
What you can do if your broadband speeds are slow The results also only show the speeds you're getting on the device you're using for the test – the speed your provider is delivering to your home may be higher, especially if you're performing the test wirelessly at some distance from your router.


To build an accurate picture, we would suggest you run several tests during a single week, in peak use time (between 8pm and 10pm) and during off-peak times. It's important to note that the speed test results only represent a snapshot of your broadband connection at the time of testing. However, if you use your broadband connection for video calls or online gaming, keep an eye on the upload rate, too, as it's essential for both. The upload speed shows the rate that data is transferred from your device to the internet – how quick it is to upload a photo or document to an email, for example.ĭownload speeds are usually of more interest, as most tasks require you to download information, for example searching online for information. The download speed shows the rate at which data is transferred from the internet to your device – how quick it is to access a newspaper article online or stream music, for example. This is needed for applications where timing is everything, such as interactive video games. More responsive connections are those with a low number of ms (meaning they take less time to respond). shows how quickly you get a response after you've sent out a request.

The tool measures the response time – also known as latency – of your broadband connection, as well as your download and upload speeds. What do the broadband speed test results show?
