expecting to receive a Wi-Fi enabled gadget this Christmas, so now is the time to check that your connection is up to scratch and that nothing is in the way of your router. That way, you’ll be able to make the most of your new presents as soon as they’re unwrapped.”

Interior design expert Tara Slinger also adds her own advice on how to arrange festive decorations, commenting:

“People don’t need to sacrifice stylish Christmas decor for Wi-Fi, or vice versa – they can have both by just bearing in mind a few simple things. 

“Firstly, even tinsel can interfere with Wi-Fi speeds, so don’t cover your router in fairy lights and tinsel – try to blend it in amongst paper decorations or elf-sized cuteness.

Secondly, make sure the tree itself isn’t blocking your router. It’s easier to move a router than a tree – so no problem if you’ve already placed your tree in the way! 

Enjoy your home this festive season AND don’t miss out on good WiFi signal!”