About your broadband speed
Broadband speed refers to the volume of data that can be transferred over a connection within one second. It is measure in Megabits per second (Mbps) or Gigabits per second (Gbps). 1 Gbps is equal to 1000 Mbps.
Download speed means the internet traffic travelling 'down' into your PC or phone from the service provider. Examples of this could be downloading a game or streaming a movie.
Upload speed is that of the data leaving your PC or phone back to the service provider. An example of this is uploading a video shot on your phone to a social media account.
Download speeds are the speeds referred to in many broadband advertisements. They are higher than the upload speed, which is not an issue for most users.
How much speed do I need?
Broadband contracts offering higher speeds cost more than those offering lower speeds, so it is important to consider how much speed you actually need.
If you are a light user living alone, whose use of the web doesn't extend beyond email, online shopping and perhaps an occasional video call, then a connection of 30Mbps might be sufficient.
For a family home with a couple of teenagers who are downloading games and streaming movies, then a much faster connection of 300Mbps or higher might be more appropriate.
Internet providers often offer a range of speed-capped services at different price points. The options will also be governed by the type of connections available to your premises.
Be aware that the speeds advertised in the headlines of an advertisement may be higher than those actually committed to in the small print.
Test your broadband speed
There are many websites that allow you to check the actual download and upload speeds you are currently getting. You do not need to download any software or sign up to special offers to run broadband speed tests.
Speed tests show the speeds you receive at the actual time of doing the test, so it's worth taking a few tests at different points during the day and evening as speeds will vary depending on the time of day, or day of the week.
Speed test tips
To get the most accurate check of your broadband speed, use a laptop or PC and:
- make sure that only the PC you are testing is accessing the internet
- do not use the PC for anything else while the test is running
- use a wired network cable connection from the PC to the router and not WiFi.
If you run a speed checker on your phone connected to your WiFi, the speed you measure is limited by the capability of your router (the device that transmits WiFi around your property) and your phone. This means you are unlikely to get a true reading of your incoming broadband speed.
