How Gaming Routers, Smart TVs & Smart Fridges Battle for Your Bandwidth
In an age where almost every device in your home or business is “smart” and connected to the internet, it’s easy to forget that all of these gadgets are quietly competing behind the scenes for one thing = your bandwidth.
From gaming routers and smart TVs to even smart fridges, the battle for bandwidth is real. It’s not just a tech buzzword, this competition can directly affect your internet speed and stability.
The Rise of Smart Devices in the UK
According to Statista, the number of smart homes in the UK is expected to reach 34 million connected devices by the end of 2025, with smart appliances like fridges and washing machines leading the charge.
In 2023 alone, over 58% of UK households had at least one smart home device. Add to that an increase in remote working, 4K streaming, online gaming, and home security systems and you’ve got yourself a bandwidth battlefield.
Typical Bandwidth Usage Examples:
Here’s how some of these devices impact your connection:
Gamers are one of the biggest consumers of high-speed internet. A gaming router is designed to prioritise gaming traffic and reduce latency, but if it's not properly configured or co-existing with other devices, it can monopolise your entire bandwidth.
Online games such as Call of Duty, FIFA, or Fortnite rely on fast upload and download speeds, which means if someone is gaming in the next room while you're on a video call or streaming Netflix, you're likely to feel the lag.
Pro tip: Use Quality of Service (QoS) settings to balance how much bandwidth gaming gets compared to other needs.
The average UK household spends 3 hours and 47 minutes per day watching TV and video content (Ofcom, 2023), with a growing shift to platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer in 4K resolution. This places massive demand on your broadband, especially during peak viewing times.
A single stream of 4K Ultra HD can use up to 25 Mbps, and if multiple family members are watching or downloading at the same time, your network can quickly become overwhelmed.
Fun Fact: Smart TVs in UK households has risen considerably, with about 76% of households owning a Smart TV in 2024.
It might surprise you, but even smart appliances like fridges and dishwashers now connect to the internet. These devices often perform background updates, send usage data, or sync with home automation systems.
Individually, they don’t consume a lot of bandwidth, but when 20+ smart devices are connected (as is the case in many modern homes), the collective impact starts to show, especially on networks with limited capacity or outdated routers.
Bandwidth: Why It Matters
When multiple devices compete for bandwidth:
This isn’t just annoying it can be detrimental for remote workers, gamers, students, and even security systems relying on a stable connection.
How to Regain Control of Your Network
Here’s how to ensure your devices play nicely:
Final Thoughts
As smart living becomes the new norm with new devices being created constantly, understanding how each device affects your internet is key to maintaining a smooth internet experience and suitable/fast speeds. From streaming and gaming to simply opening your fridge door, every action contributes to your bandwidth load.
The battle for bandwidth isn’t going away but with the right setup and tools, you can make sure everyone and everything gets their fair share.
Looking for further advise? Contact Vfast, and our team can recommend the best solutions to make your network smarter, faster, and future-ready on 0330 324 0324/sales@vfast.co.uk .