• Our broadband speed breakdown
• Understanding actual speed
• Improving broadband speed

Everyone wants a web-surf instead of a web-stutter, but you may not necessarily need the fastest and most expensive package going, depending on your type of web usage. Getting to grips with broadband speed is actually quite simple, and understanding a little about the inner workings of broadband speed will help you choose the broadband package that is ideal for your web browsing needs. This guide will help to clear up everything you need to know about download and upload speeds, as well as the truth about advertised speeds and different ways to improve the broadband speed achieved in your home.

Our broadband speed breakdown

Broadband speed defines the actual pace of your internet connection, and this speed is usually given in Mbps or Mb (Megabits per second). It’s important to remember that Mb is different to MB, or Megabytes; there are 8 Megabits to 1 Megabyte, and you will find that the sizes of songs and movies, as well as any data allowances, are given in MB. So, don’t forget that if you can download at 25Mbps, this does not mean 25 Megabytes per second!

Downloading applies to any data that you retrieve on the web, whether it’s watching a YouTube video or saving a whole film to your hard drive. Downloading is the process of accessing data from one place, and sending it to your location, and your own personal requirements will affect the genuine download speed that you need.  Broadband providers will often apply the term ‘up to’ before stating a download or broadband speed, because maintaining the maximum speed cannot be guaranteed. You can currently purchase broadband deals with download speeds ranging between 8Mbps and 50Mbps, with the top-end proving extraordinarily quick. Providers are advertising ever-increasing download speeds, with the potential for 100Mbps and even 200Mbps is on the broadband horizon.

The fact is that not everyone really needs 50Mbps, and therefore a cheaper deal with a slower download speed would be perfectly suitable.  It all depends on the amount of downloading that you plan to do; if you like to view the odd Wikipedia page before checking the sports news, then you really do not need the fastest broadband available. However, if you are going to be constantly streaming music and downloading films then you will want to look for something fast, unless you have plenty of patience! Download speed is commonly advertised as the broadband speed, but there is also upload speed to consider as well.

Upload speed is simply the reverse; you take information from your computer and send it to another location. As an example, this would be important for social networking; you may want to put photos on Facebook, or post an embarrassing video of one of your friends, and the pace will depend on your upload speed.  Whilst download speeds are an advertising focal point, upload speeds generally receive slightly less attention.  They will be slower than the download speeds, but download speeds are generally more important to the majority of web users, and thus they are deemed higher priority by the regulating internet service providers.

If you think that uploading will be more important to you, then be sure to check out the upload speeds for each broadband package. When you compare broadband offers or do a broadband speed comparison, you give yourself the best chance of finding the ideal broadband package. Make sure you know whether your web usage leans toward downloading or uploading, and also take into consideration the volume of web browsing that you intend to do. Using a broadband comparison website, such as Broadband Finder, gives you all the details in a clearly defined and succinct manner, allowing you to find the broadband deal with the speed that suits you.

Understanding actual speed

As a broadband customer, you need to know that the advertised broadband speeds are not necessarily going to be consistently achievable, and in many cases they won’t ever reach their peak. This is a frequently revisited topic among customers, providers and the regulatory body Ofcom. There are rules in place regarding the advertising of broadband speed, which are designed to make sure that customers are aware of the somewhat erratic nature of maximum achievable broadband speed.

The fact is that if you have a broadband package offering speeds of ‘up to’ 25Mbps, you may only achieve speeds of 8Mbps, but someone else with the same deal but in a different location may be able to reach broadband speeds of 20Mbps on a regular basis. If you already have broadband and are unsure about your current broadband package or broadband speed then you can do a broadband speed test. We have designed a fast, effective and accurate broadband speed test for our users.

Test your broadband speed here!

Broadband Finder Speed Test

PLEASE make sure that you have closed ALL other applications in order to achieve the most accurate results.

Improving broadband speed

There are factors to consider when looking to improve actual broadband speed, and it depends on the lengths you are willing to go to in order to achieve these improvements. Broadband is significantly slower in rural areas, so relocating to an urban area will give you a faster connection; this would be drastic action, but a very effective way to get faster broadband, and if you need the quicker connection for work reasons then it could be worthwhile.

Broadband through cable is very quick, with cable providers offering fast broadband speeds that are close to the commonly achieved actual speeds for many customers. Most providers use ADSL, or Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line, for broadband connection, which involves copper wires.  This can be fast, but you would not be able to achieve anything higher than 24-25Mbps at any stage, and some may never get beyond 20Mbps. This does not mean that cable is best for everyone; it certainly will not prove cost-effective for everyone, and many do not need superfast speeds for their web browsing. The casual surfer may not find any extra benefit through choosing a broadband package with speeds of up to 50Mbps over one that could achieve 25Mbps.

The distance between your house and the telephone exchange will also be a factor; if you are closer then your broadband speed will be faster.

It is also worth noting that cable broadband speed will not change during the day, whereas ADSL broadband is a shared service. This means that popular browsing times, particularly the evening, will cause a slower connection speed; more people are using the connection, so everything slows down, similar to a traffic jam. This is why many people find that their fast broadband package is running at a slower pace than during the morning. The best time to use your broadband is between the hours of 12am and 8am.