As the world increasingly shifts towards being completely digital, the importance of reliable and fast internet connectivity has never been more important. From enabling remote work and online education to facilitating global communication and e-commerce, the Internet has become a linchpin of modern society. However, access to high-quality internet is not uniform, with significant disparities often existing between different regions, towns, and even neighbourhoods.

In this blog post, we turn our analytical lens towards East Sussex, a county in South East England, to explore the variations in internet usage across its various towns. Leveraging a rich dataset, we unravel the patterns and extremes in download speeds, upload speeds, and data usage. We will spotlight the top and bottom performers, shedding light on the digital divide within the region.

Join us on this data-driven journey as we decode the digital landscape of East Sussex, understanding what the numbers tell us and what they could mean for the residents of this picturesque English county.

Average Download Speed

The average download speed, measured in Megabits per second (Mbit/s), represents the speed at which data is downloaded from the internet to a user’s device. This metric is particularly significant as it impacts the overall internet experience. From streaming videos to downloading files and loading webpages, a higher download speed typically means a smoother, more seamless internet experience.

In our dataset, the places in East Sussex show a range in average download speed. The area of Langney, for example, has an average download speed of 44 Mbit/s, while Upperton boasts a higher average of 50 Mbit/s.

Average Data Usage

Data usage, measured in Gigabytes (GB), offers insights into the volume of data that users consume. This could be through various online activities such as streaming videos, browsing social media, or downloading files.

It’s interesting to observe that despite Langney having a lower average download speed, its average data usage is considerably high at 518 GB. Conversely, Meads, despite having a higher average download speed (47 Mbit/s), shows lower average data usage (274 GB).

Maximum Download Speed

The maximum download speed denotes the peak download speed that users in a certain area can achieve. This metric can be particularly important for users who require high-speed internet for activities such as online gaming or HD video streaming.

In our dataset, Foulride Green and Lower Willingdon lead with a maximum download speed of 93 Mbit/s, while Langney trails with a maximum of 71 Mbit/s.

Average and Maximum Upload Speed

Upload speed, the rate at which data is transferred from a user’s device to the internet is crucial for activities such as video conferencing, uploading large files to the cloud, or live streaming.

Among the places in our dataset, Foulride Green and Lower Willingdon also excel in terms of average upload speed (12 Mbit/s) and maximum upload speed (21 Mbit/s), indicating that these areas could potentially offer a superior internet experience for users with high upload demands.

Building on our previous analysis, let’s highlight the top 10 and bottom 10 towns in East Sussex for each of the key metrics. These extremes often tell compelling stories about the digital divide within the region.

Average Download Speed

Top 10

• Westdene: 163 Mbps
• Hangleton: 161 Mbps
• Hollingbury: 160 Mbps
• Patcham: 160 Mbps
• West Blatchington: 157 Mbps
• Bevendean: 155 Mbps
• East Moulsecoomb: 155 Mbps
• Moulsecomb: 155 Mbps
• North Moulsecoomb: 155 Mbps
• Coldean: 155 Mbps

Bottom 10

• Langney: 44 Mbps
• Meads: 47 Mbps
• Upperton: 50 Mbps
• Foulride Green: 51 Mbps
• Lower Willingdon: 51 Mbps
• Willingdon: 51 Mbps
• Hampden Park: 51 Mbps
• Downside: 52 Mbps
• Eastbourne: 52 Mbps
• Old Town: 52 Mbps

Average Data Usage

Top 10

• Hampden Park: 645 GB
• Harbour Heights: 630 GB
• Newhaven: 630 GB
• Piddinghoe: 630 GB
• Bevendean: 624 GB
• East Moulsecoomb: 624 GB
• Moulsecomb: 624 GB
• North Moulsecoomb: 624 GB
• Coldean: 606 GB
• Falmer: 606 GB

