FAQ > Guide to Broadband Speed > What broadband speed do I need for my daily internet usage?

Choosing the right broadband speed depends on the types of activities you engage in online, the number of devices connected to your network, and the size of your household.

Here’s a guide to help you determine the appropriate broadband speed for your daily internet usage:

1. Light Usage (Browsing, Emails, Social Media)

Activities: If your daily internet usage consists mainly of browsing websites, checking emails, and scrolling through social media, you don't need extremely high speeds.
Recommended Speed:
- Minimum: 30 Mbps
- Ideal Plans: 24MB - Broadband & Phone or Full Fibre 40.
Why: These speeds are more than sufficient for these activities, even if multiple devices are connected.

2. Streaming Videos and Music

Activities: Streaming HD videos on platforms like Netflix or YouTube, streaming music on Spotify, or light online gaming.
Recommended Speed:
- HD Streaming: 68.4 Mbps
- Ideal Plans: FTTC Prime 80 or Full Fibre 80.
4K Streaming: If you’re streaming in 4K or UHD, you'll need higher speeds.

Recommended Speed: 136.8 Mbps
Ideal Plans: Full Fibre 160.

Why: These speeds ensure smooth streaming without buffering, even with multiple streams or downloads occurring simultaneously.

3. Online Gaming

Activities: Playing online multiplayer games, downloading large game files, and using platforms like Xbox Live or PlayStation Network.
Recommended Speed:
- Minimum: 98.3 Mbps
- Ideal Plans: Full Fibre 160 or Full Fibre - 220.
Why: Online gaming requires not just high download speeds but also low latency (ping) to avoid lag, which these plans can provide.

4. Remote Work and Video Conferencing

Activities: Attending video conferences (e.g., Zoom, Teams), uploading and downloading large files, working with cloud-based applications.
Recommended Speed:
- HD Video Conferencing: 68.4 Mbps
- Multiple Video Conferences or Large Files: or 136.8 Mbps or higher.
- Ideal Plans: Full Fibre 160 or Full Fibre - 330.
Why: These speeds ensure clear video quality and stable connections during important work meetings or online classes, with the bandwidth to support other household activities simultaneously.

5. Smart Home Devices

Activities: Using smart home devices like security cameras, smart thermostats, and smart lighting systems.
Recommended Speed:
- Minimum: 68.4 Mbps
- Ideal Plans: Full Fibre 80 or Full Fibre 160.
Why: Smart home devices continuously use bandwidth, and higher speeds ensure they work efficiently alongside your other online activities.

6. Large Households with Heavy Usage

Activities: A combination of all the above activities happening simultaneously across multiple devices, including 4K streaming, gaming, video conferencing, and smart home devices.
Recommended Speed:
- Minimum: 282.5 Mbps
- Ideal Plans: Full Fibre - 330 or Full Fibre - 1000.
Why: These plans provide the highest speeds, ensuring no slowdowns even with multiple high-demand activities occurring at once.

7. Specific Scenarios and Recommendations

Small Family in a Medium-Sized Home (1,500 sq. ft.): If a household of three streams HD content, participates in video calls, and browses simultaneously, Full Fibre 160 (136.8 Mbps) is ideal.
Large Family in a Large Home (2,500+ sq. ft.): For a family of five where one is a gamer, two are streaming 4K content, and others are browsing or using smart devices, Full Fibre - 330 (282.5 Mbps) or Full Fibre - 1000 (950 Mbps) will provide the necessary speed and coverage.
Single User in a Small Apartment (750 sq. ft.): If you mainly browse the web and occasionally stream, 24MB - Broadband & Phone (30 Mbps) or Full Fibre 40 (34.2 Mbps) will suffice.