A third (33%) will use the internet to speak to loved ones in other locations through services such as Skype and WhatsApp, while a fifth (22%) plan on using apps to play family games such as Heads Up and Trivial Pursuit.

A quarter will download or stream Christmas Day TV and festive films, according to the survey by Post Office Broadband.

One in five (20%) will be hunting out an early January sale online and 39% will be sharing snippets of Christmas Day on social media.

The survey found that three in ten (30%) people are planning to buy an internet- enabled device as a Christmas gift this year, most commonly a tablet (10%), smartphone (9%) or laptop (9%).

As a result, those planning to be online on 25 December anticipate an additional two devices will be connected to their home WiFi, with 12% expecting an extra five devices being connected.

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Meredith Sharples, director at Post Office Broadband, said: “The internet is enabling Christmas in so many ways, from festive family entertainment, inspiring new twists on traditional recipes and of course bringing friends and families in other locations closer together.

“It’s crucial that people feel confident they have a reliable internet connection and can carry out all their festive activities.”

Post Office Broadband Wifi Christmas Checklist:

Check your router’s location– make sure your router is kept away from thick walls and windows. If your router is by a shared wall your neighbour’s broadband can interfere with yours.

Watch out for signal interference – keep your router away from electrical devices, even unexpected devices & appliances can affect your connection. Baby monitors and Christmas lights can interfere with your signal, and even water in fish tanks can absorb WiFi signal, making it weaker

Check your privacy settings – if you don’t have password protection anyone could use your Wi-Fi and slow your connection down.

Remain up-to-date – Updating your browser to a new provider or getting the latest version can really improve your download speed

Get up-to-speed – if several devices use your broadband at once they can slow your connection. Try switching off any devices that don’t need to be used. However, if you have a big household with members who stream, download and game, especially in the evenings, you may just need higher speed.