What Speed Do I Need?

Internet speed needs depend more on what is happening at the same time than on how many people live in the home. This guide explains common activities, how much speed they use, and how to choose a suitable package.

Key Points

• Speed is affected by concurrent activity, not just the number of users.
  
• Several people can share a connection comfortably if they are doing low-demand tasks.
  
• High-demand tasks (4K streaming, large downloads, cloud gaming) increase the speed needed when they run at the same time.

Everyday Internet Use (Low Demand)

Typical activities:

• Web browsing
  
• Email and online banking
  
• Social media
  
• Music streaming
  
• Smart home devices

Typical speed needed:

• 5–10 Mbps for several devices doing these activities together.

Most broadband services can handle this easily.

Video Streaming

Simple guidance:

• One or two HD streams work well on most connections.
  
• Multiple HD streams or any 4K streams increase the speed needed.
  
• Streaming on several devices at once adds together.

Video Calls (Zoom, Teams, FaceTime)

Video calls use both download and upload speed.

Online Gaming

• Actual gameplay uses little data: 3–6 Mbps
  
• More important than speed:
  
  • Stable connection
  • Low latency (ping)

Downloads & Updates

• Game downloads, app updates, and system updates use a lot of speed while running.
  
• If these run while people are streaming or video calling, performance may slow temporarily.

Cloud Gaming / Game Streaming

Very demanding because the game video is streamed live.

Works best on higher-speed packages.

How to Choose a Speed

Ask:

• What activities happen at the same time?
  
• Do you stream mostly HD or 4K?
  
• Do you work from home or use video calls?

Typical Guidance

• Everyday use + HD streaming: 10–20 Mbps
  
• Several HD streams + video calls: 20–40 Mbps
  
• 4K streaming, cloud gaming, heavy downloads: 40 Mbps+

If Only One Service Type Is Available

In some areas, Fast Broadband (WiMAX) may be the only option.

WiMAX works well for:

• Browsing
  
• Email and banking
  
• Social media
  
• HD streaming
  
• Video calls
  
• Smart home devices

It can support multiple devices at the same time, as long as very high-demand activities are not all happening together.

If fibre is available, it provides more headroom for heavy or simultaneous usage but WiMAX is suitable for normal household internet use.

Summary

• It’s about what you do, not just how many people are online.
  
• Everyday use needs very little speed.
  
• Streaming and cloud gaming are the biggest drivers of higher speeds.
  
• Choose the fastest service available if possible, but normal households can work well on lower speeds if high-demand activities are managed.

Related Articles

• Understanding Broadband Speeds
• How to Test Internet Speeds
• Understanding Real-World Wi-Fi Speeds