What is a good download and upload speed?

Let’s face it, an internet connection is a must for pretty much everyone, and it needs to be a reliable one at that. But have you ever wondered what download speed you really need?

A good download speed is not the same for everyone, as we all use the internet differently. We’ll help you work out if you’re a light, medium, or heavy user, and what that could mean for your connection needs.

Not sure what internet speeds you’re currently getting? Use our broadband speed test to find out now:

Quick links:

• What is the minimum broadband speed I need?
• What is a good download speed?
• What can I do with my internet speed?
• What is a good broadband speed for streaming video?
• How is broadband speed measured?
• What is internet bandwidth?
• What is the difference between download and upload speed?
• What is a good broadband download speed Mbps?
• What is a good upload speed in Mbps?

What is the minimum broadband speed I need?

You need a minimum broadband speed of at least 10Mbps. This is a bare minimum download speed that will allow you to do the most basic online tasks such as surfing the web, email, social media, online shopping and streaming in standard definition.

But what happens if multiple people in the house are using the internet at once? That’s where things get more complicated.

What is a good download speed?

A good download speed is between 10Mbps and 20Mbps per user. 

5Mbps is the minimum for streaming Netflix in HD, while Ultra HD requires 25Mbps. However, most people use the internet for much more than streaming Netflix content, and most households will have multiple users at the same time.

While you’re watching a film on Netflix, someone else in the house may be online gaming, or watching a YouTube video, while another person is on a video call with their friends. 

All these activities chip away at your bandwidth, and having only 10Mbps between you won’t get you very far – that’s why our packages start at a minimum of 40Mbps.

What speed broadband do you need to watch Netflix?

What can I do with my internet speed?

• with 10Mbps – One person: surfing the web, social media, online shopping, SD streaming
• with 40Mbps – HD streaming, online gaming, multiple people: surfing the web, social media, online shopping
• with 100Mbps – Ultra HD streaming, HD streaming for multiple people, online gaming for multiple people
• with 250Mbps – Multiple heavy users, ultrafast downloads, Ultra HD on multiple devices
• with 900Mbps – Simultaneous UHD streaming, online gaming and large downloads for almost any number of devices

If you want to know exactly what download speeds you need for different activities, look at how much broadband do I need?

What is a good broadband speed for streaming video?

A good broadband speed for streaming video is 25Mbps. The minimum broadband speed required to stream on most platforms in standard definition (SD) is 3Mbps, but having this internet speed will likely result in pausing frames and frustration. Especially if you’re scrolling at the same time, or another person in the household is also online. 

5Mbps is the minimum to stream in HD, while 25Mbps is the minimum download speed required for Ultra HD. Faster speeds equals faster downloads. This is why a good internet speed is not to be scoffed at.

If you’re not getting fast enough speeds, find out how to improve broadband speed: 5 tips for streaming your TV.

How is broadband speed measured?

Broadband speeds are measured in bits, and most broadband packages are measured in megabits-per-second (Mbps). There are 1000 megabits to every gigabit, which are abbreviated to Mbps and Gbps. The higher the number, the faster your connection.

An important distinction to make is megabits(Mb) vs megabytes(MB).

Files are normally described in megabytes. A megabyte is actually 8 megabits, so to download a 1MB file on a 1Mbps connection would take 8 seconds. ​​Tip: An internet speed test like ours will help you figure out your broadband speed.

What is internet bandwidth?

Internet bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred across your connection at a given time. Although bandwidth is often used to refer to your internet speeds, there is a slight difference: internet speeds are the rate of data transfer, while your bandwidth is how much your connection can handle at a given time.

What is bandwidth?

What download speeds do I need?

What is the difference between download and upload speed?

The difference between download and upload speed is download speed is how fast you can retrieve data from the internet. Upload speed is the speed you can send data from your devices to the internet.

So, for example, download speeds would be relevant for watching Netflix, scrolling social media, and receiving emails. Upload speeds are relevant when you’re sharing a photo on that same social platform, backing your files to the Cloud, or sending emails.

Sure, we do tend to download more than we upload, so having a faster download speed is understandably the priority. However, there are still some day-to-day activities that require a decent upload speed such as video calls, online gaming and of course, uploading all your favourite photos to social media.

What is a good broadband download speed in Mbps?

A good download speed for most internet activities is at least 25Mbps. But it depends what you’re downloading. Downloading a song or photo can easily be done on a standard connection. However, larger files can take a while. Downloading game console files in sizes 30GB and 50GB should be fine at 25Mbps download speed. But Ultra HD movies would take 2 hours to download on a 10Mbps connection. So, if you don’t want your download to take all day, you’ll need a faster connection.

That said, if you have multiple users in the house, you should have at least 40Mbps. We recommend a speedier connection for those who like to stream in Ultra HD, as Ultra HD requires at least 25Mbps. So, if more than one person is online, you’ll want a bigger bandwidth of up to 100Mbps.

If your family/household are heavy users, and you’re likely to be gaming, streaming, downloading and video calling all at once, we recommend 300Mbps and upwards.

For the ultimate broadband experience, we recommend 900Mbps.

Have a look at the table below for an idea of what you can achieve with different download speeds:

What is a good upload speed in Mbps?

A good upload speed is at least 10 Mbps. That’s more than enough for most video calling platforms, uploading small files and casual online gaming. Our packages start at 10Mbps upload speed to ensure you’ll have more than enough.

If you’re a more competitive gamer, or frequently upload large files, you’ll want a speedier upload of at least 25Mbps..

A path to better broadband

If you’re looking for faster download and upload speeds, why not try Airband?

Our wireless and fibre broadband connections can deliver superfast and ultrafast speeds to your doorstep, and bandwidth that can cope. Use our coverage checker to see if you’re in range.

If you have any queries, feel free to chat to us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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