Broadband Guides

Broadband upload speeds

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Your broadband upload speed could make a big difference to how you use your internet connection. But what is an upload speed and how can you make the most of it? (Updated 9/11/09)

Why do I need a fast broadband upload speed?

Online gaming - When you play a high-quality online game, either on your PC or through a console, your connection will need to send information to the computers of your competitors via the internet. If you play online games with a slow upload speed you might find the image freezing or slowing down.

File sharing - If you share music or movie files online, a fast broadband upload speed will reduce the time it takes to do this. And, if you work from home using a remote network, your work files will transfer quicker.

Social networking - If you use sites like Facebook and Twitpic to share photos, you’ll be familiar with the long wait between finding the right photos and having them appear on your profile, especially if you’re uploading lots of pictures at once. A fast broadband upload speed will improve this dramatically.

What is a “fast” broadband upload speed?

Your broadband upload speed is the speed at which you can upload information to the internet. Internet service providers (ISPs) don’t advertise these speeds very well, because consumers tend to download a lot more than they upload, but you might need a decent broadband upload speed depending on how you’re using your internet connection.

Download speeds can be as fast as 50Mb in some areas if you have a cable connection with Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com), and can reach over 24Mb elsewhere, but broadband upload speeds are a lot slower. ISPs prioritise downloading because it’s done a lot more often – every time we visit a webpage, the information on it is downloaded to us, so it’s no surprise that download speeds are seen as more important.

If your broadband upload speed is as much as 2.5Mb, you’re doing well. Speeds of between 1 and 2.5Mb are average, but the same rules apply to upload speeds as to download speeds: the speed will be affected by a number of factors, including distance from your local telephone exchange and the number of people sharing your connection (known as the contention ratio).

How can I find a fast broadband upload speed?

The best way to find the broadband connection you’re looking for is by comparing packages. Use the Broadbandchoices.co.uk comparison service to find the best deals in your area. Then click on the name of the package you’re interested in, and Broadbandchoices.co.uk gives you all the details you might need, including connection fees, contract lengths and broadband upload speeds.

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