Communications Regulator Claims Christmas Lights Can Interfere with Wi-Fi

BORIS HORVAT/AFP/Getty Images
BORIS HORVAT/AFP/Getty Images
Charlie Nash

British communications regulator Ofcom warns that your Wi-Fi may be slowed down by Christmas lights this year, following the release of its new app that checks home broadband strengths and weaknesses.

The app reportedly checks wireless signals to monitor the data flow from your router to your phone, and how to fix it if a problem exists. The digital gadget was also released alongside research about Wi-Fi speeds in recent years.

In a statement made by Ofcom, your Wi-Fi signal could experience interference from devices such as Christmas lights, baby monitors, and microwaves.

The full “Connected Nations 2015” report can be accessed online and contains research including the fact that 27% of homes in the UK now have “superfast” broadband, 6% up from last year, and that 73% of premises can now receive 4G signal from three of the four major networks.

The report also listed problems and things that needed to be improved for the following year, including the fact that around 8% of UK homes were unable to reach speeds of more than 10Mbit/s.

Users on Twitter took the news as a good chance to crack jokes and mock the suggestion that fairy lights interfere with Wi-Fi signals, but it is still ultimately something that exists.

The news may warrant a few giggles around the Internet, but it is unlikely that people will be turning off their Christmas lights anytime soon in favour of a few seconds less loading time on YouTube.

Charlie Nash is a British libertarian writer, memeologist, and child prodigy. When he is not writing, he can usually be found chilling at the Korova Milk Bar, mingling with the elite of society. You can follow him on Twitter at @MrNashington.

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