Connection speed is also called bandwidth. It refers to the speed that data is transferred between a device and the internet.
There are two types of connection speed:
- Download speed (receiving speed)
The rate that information travels from the internet to a device, like when looking at a web page or downloading a program.
- Upload speed (send speed)
The rate that information travels from a device to the internet, like when sending an email or file.
How is broadband connection speed measured?
Data speeds are measured in megabits per second or Mbps. The higher the Mbps, the faster the online speed.
The maximum rate at which data can be received over an internet connection is known as the downstream bandwidth. And upstream bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be sent.
Most people download more data than they upload, so downstream bandwidth is higher than the upstream bandwidth. It's the downstream bandwidth that's used to measure connection speed.
What’s a good connection speed?
BT Business Full Fibre 900 Essential gives download speeds of up to 900MBps and upload speeds of up to 104Mbps. With a download speed like this downloading large files like 500Mb of photos or uploading a 60Mb video would take less than a second.
Find out more about broadband connection speeds you can get with BT Business broadband deals
How do I test my broadband speed?
Your speed depends on several factors like the type of connection you're using (fibre or copper cables), the line quality and the distance from the cabinet to where you work.
If you have BT Business Broadband, simply run the best speed test for the hub you have. Here’s how to use BT broadband speed tests