- Advertised speed
- What you get: varies with your line, Wi-Fi and time of day
- The slowest speed that works for you
What Mbps measures
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One megabit per second is a rate of data transfer. Download speed is how fast data comes to you; upload speed is how fast you send it, for example in video calls or backups.
Advertised versus real speed
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The speed on a plan is what the provider advertises. What you get can vary with your line, your Wi-Fi, the time of day and how many devices are in use. We do not measure real-world speeds, so we cannot tell you what you will see at home.
Choosing a tier
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Think about how many people and devices use the connection at once, and whether you do heavy uploads. A modest tier can be plenty for a small household; busy homes may want more. Compare the real monthly cost of tiers to see what extra speed costs.
Common questions
Is a higher Mbps always better value?
Not necessarily. If you cannot use the extra speed, you pay more for nothing. Compare tiers by effective monthly cost against what you actually need.
Up next · step 7 of 8 in ‘Start here’
When a bundle makes financial sense
How to tell whether bundling mobile and broadband saves money or only simplifies the bill.
