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What broadband speed should I get?

Our Broadband Expert says...

Superfast broadband speeds are all over the news at the moment, but you don’t necessarily need the very fastest speeds on offer.

Fibre optic broadband packages are available from providers like Virgin Media (www.Virginmedia.com) and BT broadband (www.BT.com), while other suppliers including Zen Internet (www.Zen.co.uk)and TalkTalk broadband (www.Talktalk.co.uk) also offer their own 40Mb packages through the BT network.

Do I need superfast broadband?

The speed you need will depend on how you use the internet. If you're a light user who only goes online to check emails and do a bit of online banking, then you could well be wasting your money by going for the fastest package on the market.

The vast majority of people use a copper wire telephone (ADSL) connection on an up to 8Mb, 20Mb or 24Mb broadband package - which is more than sufficient for many households.

For example, to watch content direct from the BBC iPlayer website - known as streaming - you need at least a 1Mb connection. If you want to watch programmes in high-definition (HD), or on more than one computer at the same time, then you'll need a faster connection.

However, you need to understand the way that broadband speeds work in order to choose the right package.

Will I get my advertised speed?

A number of different factors affect both upload and download speeds and for most people, the biggest hurdle is their line distance. If you have a traditional ADSL broadband line, the further you live from the local telephone exchange, the further your connection will have to travel and the slower it will be.

Research by telecoms regulator Ofcom released this month showed that broadband providers were delivering less than half their advertised speed. So it’s important to know what kind of speeds you can expect before you sign-up.

Ofcom is looking to change the way broadband providers advertise their packages, but at the moment they can still publish the almost unobtainable “up to” speeds. However, they must also give you a speed estimate at the point of sale so you know what to expect.

The actual speed offered by up to 20/24Mb packages was 6.2Mb when Ofcom was testing in November and December last year - but obviously the speed you receive would depend on your own home connection.

Fibre optic broadband

You don’t need to be a heavy downloader to make the most of superfast broadband. Fibre optic packages are perfect for large households like families or student flat-shares where everyone wants to get online at the same time, and upgrading your connection can make a huge difference to the way you use the internet.

With a fast, reliable broadband package you'll be able to catch-up on your favourite shows in HD with the BBC iPlayer, while someone else surfs the net or uploads HD photos to Facebook or plays online games.

Virgin Media currently offers four different cable broadband packages, all averaging between 90-96% of their advertised speed, though its network is only available to around half of the population.

• 10Mb broadband
• 30Mb broadband
• 50Mb broadband
• 100Mb broadband

On the other hand, BT’s Infinity packages offer speeds of up to 40Mb broadband, and the telecoms giant will also be launching a new 100Mb service in spring.

Although its network is only available to around 15% of homes and businesses, this will be extended to two-thirds of the country by 2015 - with around a quarter of connections capable of the faster speeds.

NB Best buy tables are always current.

Examples in the text of the article are correct at time of publication.

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