Upgrading your broadband for home working

What broadband speeds do I need to work from home?

What broadband speeds you need will depend on the kind of work you do. If you make a lot of video conference calls, or regularly upload or download large files, you’ll need better broadband than someone who simply does a bit of light emailing and web browsing.

For web browsing and social media, you’ll ideally need around 25 Mbps (megabits per second). If you’re streaming video or making Zoom and Teams calls, you may need up to 100 Mbps or more.

But the broadband speeds you need will also depend on the size of your household and how people use the internet. If your family or housemates are also working from home or are gamers, or stream movies on their own devices, you’ll need higher broadband speeds than someone who lives alone.

Do I need business broadband to work from home?

It’s usually fine to use a home broadband package to work from home. But, depending on the kind of work you do, you may benefit from a business broadband package. This will give you better customer service, more security and phone capability, and a more powerful router.

Do I need to worry about usage limits?

Nearly all broadband packages now offer unlimited data, but you may find that some cheaper packages cap your monthly data allowance. If your broadband is capped, you’ll need to know how much data you’re using by working from home, so you aren’t charged for exceeding the limit.

When you compare broadband deals with us, we’ll only show you unlimited data products, so you won’t have to worry about how much data you’re using.

• Find out more: broadband data usage allowances

Does it matter how many people share my broadband connection?

Yes, it can do. If you have a large household with lots of heavy internet users, it will affect your broadband speed.

The more people using WiFi to stream TV, play online games or make video calls at the same time, the slower your broadband will be.

My broadband is slow, what can I do?

Here are Ofcom’s tips for improving slow WiFi:

• Carry out a broadband speed test

• Talk to your broadband provider to see if there’s an issue

• Update your internet browser

• Download films to watch later, rather than live streaming them 

• Avoid using electrical equipment like microwaves, baby monitors or halogen lamps if you’re doing something important online as these can interfere with the WiFi signal

• Place your router in an open space, away from other devices and windows

• Connect your computer to the router with an ethernet cable to minimise interference

• Make video conferencing calls at off-peak times – for example, at a quarter past the hour

• Disconnect devices you’re not using, otherwise they may continue running in the background

• Make calls on a landline, where possible, rather than using apps.

Your broadband provider is obliged to give at least 50% of customers the advertised speeds at peak times. When you sign up, your provider should give you a minimum guaranteed speed for your broadband service. It should also tell you what to do if the speed you receive is less than what you were guaranteed.

If your speeds drop below this for a couple of days, call your provider to see if there’s a fault that needs fixing.

Should I upgrade my broadband?

If your current broadband package isn’t working for you, you may want to upgrade. The fastest internet available is offered by Sky. Its Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+ delivers up to five gigabits per second (5 Gbps) in certain areas.

The government has committed £5bn to rolling out gigabit speeds across the UK. Ofcom estimates that 96% of UK premises could have gigabit-capable broadband by May 2027.

The next-best option is superfast fibre broadband, the most popular type of connection in the UK. Fibre broadband gives you faster speeds and allows you to use multiple devices at once. As the programme has rolled out to more and more areas, prices have come down – so it could be cheaper than you think.

If your contract is coming to an end, it’s always worth looking to switch. If you want more entertainment options, you could look into a broadband and TV bundle.

Can I improve my WiFi with a booster?

If you need to boost your WiFi signal, there are a few bits of kit that can help. You could:

• Upgrade your router – old or basic tech may be hindering your WiFi speed

• Use a WiFi repeater to carry your signal further

• Use a wireless range extender to reach WiFi dead zones around your home.

What can I do if I live in a rural area?

Broadband could still be slower in rural areas because often the infrastructure isn’t in place and homes are further from telephone exchanges. The further broadband has to travel along the wire, the slower it will be.

Mobile broadband could be a good temporary solution if you receive a decent mobile signal where you live. You could also look into satellite broadband if you want something more long term.

The government’s Project Gigabit programme aims to improve broadband in hard-to-reach areas. This means that homes and businesses in rural areas may finally have access to fast, reliable internet in the next few years. Find out more in our guide to broadband in rural areas.

How can I tell if there’s an active phone line in my house?

If you’re with an Openreach provider, your phone/router should already be connected to an Openreach socket.

If you’re without broadband or have home broadband not supplied by an Openreach provider, you’ll need to check that your home has an Openreach socket.

Next, you’ll need to see if your line is active. You can do this by performing a line check with an Openreach provider on their website. You usually just need to enter your postcode to check.

If your phone line is active, your switch can happen quickly. Most switches don’t require an Openreach engineer, but you may need to check this with your new provider. Typically, you can just plug in the equipment following any instructions provided.

Read about what to do if you have an Openreach engineer coming.

Will there be an interruption to my broadband when I switch?

You should only have a tiny interruption to your broadband when switching, although it depends on what you’re switching:

• Just broadband – typically a few minutes of downtime

• Broadband and landline provider – there may be more downtime, but your provider can advise you

• Different types of broadband (for example, standard to fibre) – this can involve anything from a few hours to a full day of downtime, as your connection must be switched off and your new service activated. 

Your new provider will organise the switch and let you know how long you’ll be without internet.

• Find out more: switching broadband providers

Broadband for working at home: what to know

If you’re shopping around for home broadband, here’s what to consider:

• Do you need superfast speeds? Gigabit internet has huge advantages, but you could find you’re paying for speeds you don’t need

• It’s always worth shopping around to find the cheapest deals in your area

• If broadband is essential for your work, you should have a back-up plan ready in case of an outage. See what options or guarantees your provider offers. And think about how you might manage if you’re stuck. For example, can you tether your mobile phone, use a MiFi dongle, work somewhere else that has WiFi or just go into the office?