Best Broadband for Working From Home
Essential guide to choosing reliable broadband that won't let you down during important video calls, cloud work, and remote collaboration. Upload speed and reliability matter more than you think.
Updated: January 2026
Contents
Why Working From Home Changes Everything
Remote work puts completely different demands on your broadband compared to casual home internet use. While streaming Netflix requires good download speeds, professional remote work is heavily dependent on upload speed and connection reliability.
Every video call you join sends your video and audio upstream to the meeting server. When you're uploading files to SharePoint, sending emails with large attachments, or backing up to the cloud, you're using upload bandwidth. Most UK broadband packages have asymmetric speeds—high download, much lower upload—which can bottleneck remote work.
Traditional ADSL broadband might offer 10-20 Mbps download speeds, but typically provides just 1-2 Mbps upload. This is completely inadequate for modern remote work. You need at least 10 Mbps upload for HD video calls, and 20+ Mbps if multiple people work from home.
Key Insight:
A 67 Mbps FTTC connection with 20 Mbps upload will serve remote work better than a 900 Mbps FTTP connection that's unreliable. For WFH, reliability and upload speed matter more than peak download speed.
Connection Types for Remote Work
Upload speed is critical for WFH. Here's how different connection types compare.
Full Fibre (FTTP)
Direct fibre to your home offers the most reliable connection with excellent upload speeds (typically 30-100+ Mbps). Best choice for professional remote work.
Cable (Virgin Media)
Very fast and reliable with good upload speeds. Gig1 offers 52 Mbps upload. Great for demanding remote work with multiple video calls.
Fibre to Cabinet (FTTC)
Standard fibre broadband. Upload speeds typically 10-20 Mbps. Works for basic WFH but can struggle with multiple simultaneous video calls.
ADSL
Old copper technology with very low upload speeds (1-2 Mbps). Insufficient for video calls and modern remote work requirements.
Video Conferencing Speed Requirements
Video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet all require both download and upload bandwidth. Here's what each popular platform recommends:
| Platform | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom HD (1-to-1) | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| Zoom HD (Group 3+) | 4 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| Microsoft Teams HD | 4 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| Google Meet HD | 3.2 Mbps | 3.2 Mbps |
| Zoom 1080p HD | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
Important Note:
These are minimum requirements per device. If two people are on video calls simultaneously, double these figures. Always add 50% buffer for reliable performance and to account for VPN overhead.
Speed Requirements by Work Activity
- Email and Web Browsing: 5-10 Mbps sufficient
- Cloud Applications (Office 365, Google Workspace): 10-25 Mbps recommended
- Large File Uploads (Dropbox, OneDrive): 20+ Mbps upload for comfortable use
- Remote Desktop/VDI: 15-25 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up minimum
- Downloading Large Files/Software: 50+ Mbps for productivity
Speeds for Multiple Remote Workers
Households with multiple people working from home need significantly more bandwidth.
Best Broadband Providers for Remote Work
These providers offer excellent upload speeds, reliability, and features suited to remote workers.
EE Full Fibre 150
Includes 4G/5G backup so you stay connected even if broadband fails. Perfect for critical work situations.
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BT Full Fibre 300
Excellent reliability with 50 Mbps upload. Smart Hub 2 with strong WiFi for home office. Stay Fast Guarantee.
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Sky Full Fibre 500
Fast speeds with 75 Mbps upload. Great for households with multiple remote workers. Reliable infrastructure.
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Virgin Media M350
Fast cable broadband with 36 Mbps upload. Hub 5 router with excellent WiFi coverage. Reliable for WFH.
View DetailsOptimizing Your Home Network for WFH
- Use Ethernet for Your Work Computer: WiFi can drop during critical moments. Wired is reliable.
- Position Router Centrally: Ensure good WiFi coverage throughout your home office area.
- Enable QoS (Quality of Service): Prioritize work traffic over streaming and downloads.
- Use 5GHz Band for Work: Less interference than 2.4GHz. Use 2.4GHz for IoT devices.
- Have a Backup Plan: Mobile hotspot or 4G/5G backup for critical work situations.
VPN Impact on Speed
Most companies require VPN connections for remote work. However, VPNs typically reduce speeds by 20-50% depending on the VPN provider, server location, and encryption strength.
What this means: If you have a 50 Mbps connection and your VPN reduces speeds by 40%, you're working with just 30 Mbps. Factor this into your speed requirements.
Solution: If your work requires 50 Mbps, consider getting a 100 Mbps package. Some VPNs offer "split tunneling" where only work traffic goes through the VPN.
Backup Connection for Critical Work
No broadband connection is 100% reliable. If you have critical work that cannot be interrupted, having a backup connection is essential professional insurance.
- •EE Broadband with 4G/5G Backup: Automatically switches if broadband fails
- •Mobile Hotspot: Keep a smartphone with generous data (50GB+) as emergency backup
- •4G/5G Home Broadband: Vodafone, Three, EE offer 5G home broadband
Frequently Asked Questions
What speed do I need for working from home?
For one person: minimum 50 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload. Recommended 100 Mbps download, 20+ Mbps upload for comfortable use with video calls, cloud apps, and file uploads. Multiple remote workers need 150-300 Mbps download and 30-50 Mbps upload.
Why does my video call quality drop during meetings?
Usually caused by insufficient upload bandwidth, WiFi interference, or other household members using bandwidth. Test your upload speed (should be 5+ Mbps minimum), switch to Ethernet connection, and ensure others aren't streaming or downloading during calls.
Is FTTC enough for working from home?
FTTC (typically 67 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload) is adequate for single remote workers with light-moderate usage. However, FTTP is recommended for households with multiple workers or heavy video call usage.
Do I need business broadband for working from home?
Most remote employees don't need business broadband. Consumer packages from BT, Sky, Virgin Media, or EE are sufficient. Business broadband offers faster fault repair and guaranteed SLAs, worthwhile for self-employed professionals.
How much does a VPN slow down my connection?
VPNs typically reduce speeds by 20-50% depending on the service, server location, and encryption protocol. Modern VPNs using WireGuard protocol have minimal impact (10-20%). Factor this into your speed requirements.
Final Recommendations
For reliable remote work, prioritize connection stability and upload speedover maximum download speed. A full fibre (FTTP) connection with at least 100-150 Mbps download and 20-30 Mbps upload provides an excellent foundation.
Single remote workers: BT Full Fibre 150, Sky Full Fibre 150, or EE Full Fibre 150 with mobile backup are all excellent choices.
Multiple remote workers: Consider BT Full Fibre 300 (300/50 Mbps), Sky Full Fibre 500 (500/75 Mbps), or Virgin Media M500 for adequate bandwidth.