4 Ways to Know What Broadband Speed You Need

The appropriate broadband speed should be chosen with care to guarantee seamless internet access, be it at home or work. The needed speed is determined based on the number of users, their online activities, and even certain specific business practices.

Lauren Davies of bOnline comments: “Ultimately, having the fastest broadband, be it full fibre broadband or something else, is always an advantage and always something that businesses strive for and realise they need more than ever. Add to that the fact that slow internet can reduce productivity and having the fastest and most efficient internet has never been more important.”

What is The Best Broadband?

The recommended broadband is largely dependent on the usage and the existing infrastructure within your region. For heavy usage which involves 4K streaming, gaming, and other business activities, fibre broadband is the most appropriate, as it is the quickest and most reliable option.

However, in rural parts of the country, ADSL or mobile broadband might be the best solution, but the speeds are relatively slower. Your budget, location, and the requirements determine the best option.

What is a Good Broadband Speed?

A good broadband speed is one that can accommodate your bandwidth needs without overspending on your plan. Most homes can make do with a 30Mbps connection, which is commonly known as superfast broadband. It allows streaming and several devices to be connected simultaneously.

In the UK, superfast broadband availability is projected to reach 97% of homes by 2024.

How Do I Know Which Broadband Speed is Right For Me?

In order to choose the suitable broadband speed, the users in your household or organisation and their activities should be noted. Suppose several individuals watch 4K videos, play games, or attend video calls simultaneously, slowdowns for everyone can be avoided with greater speeds.

Furthermore, assess if the connection allows for cloud activities, remote work, and large transfers of data.

4 Ways to Know What Broadband Speed is Best For You

Choosing the right broadband speed can be challenging, so it is important to factor in your daily internet usage to discover what speeds would be appropriate. Whether you’re a small business, freelancer or a busy home, here you can find the right internet speeds:

Residential Users

Households can receive different levels of broadband speed depending on the activities being performed and the number of users at one single time.

• Basic Usage (Browsing, Emails): A maximum of 15Mbps is more than enough to browse, check emails, and stream videos at low quality
• SD Video Streaming: For a seamless video playback experience, a connection speed of 10 megabytes per second (Mbps) is the minimum requirement
• HD Video Streaming: A minimum bandwidth of 5 to 10 megabytes per second guarantees smooth streaming of HD videos
• 4K Video Streaming: Ultra HD streaming requires a minimum of 25-50 Mbps for seamless streaming
• Multiple Users/Devices: Larger families that use multiple devices simultaneously can begin with an internet connection of at least 50-100 Mbps

Freelancers and Home Based Professionals

Workers who operate from home require fast and steady internet connections.

• Video Conferencing: A connection speed of 10 to 25 Mbps guarantees seamless audio and visual quality as well as ensures smooth video conferences
• Large File Transfers: Upload and download speeds of 25-100 megabytes per second are much more efficient
• Cloud-Based Applications: For collaborative tools, a speed of 10 to 50 (Mbps) is sufficient

Startups and Small Businesses

Startups and small businesses also rely on quick internet to ensure daily tasks are completed swiftly.

• Web Browsing and Email: 1-5 Mbps is sufficient for general office tasks
• Voice over IP: 3-5 megabytes per second each VoIP line for uninterrupted audio service
• Online Collaboration Tools: 10-50 Mbps is used for tools like Slack or Teams
• E-commerce Operations: 25-100 Mbps works best for running an online store

4. Larger Scale Businesses

Big-scale industries require faster connections for their diversified digital spaces.

• Hosting Web Servers: For dependable performance, 100-500 Mbps is required
• Running Video Servers: 500 MBPS to 1 GBPS is recommended for effortless video streaming
• High-Performance Computing: Operating at Nothing Below 1 Gbps and Surging Towards 10 Gbps

How Do I Check My Broadband Speed?

Checking your current speed will reveal if you require a faster broadband connection. You can use the broadband speed test tools online.

These tools measure your speed by small data packets being sent back and forth between your device and the test server. Your broadband speed is determined based on how long it takes to send and receive this data. The test will yield the best results if no other devices are using the connection at the same time.