Broadband Speed Guide: What Speed Do You Actually Need?
A comprehensive guide to understanding broadband speeds and determining exactly what you need for your household. Cut through the marketing jargon and find the right speed tier for your usage.
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With broadband providers advertising everything from 36 Mbps to 2,200 Mbps, it's easy to feel confused about what speed you actually need. The truth is, most households don't need the fastest tier available - but some definitely benefit from ultrafast connections.
This guide explains broadband speeds in plain English, helps you understand what different activities require, and gives honest recommendations based on your household size and usage patterns. We'll also cover how to test your current speed and improve it if needed.
Understanding Broadband Speeds
What Does Mbps Mean?
Mbps stands for Megabits per second - it measures how quickly data transfers over your connection. Higher Mbps means faster downloads, quicker page loads, and smoother streaming.
Quick Reference: Speed Benchmarks
- 10-30 Mbps: Basic broadband - browsing, email, SD streaming
- 30-70 Mbps: Standard fibre - HD streaming, light gaming, small households
- 100-300 Mbps: Fast fibre - 4K streaming, gaming, medium households
- 300-500 Mbps: Ultrafast - heavy usage, large households
- 500+ Mbps: Gigabit-class - future-proof, power users
Download vs Upload Speed
Download speed is what you use most - streaming video, loading websites, downloading files. This is the number providers usually advertise.
Upload speed is for sending data - video calls, uploading to cloud storage, streaming on Twitch. It's typically much slower than download on most connections.
When Upload Speed Matters
- Video conferencing (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet)
- Live streaming on Twitch or YouTube
- Backing up large files to cloud storage
- Sharing large video/photo files
What Speed Do You Need?
The honest answer for most UK households: 30-100 Mbps is plenty. The average UK home uses 4-5 devices at peak times, and even with multiple HD streams, you won't max out a 70 Mbps connection.
However, larger households, gamers, remote workers, and future-proofers may benefit from faster tiers. Here's our recommendation framework:
Speed Requirements by Activity
Streaming Video
- SD (480p): 3 Mbps per stream
- HD (1080p): 5-8 Mbps per stream
- 4K Ultra HD: 25 Mbps per stream
- 8K (future): ~50 Mbps per stream
A family with 3 simultaneous 4K streams needs 75 Mbps for Netflix alone.
Online Gaming
- Gaming (gameplay): 3-25 Mbps
- Game downloads: Higher = faster
- Streaming while gaming: +15-30 Mbps
Online gaming itself needs little bandwidth - latency matters more. Fast speeds help with game downloads and updates.
Video Calls
- 1:1 call (HD): 3 Mbps down/up
- Group call: 5 Mbps down/up
- Screen sharing: +2-3 Mbps
Upload speed matters equally to download for video calls. Look for at least 10 Mbps upload if you WFH regularly.
Working From Home
- Email/browsing: 5-10 Mbps
- Cloud apps: 10-25 Mbps
- Large file transfers: 50+ Mbps ideal
Multiple people working from home while kids stream can quickly add up. Consider 150+ Mbps for WFH households.
Speed Recommendations by Household
1-2 People
Singles or couples with typical usage rarely need more than basic fibre. A 60-70 Mbps connection handles streaming, browsing, and occasional video calls comfortably. Save money with entry-level fibre packages.
3-4 People (Family)
Families with children often have multiple devices streaming, gaming, and doing homework simultaneously. 100-150 Mbps handles this well; 200-300 Mbps provides comfortable headroom. Consider higher if anyone works from home.
5+ People (Large Household)
Large families, shared houses, or households with multiple remote workers benefit from ultrafast speeds. 300-500 Mbps ensures everyone has plenty of bandwidth even at peak times. Gigabit provides future-proofing.
Types of Broadband Speed
Standard Broadband (ADSL)
Traditional broadband over copper phone lines. Maximum speeds around 10-17 Mbps. Being phased out but still available in some areas. Only choose this if no fibre is available.
Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC)
The most common UK broadband type. Fibre runs to a street cabinet, then copper to your home. Speeds typically 30-80 Mbps. Marketed as "fibre broadband" by most providers.
Full Fibre (FTTP)
Fibre optic cables run directly to your home. Speeds from 100 Mbps to 2+ Gbps. More reliable, symmetrical upload speeds possible. Availability expanding rapidly across the UK.
Virgin Media Cable
Coaxial cable network offering speeds from 100 Mbps to 2.2 Gbps. Good speeds but upload typically slower than download. Available to about 55% of UK homes.
Testing Your Current Speed
To check if you're getting what you're paying for, run a speed test:
- Connect via Ethernet cable (WiFi speeds vary)
- Close other programs using internet
- Use a reputable speed test (Speedtest.net, Fast.com, or your provider's tool)
- Run multiple tests at different times
- Compare to your provider's "average speed" not maximum
What If Your Speed Is Low?
If you're consistently getting less than 80% of your package's advertised average speed, contact your provider. Under Ofcom rules, providers must tell you the minimum speed you should expect and fix issues if speeds fall below this threshold.
How to Improve Your Speed
Quick Fixes
- Restart your router (fixes many issues)
- Move router to central location
- Use 5GHz WiFi band when close to router
- Use Ethernet cable for devices that support it
- Check for firmware updates
Longer-Term Solutions
- Upgrade to a modern WiFi 6 router
- Install a mesh WiFi system for coverage
- Switch to a faster broadband package
- Upgrade to full fibre if available
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 100 Mbps fast enough for most people?
Yes, for most households 100 Mbps is more than sufficient. It can handle 4 simultaneous 4K streams with bandwidth to spare. Unless you have very heavy usage or many users, 100 Mbps provides excellent performance at a reasonable price.
Do I need gigabit broadband?
Probably not, unless you frequently download very large files or want maximum future-proofing. Most households don't use more than 200-300 Mbps even at peak times. Gigabit is nice to have but rarely necessary.
Why is my WiFi slower than my package speed?
WiFi speeds are always slower than wired speeds due to interference, distance, and technology limitations. Expect 50-80% of your wired speed over WiFi. For full speed, use an Ethernet cable.
Does upload speed matter for gaming?
Not really for playing games - most games use minimal upload bandwidth. However, if you stream your gameplay on Twitch or YouTube, you'll want at least 10-15 Mbps upload for good quality streams.