How does the speed test work?

We calculate the speed of your broadband connection by measuring the time it takes to download a fixed amount of data.

What does the score mean?

The score is the measured speed of your connection in kilobits per second (kbps). To get the speed in megabits per second (Mbps), divide the score by 1,000.

Why do I get different results when I run the test more than once?

The score shows the current speed of your connection, which can be affected by congestion on the network or other Internet activity. If you are downloading music or other files when you run the test, or sharing your connection with other people, this will reduce your score.

I thought my broadband was faster?

The connection speed that your provider quotes is the maximum possible under optimum conditions. If there's a lot of other traffic clogging up the lines between our servers and your computer, or you're trying to do more than one thing at once, your speed will drop.

Do I need a faster connection?

If you are only using the Internet to send email and visit Web sites like CNET.co.uk, you can get by with a connection speed of 1-2Mbps. If you also want to download music and watch on-line videos, you'll be happier with a 4 or 8Mbps connection. For downloading lots of music, watching television over the Internet or downloading games and software, get the fastest connection you can find.

Why does it take so long to upload files?

Most broadband connections are asymmetric, so the download speed is significantly faster than the upload speed. Most people download a lot more data than they upload, so this usually works out okay. If you're going to be uploading large files such as photos or videos, remember your upload speed will be slower than your download speed -- so go for a fast connection.