Broadband Speed Guide
Understanding Mbps, comparing speed tiers, and finding what you actually need for your household. Don't overpay for speeds you won't use—or suffer with too little bandwidth.
What is Mbps?
Mbps stands for "Megabits per second" – it's the standard measurement for internet speed. The higher the Mbps, the faster data can be transferred between your device and the internet.
It's important to understand that Mbps (Megabits per second) is different from MB/s (Megabytes per second) that you see in download managers. There are 8 bits in a byte, so a 100 Mbps connection provides actual download speeds of about 12.5 MB/s.
Download Speed
How quickly data comes TO your device from the internet. Important for streaming video, browsing websites, downloading files, and loading games.
Upload Speed
How quickly data goes FROM your device to the internet. Critical for video calls, uploading files to cloud storage, sending emails with attachments, and streaming to Twitch/YouTube.
Important:
Most UK broadband packages advertise download speed prominently but have much lower upload speeds. For example, a "67 Mbps" FTTC connection typically provides 67 Mbps download but only 20 Mbps upload. If you work from home with video calls, upload speed is just as important as download speed.
UK Broadband Speed Tiers Explained
UK broadband comes in four main speed tiers, each suited to different household sizes and usage patterns.
Standard Broadband (ADSL)
10-30 Mbps
Upload: 1-2 Mbps
✓ Good for:
- •1-2 light users
- •Basic browsing & email
- •SD video streaming
- •Social media
✗ May struggle with:
- •Multiple devices
- •HD/4K streaming
- •Large downloads
- •Video calls
Superfast Fibre (FTTC)
30-80 Mbps
Upload: 10-20 Mbps
✓ Good for:
- •2-3 users
- •HD streaming
- •Video calls
- •Casual gaming
- •Working from home
✗ May struggle with:
- •Large households (5+ people)
- •Competitive gaming
- •4K streaming on multiple devices
Ultrafast Fibre
100-300 Mbps
Upload: 20-50 Mbps
✓ Good for:
- •4-6 users
- •Multiple 4K streams
- •Working from home
- •Online gaming
- •Large downloads
✗ May struggle with:
- •Very large households
- •Professional content creation with huge files
Gigabit Fibre
500-1000+ Mbps
Upload: 50-1000 Mbps
✓ Good for:
- •6+ users
- •Multiple simultaneous 4K/8K streams
- •Competitive gaming
- •Content creators
- •Large file transfers
✗ May struggle with:
- •Nothing - handles everything
Speed Requirements by Activity
How much speed do you need for different online activities? Here are the minimum recommended speeds per device.
Important Note:
These are minimum speeds per device doing each activity. If you have 3 people streaming HD video simultaneously (5 Mbps each), you need at least 15 Mbps. Always add a buffer—we recommend getting 50-100% more than your calculated minimum for comfortable, reliable performance.
Recommended Speeds by Household
Not sure what speed you need? Find your household size and usage pattern below.
1-2 People
Email, browsing, occasional SD/HD streaming
Recommended
30-50 Mbps
1-2 People
Regular HD streaming, video calls, some gaming
Recommended
50-100 Mbps
3-4 People
Multiple HD streams, gaming, working from home
Recommended
100-150 Mbps
3-4 People
4K streaming, competitive gaming, multiple video calls
Recommended
150-300 Mbps
5+ People
Multiple devices, streaming, gaming, working
Recommended
200-350 Mbps
5+ People
Multiple 4K streams, gaming, WFH, content creation
Recommended
500+ Mbps
Real-World Download Times
How long does it actually take to download files at different speeds?
1GB file (e.g., SD movie)
30 Mbps
~4.5 minutes
100 Mbps
~1.5 minutes
500 Mbps
~17 seconds
1000 Mbps
~8 seconds
50GB file (e.g., AAA game)
30 Mbps
~3.7 hours
100 Mbps
~1.1 hours
500 Mbps
~13 minutes
1000 Mbps
~7 minutes
100GB file (e.g., COD/Warzone)
30 Mbps
~7.4 hours
100 Mbps
~2.2 hours
500 Mbps
~27 minutes
1000 Mbps
~13 minutes
Real-World Impact:
Modern AAA games are often 50-150GB. On a 30 Mbps connection, downloading Call of Duty (100GB) takes over 7 hours. On a 500 Mbps connection, under 30 minutes. If you regularly download large games or files, faster speeds dramatically improve quality of life.
Common Speed Myths Debunked
Don't fall for these common misconceptions about broadband speed.
Myth: "I need the fastest speed available"
Reality: Most households don't need gigabit speeds. 100-300 Mbps is sufficient for most families. Reliability and upload speed often matter more than maximum download speed.
Myth: "My 100 Mbps connection means 100 MB/s downloads"
Reality: Mbps (Megabits per second) ≠ MB/s (Megabytes per second). Divide Mbps by 8 to get MB/s. So 100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s actual download speed in browsers.
Myth: "Faster broadband means better gaming"
Reality: Gaming needs low latency (ping), not necessarily high speed. A 50 Mbps full fibre connection with 10ms ping beats a 500 Mbps ADSL connection with 50ms ping every time.
Myth: "Upload speed doesn't matter"
Reality: Upload speed is critical for video calls, cloud backups, and uploading files. Many standard packages have poor upload speeds that bottleneck remote work.
Myth: "I'm paying for 500 Mbps so I should get exactly that"
Reality: Advertised speeds are 'up to' maximums. Actual speeds vary based on time of day, network congestion, WiFi vs Ethernet, and distance from equipment.
What Affects Your Actual Speed?
Connection Type
Ethernet (wired) provides full speeds and stability. WiFi is convenient but typically 20-50% slower and more variable. Always use Ethernet for work computers and gaming PCs when possible.
Time of Day
Peak hours (6pm-11pm) often see slower speeds due to network congestion. Full fibre (FTTP) handles congestion better than FTTC or ADSL. This is why reliability matters as much as maximum speed.
Distance & Equipment
For FTTC/ADSL, distance from street cabinet affects speeds dramatically. Full fibre (FTTP) is unaffected by distance. Old routers and devices with outdated WiFi standards can also bottleneck your connection.
Simultaneous Users
Each device sharing your connection reduces available bandwidth. A 100 Mbps connection split between 5 devices doing different activities means each gets less than 20 Mbps on average. Plan for your household's peak usage.
Our Expert Recommendation
For most UK households with 3-4 people, we recommend packages offering 100-150 Mbps download and at least 20 Mbps upload. This provides comfortable headroom for multiple devices streaming HD/4K, gaming, video calling, and working from home simultaneously.
If you have a large household (5+ people), multiple people working from home with video calls, or are a serious gamer/content creator, consider packages offering 300-500 Mbpswith 40+ Mbps upload.
Don't overpay for gigabit speeds unless you have specific needs (huge file transfers, professional content creation, or 6+ heavy users). For most people, 150-300 Mbps hits the sweet spot of performance and value.
Want to Test Your Current Speed?
Use a speed test tool like Ookla Speedtest or Fast.com to check your current download and upload speeds. Compare them to what you're paying for—if you're getting less than 80% of advertised speeds consistently, contact your ISP.