Broadband speed test

Internet speed tests can provide a fairly accurate snapshot of your internet connection at the time you test it, but for a more complete picture, you’ll need to test your broadband speed at different times of day. Check your internet speed during peak hours (8pm to 10pm), then again at quieter times.

Your broadband speed check results can vary at different times of the day, depending on how many people in your house and the wider neighbourhood are using the same internet network.

If you’re testing a WiFi connection, rather than a wired or ethernet connection, it’s also important to note that the download speed can vary depending on how close you are to your router.

To ensure you get the most accurate internet speed results when testing your broadband speed:

• Make sure no one else is using your WiFi network when you run the internet test
• If possible, turn off all other devices using the WiFi network
• Ensure all cables to your router are connected properly
• Make sure your router is in an elevated position (such as on a table or shelf) in clear view of your device and keep it away from other electronic devices
• Use a wired connection, such as an ethernet cable. Your WiFi speed probably won’t be as strong as a wired connection, but your broadband provider only needs to hit the advertised speed. Otherwise, you have grounds to complain.

The amount of bandwidth you need depends on how you and your household use the internet.

Although the terms can sometimes be used interchangeably, bandwidth and internet speed are not the same thing. Bandwidth refers to the volume of data that can be transmitted in a certain amount of time. The higher your bandwidth, the faster and more reliable your internet connection will be.

If you’re working from home, you’ll need plenty of bandwidth for video conferencing and file sharing, especially if there’s more than one of you in the home office. If you and your household like to stream TV and movies or listen to music through Spotify, you’ll want to make sure you have enough for everyone.

Your internet speed test results will show you how fast you can download or upload data through your connection, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Once you know the speed of your connection, you can work out if it’s enough for your needs or if you should search for a faster broadband package.

To give you an idea, here’s a breakdown of the broadband speeds you’ll need for popular online activities:

Plenty of factors can impact your broadband speed including: 

• The type of connection – There are three main connection types: ADSL, fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) and fibre to the premises (FTTP). The speeds of each vary massively, with FTTP – or full fibre – offering the fastest speeds.
• How many people are online – If several people in your household are online at the same time, the bandwidth is being split between all of you.
• How you use the internet – Activities like streaming HD content and online gaming use a lot of bandwidth.
• Your WiFi hub – Walls and solid surfaces could weaken your WiFi signal.

• Wired vs wireless – Wired connections are more reliable because you’re plugged straight into the source.

Our broadband speed test can measure the speed for all types of broadband connections including: 

• ADSL
• Fibre optic
• Cable
• Mobile broadband.

If you’re using an ADSL or FTTC connection, the distance between your home and the exchange cabinet in the street can make a big difference to your broadband speed. That’s because these types of connections use the copper telephone wires, which don’t work as well over large distances. The further from the cabinet you are, the greater the drop-off in speed. 

A fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connection is fastest, because the fibre cables connect straight to your home. But FTTP connections tend to be more expensive and less widely available.

If you’ve checked your cables and router but your internet is still running slow, here are some other reasons to consider:

• Your web browser needs updating – newer versions work faster and are more secure.
• Old equipment – older routers and computers can cause slower speeds.
• Too many devices – the more devices connected, the slower your internet will be.
• Peak-time traffic – if a lot of people are online at the same time, the local connection can get congested,
• Your password is not secure – if your router isn’t password-protected, someone could be stealing your WiFi.
• Your broadband package is too slow – if your connection can’t keep up with the demands of your household, it may be time to upgrade to a faster fibre package.

There are several internet speed tests online that you can use. The benefit of using the Comparethemarket internet speed test is that once you know your results you can compare your speed to what is available in your neighbourhood and compare deals, all in one place.

It could be that the conditions have changed slightly between tests, or the software or technology used by each speed tester is different. There are quite a few network speed tests out there, so if you’re trying different ones, your results might vary.

It’s a good idea to check your broadband speed on different sites as it could give you a better overall picture. Just make sure you run each speed test under the same conditions – time of day, position of your router, other devices turned off etc. to get more accurate results.

Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice on Broadband Speed is designed to hold broadband providers accountable and make sure you get the broadband speeds you were promised when you signed up.

If you’re signing up to a broadband provider who’s opted into the voluntary code of practice (most of the big ones have), they must give you an estimated connection speed for usage during peak times. This is when your connection is most likely to slow down as there are more users on the network.

Your broadband provider must also give you a minimum guaranteed speed. If you’re not getting this speed and make a complaint, your provider has 30 days to fix the issue. If they can’t, you can leave your contract free of charge and find another provider.

First, contact your internet service provider (ISP) and explain that you’ve tested your broadband speeds and they’re not as fast as they should be. Be clear on what’s in your contract. Broadband providers advertise speeds of ‘up to’ a certain amount, but they don’t promise you’ll get these speeds all the time. However, broadband providers must now offer a minimum guaranteed speed. Find out what this speed is and hold them to it.

Your broadband provider is required by Ofcom to give you advice on how to increase your speed. If they can’t solve the problem and guarantee their advertised speed within 30 days, you can cancel your contract free of charge. This means you’ll be able to join a new broadband provider and hopefully get a better speed.