If your speed drops below this, your provider must improve it within a month. This enables the speed test to scale and accurately measure all types of connection, from slow ADSL to very fast fibre-optic connections. Running a Wi-Fi speed test will give you a much clearer idea of your bandwidth and connection limitations.
How to use our broadband speed checker
Additionally, the test simultaneously requests multiple files to download at once. A small initial file is downloaded in order to gauge an approximate speed of the connection. Most broadband deals include a free Wi‑Fi router, though you may pay a small delivery or activation fee.
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- Most broadband deals include a free Wi‑Fi router, though you may pay a small delivery or activation fee.
- This is because as the phrase ‘to the premises’ suggests, FTTP broadband uses fibre-optic cables for the whole journey to your home.
- Although the code of practice is voluntary, a number of major providers – including BT, Sky, Plusnet, Vodafone and Virgin Media — have signed up.
- Fibre-optic broadband services are less affected by your home’s location.
- You can also use the results to compare your broadband speed with other broadband deals available in your area.
- Download speeds are also usually what gets advertised to you by broadband providers.
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With plenty of providers to choose from, the choice can be overwhelming.
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- This is the fastest type of broadband available, with a nationwide coverage of roughly 72%.
- Additionally, the test simultaneously requests multiple files to download at once.
- With plenty of providers to choose from, the choice can be overwhelming.
- If fibre’s available at your postcode, it’s often the smarter choice.
- Running a Wi-Fi speed test will give you a much clearer idea of your bandwidth and connection limitations.
- It refers to how many ‘megabits’ of data can be transferred to or from your device every second.
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Why you should run an internet speed test when working from home
So it’s important to make sure your internet won’t hold you back during the workday. If your provider isn’t meeting your minimum speed guarantee, you can complain to Fast Slots it directly. If fibre’s available at your postcode, it’s often the smarter choice.
Apps
Checking in advance avoids nasty surprises—especially for full‑fibre or new‑build providers that aren’t yet everywhere. If you’re unhappy with your current broadband provider, consider one of our top-rated providers instead. Enter your postcode below to see deals in your area, or check our pick of the best broadband deals.
Which? Recommended Providers: broadband
Download speeds are usually of more interest, as most tasks require you to download information, for example searching online for information. Download speeds are also usually what gets advertised to you by broadband providers. However, if you have an ultrafast broadband speed of 400Mbps, it would barely take 30 seconds. This, therefore, allows us to accurately assess the speed of your broadband connection, but only in that particular moment.
- Enter your postcode below to see deals in your area, or check our pick of the best broadband deals.
- If you’re unhappy with your current broadband provider, consider one of our top-rated providers instead.
- Checking in advance avoids nasty surprises—especially for full‑fibre or new‑build providers that aren’t yet everywhere.
- So it’s important to make sure your internet won’t hold you back during the workday.
- When you move onto a new broadband deal, providers who have opted into the voluntary code of practice have to give you an estimated speed during peak times.
- This, therefore, allows us to accurately assess the speed of your broadband connection, but only in that particular moment.
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Test my internet speed?
Although the code of practice is voluntary, a number of major providers – including BT, Sky, Plusnet, Vodafone and Virgin Media — have signed up. This is because as the phrase ‘to the premises’ suggests, FTTP broadband uses fibre-optic cables for the whole journey to your home. And it’s in this part of the journey that your speed can be affected. Fibre-optic broadband services are less affected by your home’s location. Or to be more specific, your speed is affected by how far you live from your nearest telephone exchange. This is the fastest type of broadband available, with a nationwide coverage of roughly 72%.
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Internet Speed Metrics
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You can also use the results to compare your broadband speed with other broadband deals available in your area. The Uswitch Broadband Speed Test is a free service that tells you your current internet speed in seconds. This causes the user’s bandwidth to be saturated, providing an accurate picture of their upload speed capacity.
When you move onto a new broadband deal, providers who have opted into the voluntary code of practice have to give you an estimated speed during peak times. It refers to how many ‘megabits’ of data can be transferred to or from your device every second. Call your internet service provider (ISP) as a first step to see what it can do. Running regular speed checks can also give you a clearer idea of the times of day when your broadband is performing at its best and worst.
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More meanings of fast
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If nothing seems to be wrong with your device, contact your current broadband provider for advice. When you see an internet speed of 40Mbps, that means about 5MB (one-eighth of that) will be transferred each second. The results also only show the speeds you’re getting on the device you’re using for the test.