Do you find all the talk around broadband, WiFi and full fibre speeds confusing?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. But we’re here to help with our handy guide to all the lingo you need to know. 

Your home broadband speeds are determined by a few factors, including connection type, distance from the connection box, congestion and your chosen internet service plan. Read on to see what these terms mean, and how to use your new knowledge to pick the best plan for what you need. 

Types of internet connections 

The UK uses three main types of connection: 

• ADSL Internet Connection: copper cable is used from the telephone exchange all the way to your home. 

• Fibre-to-the-Cabinet Internet Connection: fibre optic cable is used from the telephone exchange to the cabinet on your street, and copper wire is used to your home. 

• Fibre-to-the-Premises Internet Connection: fibre optic cable is used from the telephone exchange all the way to your home (this is also called full fibre broadband). 

• Additionally, some providers offer a Fixed Wireless Access Connection: typically for very rural areas where underground connections aren’t available, this connection delivers connectivity through radio signals. 

Each of these connections have their own maximum potential speeds, and some come with limitations. The most important thing to remember is that copper wire transmits data as electricity, while fibre optic transmits data as light. And since light travels faster than electricity, a fibre broadband connection is faster than copper. 

Common internet terms 

Bandwidth: 

Bandwidth describes the maximum amount of data that a network can transmit at one time. Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH), also called full-fibre, can transmit large amounts of data very quickly, offering high bandwidth. 

Imagine a wide drainpipe, it allows lots of water to flow quickly without any delays. However, in a narrow pipe, water trickles through slowly. Bandwidth works in the same way. Copper cable is like having narrow pipes, meaning slower data transfer. Fibre optic broadband is the wide drainpipe, letting lots of data through at the same time for the fastest full fibre speeds. 

Distance: 

Distance is important for broadband connections where copper cables are still required. This is because longer distances between the cabinet to your home mean slower speeds. 

Distance doesn’t impact full-fibre connections in the same way because light transmit data much faster. 

Network congestion: 

Networks can become congested during peak usage times, such as evenings and weekends, particularly when many people are streaming TV or online gaming. Slower speeds then happen because many users have to share the bandwidth. This is commonly called ‘buffer bloat’ – you can read more about how to combat it in our article here. 

Service plan: 

Broadband service providers usually offer different broadband packages with varying speeds and pricing options. You can choose a plan based on your internet usage, the number of devices you have connected in your home, and your desired internet speed. 

How is internet speed measured? 

Internet speed refers to the speed which data can be delivered over a network connection – and are typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). 

Upload speed:

Upload speed has traditionally been much lower than download speed. However, with more of us working from home than ever, we need a fast upload speed to save work files, take buffer-free video calls and collaborate in real time. Fibre broadband from Highland Broadband offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, meaning your uploads are as fast as your downloads. 

Download speed:

This is the speed it takes to download data, such as files and games. However, the time to download files and data varies significantly depending on file size, your broadband speed, the quality of your internet connection and even the efficiency of the server hosting that content. 

As a rough guide, here are some examples of how long it generally takes to download a 2GB movie based on the average download speed of different types of connections. 

Fixed Wireless Average Download Speed:

Fixed wireless connections can vary in speed depending on the provider and the conditions of the connection. However, assuming a speed of around 10Mbps, it would take around 20-25 minutes to download a 2GB movie. 

FTTC Average Download Speed:

FTTC speeds vary depending on things like distance from the cabinet, congestion or the line quality. With a typical speed of around 30Mbps, downloading a 2GB movie would take around 8-10 minutes. 

FTTP Average Download Speed:

FTTP is the very latest, fastest and most reliable technology available. With ultrafast speeds ranging from 100Mbps to 1Gbps or higher, downloading a 2GB movie takes no time at all. At 100Mbps, it would take around 2-3 minutes, and at 1Gbps, it would literally take seconds. 

Hopefully this guide helps you to understand internet speeds and how to pick the best plan for your home. And don’t forget, our full fibre broadband offers the very latest ultrafast broadband speeds available, using the most up-to-date broadband technology and future-proofing your home for years to come. Find out if we’re available in your area and pick the best fibre plan for your home here.