what broadband speed do I need?

published: 17th August 2026

table of contents

• what internet speed do I need?
  • what broadband speed do I need for a smart TV?
  • what broadband speed do I need for gaming?
  • what broadband speed do I need to work from home?
• what is a good broadband speed?
• jargon busting

Whether you’re trying to stop family arguments over buffering devices, setting up a home office, or just looking to stream without that spinning wheel of doom, here’s everything you need to know on how to pick the right broadband speed for your home.

what internet speed do I need?

Different online activities use different amounts of bandwidth. Streaming your favourite show, joining a video call and gaming online all place different demands on your broadband.

The important thing is to think about what everyone in your home might be doing at the same time. For example, if someone is streaming a film in 4K while someone else is gaming and another person’s on a video call, they’re all sharing the same broadband connection.

And it’s not just the obvious devices to consider. Phones, tablets, smart TVs, speakers, doorbells and other connected tech will all be using your broadband too.

That’s why it’s worth choosing a speed that gives your household plenty of room for everything you do online – all at once.

Below is a summary of typical everyday broadband uses and how many Mbps (Megabits per second) each device roughly needs.

what broadband speed do I need for a smart TV?

If you love settling down to a film or binge-watching the latest series in 4K, you’ll want enough bandwidth to stream it at its best without buffering.

As a guide, streaming services recommend:

• Netflix: 15 Mbps or higher for 4K Ultra HD^a
• Disney+: 25 Mbps for 4K Ultra HD^b
• Prime Video: 5 Mbps for HD streaming (but no one wants to watch the latest Prime series in anything less than UHD!)^c
• BBC iPlayer: requirements vary depending on content and picture quality^d

But remember, your broadband connection is shared across your home. So, if you’re streaming in 4K while someone else is watching another TV, gaming or scrolling on their phone, all of that activity is competing for the same bandwidth.

what broadband speed do I need for gaming?

When it comes to gaming, broadband speed matters, but perhaps not in the way you’d expect. Playing online doesn’t necessarily use a huge amount of bandwidth although faster speeds can make a huge difference when downloading and cloud gaming specifically.

• Xbox recommends 20 Mbps or higher on consoles, PCs and tablets with 5 GHz wi-fi or mobile data connection^e
• PlayStation Plus requires at least 15 Mbps for cloud streaming 1080p (HD)^f

But speed isn’t the whole story. For the most responsive online gaming, low latency and a stable connection are just as important. Lower latency means less delay between pressing a button and the game responding. And, if you’re live streaming your gameplay, uploading clips or just have a busy home setup, fast upload speeds matter too. That’s where symmetrical broadband, with equally fast download and upload speeds, can really come into its own.

what broadband speed do I need to work from home?

Working from home (or WFH as the pros call it) can really put your broadband through its paces, especially when video calls and large file transfers are all part of a standard working day.

Microsoft recommends a minimum of 1.5 Mbps for HD Teams video quality, but up to 4 Mbps for the best performance on that device^g. It’s a similar story with Zoom: a group call on 1080p HD requires around 3.8 Mbps upload and 3 Mbps download^h, although requirements will vary depending on the quality of your call and how exactly you’re using it.

Again, video calls are only part of the picture. Uploading large files, sharing your screen (“can you see my screen?”), syncing documents and working in cloud-based platforms like SharePoint can all be happening at the same time – and that’s before you consider what everyone else at home is doing online.

So if you regularly work from home, it’s worth looking beyond download speed. Fast upload speeds and a reliable connection can be just as important for keeping your working day running smoothly.

For most busy households, we recommend home900 with 900 Mbps symmetrical download and upload speeds giving you plenty of bandwidth for streaming, gaming, browsing and working from home all at the same time.

And for seriously connected households, there’s home2300. With 2300 Mbps symmetrical speeds, it gives power users and homes packed with connected tech even more bandwidth and headroom for everything they want to do online.

jargon busting

Mbps – Megabits per second. Essentially, how fast your internet connection is! The higher the Mbps, the faster the connection.

download speed – how quickly data travels from the internet to your device, whether you’re streaming a film, downloading a game or loading a webpage. Measured in Mbps.

upload speed – how quickly data travels from your device to the internet, such as during a video call, uploading a file or sharing content online. Measured in Mbps.

full-fibre broadband – an essential buzzword when choosing the right broadband speed! Most traditional “fibre” broadband uses old copper telephone wires from the street cabinet to your house. Full-fibre broadband means you’re using the UK’s most reliable broadband technology³ for the whole journey directly to your home. Copper slows everything down, so you won’t be getting the best broadband speeds if you’re not on a 100% full-fibre broadband connection. So, no matter what broadband speed you need, make sure it’s full-fibre!