It’s no surprise that all of us appreciate speed. Netflix on demand, Amazon deliveries, fast food restaurants, Speedy boarding passes… Our fast-paced world has no signs of slowing down. The same is true when it comes to our broadband connection. We all want our internet access, downloads, updates and video calls to be incredibly fast and reliable so we can get on with working and relaxing with no interruptions.
Upload and download speeds are determined by the broadband service you chose when beginning your contract. Having the right amount of data transfer speed for what you need when using the internet is the difference between dealing with a painfully slow connection or experiencing brilliantly fast speeds round the clock.
Upload speed is crucial to getting the most out of your broadband. In this article we will take you through everything you need to know about upload speeds and why it’s increasingly important to consider. So, get your notes page ready as you will want to remember this when you consider the next internet provider you choose.
What exactly are upload speeds?
In the simplest of terms, an upload speed is the amount of data that you can send in a given second. This is different to download speeds, which means this is the amount of data you can receive in a second. The faster the speed, the faster connection you will have which means the smoother your experience.
Upload speeds cover a huge amount of our day to day tasks which include:
- Multiple devices in the home being used all at once
- Gaming – whether you’re a novice or a pro!
- Daily video calls
- Uploading videos on YouTube / TikTok
- Uploading photos on Facebook
- Backing up data to the Cloud or Dropbox
Why is your upload speed so much lower than download speed?
Generally speaking, the majority of what we do on the internet involves downloading rather than uploading. This includes accessing websites, scrolling through TikTok (and other socials, of course), watching videos, listening to podcasts, downloading work files and much more. So, it’s no surprise that download speeds are prioritised on the whole by broadband providers.
It’s not this way for everyone, though. If you require a much higher upload speed and maybe you’d would like to match it to your download speed, then there are options out there. Zzoomm Full Fibre Broadband have a service called Power-Up, this can be added to the service you choose which matches your upload speed with your download speed. Power-Up gives a temporary boost when you need it, which is especially good if you’re working from home, uploading YouTube videos or gaming.
Cutting through the jargon
Most internet providers often use terms like superfast or ultrafast to bring the speeds to life. It’s these sort of terms that really don’t mean a great deal and are often marketing jargon.
It’s no surprise that a focus on download speeds are normal, as that is usually the largest number providers can hit and the most crucial selling point for consumers. These sort of internet providers rarely acknowledge upload speeds or compare with providers like Zzoomm, as our services start at speeds they can’t reach. This is because they don’t have the Full Fibre network and technology to give the same kind of power for upload speeds.
As you can imagine, if these providers rarely mention upload speed then it must mean it’s not important at all? Not quite. With the increase in video calls, large file transfers, working from home, 4K TV and gaming, the importance of upload speeds is now a vital component of your broadband, and the reality is that only Full Fibre connections can provide you with reliable upload speeds.
How do I find out what upload speeds I am getting now?
It might have been a while since you’ve last looked at the details of the service you’re paying for, we know it can be easy to forget and simply pay the bill. But now we’re on the topic, one of the best ways to find out what speeds you are really getting is through a speed tester. It’s super simple to use and you may be surprised to learn that the broadband you have is being shared with the whole street, which can really impact your speeds! Check out the speed test here.
If you are pretty underwhelmed by your results and need some advice on how to switch service providers, take a look at our Top Tips to Make Your Broadband Switch Seamless.
Alternatively, you can use the Zzoomm speed calculator which will give you a good idea on the amount of Full Fibre you need to suit your lifestyle.
What is a good upload speed and what do you need?
As we advance in the digital world and see ourselves working flexibly for the long haul, upload speeds are becoming a hot topic and rightfully so.
Cable.co.uk reports that most standard internet packages come with a 10Mbps upload speed. So, if you’re uploading a 1GB video, you should expect it to take more than 14 minutes of your time. Increase that to the 2000Mbps upload speed you can get with Zzoomm and that same file will upload in 4 seconds.
2000Mbps isn’t always necessary though, if you don’t have a suite of smart devices and are not an avid gamer, an upload speed of around 40Mbps that Zzoomm Full Fibre offer is already 4x more than what you get with market leading providers. This means a significant drop in twiddling your fingers, shouting at your laptop or robotic FaceTime calls with family.
Not only this, Zzoomm Full Fibre allows homes to have a direct connection to a brand new network with massive capacity for data, so sharing with the whole street is a thing of the past. This guarantees faster, uninterrupted upload and download speeds which you cannot get from traditional providers, and no matter how many neighbours are online your service will not be impacted.
How do I increase my upload speed?
The bottom line is that your slow upload speeds are determined by your broadband provider. . The difficulty is most of the big market players do not use Full Fibre technology, which means there probably isn’t anything they can do. If you need to increase your upload and download speeds, it’s time for you to switch.
Zzoomm’s Full Fibre network is futureproofed and can provide up to 2000Mbps upload speed and 2000Mbps download speed for homes. Only Full Fibre networks can match the upload and download speeds to help support you. Simply put, our speeds are up to 30x faster than the average home broadband speed.
Do I have Fibre or Full Fibre?
It may sound similar, but the difference between Full Fibre and traditional Fibre is incredibly different. If you think you have Full Fibre broadband today, the chances are there’s copper in there somewhere effecting your connection. Most houses in the UK have Fibre to the local cabinet but from the cabinet to your house, the connection uses old copper wires that have been around for years and years.
Currently, just 18% of UK households can access a Full Fibre connection, so there’s lots of catching up to do and Zzoomm are hitting the ground running. An abundance of smart devices in our homes, growing in number day by day, the need for higher bandwidth connection has become critical. Unreliable connection, slow speeds and sharing Wi-Fi is a thing of the past.
That’s a wrap
The upload speed you can achieve depends on the service package your broadband provider offers. Often overlooked by download speed, upload speeds contribute massively to the effectiveness of your internet quality and your working or entertainment experience. If you are someone who has a home full of always-on smart devices, home working, regular video calls or regular gaming – upload speeds are a crucial component for your setup.
If you would like to speak with one of our Zzoomm experts about upload speeds and Full Fibre Broadband, they would be happy to help. Call our local team on 0333 311 9909.
Give it a try and find out what your need for speed is!
Call us on 0333 311 9909 if you’d like to discuss your need for speed.