When we talk about broadband speeds, there are a few different types:
Access line speed is the speed between your local telephone exchange or our Full Fibre street cabinets and your Zzoomm router.
Throughput speed is the speed you get when using the internet for things like browsing, streaming videos, gaming and uploading images or using apps.
There are two types:
- The speed to your Zzoomm router when using the internet. This is the one used in Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice and when you chose your Zzoomm broadband plan. You’ll usually see this speed when you hardwire devices directly to the Zzoomm router or via a switch.
- The speed you get to a WiFi connected device when using the internet.
What can affect my speed?
Unlike Fibre to the Cabinet (also known as FTTC or part fibre-part copper) or older full-copper ADSL, the speed to your Zzoomm router is not affected by how far you live from the exchange or how far you live from the Zzoomm Full Fibre street cabinet because you have a Full Fibre line and an Optical Network Terminal instead of a normal socket. If there’s a fault or problem with your line such as a break, this would affect the speed to your Zzoomm router like any other broadband connection.
The speed to your devices around your home will naturally be lower than the speed to your Zzoomm router. It can be affected by:
- Your phone, tablet, laptop or any other device. Some devices can handle higher speeds than others – check your devices maximum download speeds.
- The number of apps or web pages that are being used. This include ones being used in the background.
- The layout and construction of your home.
- The number of devices that are connected to your Wi-Fi and what you’re using them for.
- The set-up of your Zzoomm router and other equipment in your home. Boosters and Wi-Fi extenders can improve the Wi-Fi coverage across your home but can reduce the speed to your device if connected through these.
- The latest home technology, such as smart TVs, Sonos, Amazon Alexa, Google Home Hubs, Sky Q, lighting and sound systems and app-controlled thermostats, can also use up your bandwidth, this is why Zzoomm broadband plans starts at 150Mbps, to ensure your internet speed can handle all these devices.
- Check each of your device’s minimum requirements and think upgrading your package if you have too many devices on your network.
Downloading at different speeds
Here are the minimum upload and download speeds you’ll need for popular activities:
- Streaming in Standard Definition (SD) – 1.5Mbps
- Streaming in High Definition (HD) – 5Mbps
- Streaming in Ultra High Definition (UHD) – 30Mbps
- Real Time Online Gaming – 3Mbps
- Video Calling – 2Mbps
- Security Camera with 1080p resolution – 2Mbps
- Security Camera with 2k resolution – 4Mbps
- Ring Doorbell – 2Mbps upload
Not getting the speed you expected?
Contact our Customer Experience Team and we’ll help run tests on your connection and setup to make sure your broadband’s working as it should be. And if it not, we’ll help you fix it.