Run a broadband speed test

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Your broadband speed is how fast data is sent (uploaded) and received (downloaded) over your Internet connection. Our broadband speed test measures your throughput speed and your results will be displayed in Megabits per second (Mbps). The more Megabits your broadband can transfer per second, the faster your connection is and the more you can do online.

What affects your speed?

The way you set your router up, the devices you're using and even your furniture all play an important part in how much speed you can achieve, so before you run a speed test, here are a few things to consider.

Your devices

Your devices have limits to the speeds they can manage. Older or lower spec devices aren't as good at handling very high broadband speeds and even the best devices have limits. Here's a list of average speeds you can get on different devices

Wired vs wireless

To get the most accurate picture of the speed to your devices, connect the device you're running the speed test on to your router with an Ethernet cable if possible. A wired connection is faster than Wi-Fi because there's no interference from external signals.

Location, location, location

Your router should be upright and facing towards you when you run the test. Put it on a table or shelf – never on the floor or in a cupboard - and make sure it’s not behind any furniture. Electrical appliances like microwaves and cordless phones can disrupt Wi-Fi signals, so it’s best to keep your router away from them if you can.

For more information about the most common causes for slow broadband speeds, take a look at our useful guide that explains what affects your broadband speed. 

Ready to go?

Run our two-minute test for your broadband. We'll measure the speed to your router and display your result in Megabits per second. Get help with understanding your result below.

Check your speed

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Understanding your result

Our broadband speed test measures your throughput speed and your results are displayed in Megabits per second (Mbps). The more Megabits your broadband can transfer per second, the faster your connection is and the more you can do online.

Here's how quickly you can download your favourite music, movies, games and TV shows, on average, depending on your result.

This table shows the average throughput speed and how quickly you can download certain types of media.

Average throughput speed	Average download speed
	Album	TV show	Movie	Game
77Mbps	6s	1min 29s	2min 46s	1hr 46min
152Mbps	2s	39s	1min 8s	59min 22s
290Mbps	1s	19s	39s	24min 41s
525Mbps	Less than 1s	11s	22s	14min 5s

If your speed test result wasn't what you expected, there could be a few reasons for this.

• Was your result within your estimated speed range?
  You can find your estimated speed range in your welcome pack. If your result reflects this, the good news is everything's working as it should be. 
• Did you run the test on a smartphone or tablet?
  Most handheld devices have small antennas and batteries built in amongst other components, which limits their ability to handle high Wi-Fi speeds.
• Are you using an older device? 
  Older devices have less capacity for high speeds than newer ones, and even the best devices have limits to the speeds they can manage. Check the maximum speed for your device
• Was anyone else using the internet whilst you ran the test?
  Your broadband speed is shared amongst all connected devices. Your result may have been slower if lots of other people were online too.
• Did you run the test near your router? 
  Our Wi-Fi Hub gives you better coverage than ever before, but even the best routers can't guarantee a perfect connection in every room.

Maximum speeds on your devices

Take a look at the maximum wireless throughput speeds you can expect on your devices on each frequency band.

This table shows some example devices and what speeds they are capable of handling.

Device	Maximum speed
	2.4Ghz	5Ghz
iMac	Up to 150Mbps	Up to 500Mbps
MacBook	Up to 150Mbps	Up to 500Mbps
PlayStation	Up to 100Mbps	Up to 300Mbps
PC	Up to 100Mbps	Up to 250Mbps
iPhone	Up to 100Mbps	Up to 250Mbps
Android	Up to 100Mbps	Up to 250Mbps
Xbox	Up to 100Mbps	Up to 100Mbps
Windows phone	Up to 100Mbps	Up to 100Mbps
Blackberry	Up to 50Mbps	Up to 50Mbps

What is a frequency band?

A frequency band is how data is transmitted between devices. The 2.4GHz band gives a longer range but slower speed, whereas the 5Ghz band gives less coverage but sends data at a faster speed. Your Wi-Fi Hub automatically switches between these bands to give you the best experience. 

Throughput speed

Throughput speed is how fast data is sent (uploaded) and received (downloaded) over the broadband connection in your home. It comes into play when you’re using any devices at home that require an Internet connection.