Blog What is a good broadband speed for business?

If you want to know the ideal broadband speed for your business, the chances are you understand that the choice of package rests on a fine balance of several factors. Slow connection speeds can negatively impact your performance and productivity, whereas unnecessarily fast speeds will cost you more than you need to be spending.

You can use an online business broadband checker to estimate your requirements, but it’s important to know what to check for first. This guide aims to have all things broadband speed and provide you with the details you need to choose the right connection for your business.

Broadband speed explained

Broadband speed refers to how quickly data can be uploaded or downloaded and is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). The higher the value, the quicker the connection speed.

There are two key types of broadband speed:

• Upload speed: This is how quickly data can travel from your devices outwards to the internet. For example, when you send an email, upload files or host video calls.
• Download speed: This is how quickly data can travel to your devices inward from the internet. This affects how quickly you can load websites, download files or stream video calls.

Both upload and download speeds are equally important for most small sized business internet solutions and above. Slow upload speeds can be just as disruptive as slow download speeds, especially when participating in video calls or file sharing.

Factors that may affect broadband speed explained

There are four main determining factors that will affect your business broadband speed:

• Connection type: This is perhaps the most critical factor determining the broadband speed your business receives. We will cover more on this later in the blog.
• Your broadband package: Business broadband deals are advertised with a range of speeds, which you can improve on by upgrading your account and paying more.
• Number of users: Your broadband connection and speed is shared among all of your connected devices. The more active users and devices you have, the slower the speed will be for each one.
• Network congestion: It’s not just users within your business that matter either; it’s everyone on the line in your local area you need to be aware of, too. Business broadband providers must manage network congestion during peak times so that users don’t overload it.

Use a business broadband checker

You can use a business broadband checker online that will help you to estimate the minimum speed requirement for your business and the viable broadband type. This typically involves answering a few simple questions about your business’s internet use.

This may include:

• the number of users you have at peak times
• your typical internet usage
• the average number of devices per user

Current business broadband checker

As well as a business broadband checker for minimum requirements, you can also check the speed you are currently getting, if applicable. There are plenty of online tests you can find that will help you do this.

They will typically use these metrics:

• Download speed: The speed which data is transferred from the internet to your device, as mentioned above.
• Upload speed: The speed at which your device’s information is transferred onto the internet, as mentioned above.
• Ping: This is a measure of latency and refers to the milliseconds taken to transfer data from your device to a server, and back again.
• Jitter: This measures the consistency of the ‘ping’ (latency).

Broadband connection types

Now we have broadband speed explained and have spoken about using a business broadband checker, let’s take a look at the different types of broadband connections.

ADSL broadband

This is typically the slowest type of internet connection, offering up to 20 Mbps. It is delivered through copper wires and has been a common choice for residential and business internet solutions for many years. Download speeds are usually much quicker than upload speeds. However, this technology will not be around forever and already has an intended switch-off date. The UK telecommunications industry is currently in the process of retiring old analogue networks and aims to have most customers switched over to digital alternatives by January 2027.

5G business broadband

While speeds can vary based on location and signal strength, you can typically receive up to 150 Mbps with 5G business broadband. This uses the latest generation of mobile network technology to deliver high speed internet wirelessly. It’s ideal for businesses that need a quick to deploy solution, or if you operate in areas without fixed line infrastructure. This is especially useful for remote workers, temporary offices and mobile teams.

Satellite business broadband

Satellite business broadband delivers internet via signals from orbiting satellites and can offer up to 200 Mbps. This is a common option for businesses in rural or hard-to-reach areas where fibre or cable broadband isn’t available. It’s not as fast or reliable as ground based options, and latency can be noticeable, especially during video calls or real time applications.

Cable broadband

Fibre optic cables carry the data, which can deliver speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. This is plenty for most households and business internet solutions for medium sized businesses. It supports activities like streaming, video calls, and regular browsing extremely well.

Full fibre broadband

Often referred to as FTTP, this is the gold standard for speed and reliability when it comes to residential broadband, delivering speeds up to 1,600Mbps. It is capable of handling demanding applications without lag.

Leased line broadband

However, if your business needs more than what a typical house would need, then you can get up to 10,000 Mbps with leased line broadband. This is a dedicated, symmetrical internet connection designed specifically for business use. It offers guaranteed speeds for both uploads and downloads, along with higher reliability and service level agreements (SLAs) than typical broadband. This makes it an ideal business internet solution for large organisations, data heavy operations, or businesses that can’t afford downtime. They may be more expensive, but leased lines offer unmatched performance and stability.

For more information on broadband types you can take a look at our other blog – Fibre vs Broadband – The Difference Explained.

What is a good broadband speed for business?

Here is a list of the recommended speeds for typical business activities.

How to optimise your business broadband performance

To get the most from your business broadband, focus on these three key areas.

Hardware and wiring

Whenever possible, connect devices via Ethernet rather than relying on Wi-Fi, which weakens with distance and obstacles. If wireless is necessary, place your router centrally and away from walls. For larger premises, consider a mesh network to maintain strong signal throughout. Upgrading older devices can also boost performance.

Network load balancing

Distribute traffic across multiple connections to prevent congestion. Small businesses can benefit from a backup connection with another provider. Larger organisations may prefer a leased line failover or SD-WAN solution for smarter, dynamic traffic management. Multiple connections also provide redundancy if your main broadband fails.

Network monitoring tools

Use monitoring tools to track bandwidth usage and prioritise essential apps and services. They can also enforce rules to restrict access to non-business websites that slow your network down.

Find the ideal broadband speed for your needs with Infinitel Business Internet

Here at Infinitel, we understand that every business has unique requirements when it comes to business broadband speeds. It’s the main reason we offer tailored broadband packages to help keep you connected and operating smoothly at all times. If you need a business broadband checker, or broadband speed explained further, we are more than happy to help.

If you would like some more information or to talk about our products, please do not hesitate to contact us!