Heathrow’s Connectivity Challenges Highlighted in Global Airport Study

Recent data from Ookla, the company behind Speedtest.net, has shown that London Heathrow Airport (LHR) struggles with internet connectivity when compared to other leading airports globally. The study analyzed data collected in the first quarter of 2025, comparing airport speeds against the US FCC’s broadband benchmark of 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload.

According to the study, only 21 out of 48 airports met or exceeded the benchmark for mobile broadband speeds, while just 12 out of 41 airports achieved similar standards with WiFi. Heathrow was the only UK airport to be included in this ranking, and it fell into the lower tier for both WiFi and mobile broadband.

Specifically, Heathrow’s public WiFi offered an average download speed of 63.24Mbps and upload speeds of 65.14Mbps, placing it in the lower half of the list. Mobile broadband speeds at Heathrow were even lower, with an average download speed of 60.25Mbps and a modest upload of 8Mbps. When considering only 5G, the download speed improved to approximately 90.1Mbps, though it still ranked in the bottom quarter.

The study suggests that mobile carriers might prioritize high-traffic sites like airports for upgrades, but even so, Heathrow’s connectivity issues raise concerns for travelers. The findings underscore the need for airports to invest more in enhancing their wireless infrastructure to meet passenger expectations.

Co