Bottom 10

• Meads: 274 GB
• Birling Gap: 279 GB
• East Dean: 279 GB
• Friston: 279 GB
• Forest Row: 348 GB
• Highgate: 348 GB
• Tompset’s Bank: 348 GB
• Wych Cross: 348 GB
• Ovingdean: 350 GB
• Rottingdean: 350 GB

Maximum Download Speed

Top 10

• Westdene: 691 Mbps
• Mile Oak: 674 Mbps
• Portslade Village: 674 Mbps
• Hollingbury: 662 Mbps
• Patcham: 662 Mbps
• Hangleton: 661 Mbps
• Woodingdean: 653 Mbps
• West Blatchington: 653 Mbps
• Bevendean: 627 Mbps
• East Moulsecoomb: 627 Mbps

Bottom 10

• Langney: 71 Mbps
• Roselands: 73 Mbps
• Meads: 76 Mbps
• Downside: 77 Mbps
• Eastbourne: 77 Mbps
• Old Town: 77 Mbps
• Upperton: 79 Mbps
• Hampden Park: 80 Mbps
• Foulride Green: 93 Mbps
• Lower Willingdon: 93 Mbps

Average Upload Speed

Top 10

• Harbour Heights: 34 Mbps
• Newhaven: 34 Mbps
• Piddinghoe: 34 Mbps
• Denton: 32 Mbps
• Mount Pleasant: 32 Mbps
• South Heighton: 32 Mbps
• Tarring Neville: 32 Mbps
• Black Rock: 31 Mbps
• Roedean: 31 Mbps
• Whitehawk: 31 Mbps

Bottom 10

• Langney: 11 Mbps
• Birling Gap: 11 Mbps
• East Dean: 11 Mbps
• Friston: 11 Mbps
• Meads: 12 Mbps
• Upperton: 12 Mbps
• Foulride Green: 12 Mbps
• Lower Willingdon: 12 Mbps
• Willingdon: 12 Mbps
• Alfriston: 12 Mbps

Maximum Upload Speed

Top 10

• Harbour Heights: 289 Mbps
• Newhaven: 289 Mbps
• Piddinghoe: 289 Mbps
• Denton: 219 Mbps
• Mount Pleasant: 219 Mbps
• South Heighton: 219 Mbps
• Tarring Neville: 219 Mbps
• Bishopstone: 201 Mbps
• East Blatchington: 201 Mbps
• Norton: 201 Mbps

Bottom 10

• Langney: 17 Mbps
• Meads: 18 Mbps
• Upperton: 19 Mbps
• Downside: 19 Mbps
• Eastbourne: 19 Mbps
• Old Town: 19 Mbps
• Roselands: 19 Mbps
• Hampden Park: 20 Mbps
• Alfriston: 20 Mbps
• Folkington: 20 Mbps

These figures underscore the significant disparities in internet usage and access across East Sussex. The top-performing areas, such as Westdene and Harbour Heights, show impressive speeds that can support high-demand activities such as streaming in 4K or online gaming. In contrast, areas like Langney and Meads struggle with considerably lower speeds, which may impede these types of activities.

Unravelling the reasons behind these differences could pave the way for improving internet services throughout the region. This could involve investments in infrastructure, particularly in the lower-performing areas, to ensure that all residents have access to high-quality, fast, and reliable internet connections.

Full Data

Conclusion

The dataset provides a fascinating glimpse into the state of internet usage across different areas in East Sussex. It highlights the fact that the quality of internet service, as represented by download and upload speeds, can vary significantly from one area to another. Moreover, it’s evident that higher download or upload speeds do not necessarily translate into higher data usage.

As we continue to progress in the digital age, it’s essential to understand these variations and work towards minimizing the digital divide, ensuring all residents have access to high-quality internet services. Future investigations might look into the reasons behind these disparities – factors such as infrastructure, population density, and service providers could all play a role.

Stay tuned for more insights into the digital landscape of East Sussex and beyond!