Help Pages > Broadband > Guide to Broadband Speeds > Broadband Download Speeds

Broadband Download Speeds

Connection
Keywords: speed | download | downstream Summary: Find out about the speeds you can expect from our broadband products.

If you're looking for download speed information for our older broadband products, please see our Broadband Product Archive.

We think that our customers should know exactly what to expect from our broadband products - most ISPs restrict speeds in some way, but very few will share the details with their customers.

Here we'll show you the download speeds we aim for on our Residential and Business broadband products. If you're looking for upload speed information, see our Broadband Upload Speeds guide.

To find out more about why we manage traffic, see our Traffic Management Guide.

  1. Plusnet Value download speeds
  2. Plusnet Extra download speeds
  3. Plusnet Pro download speeds
  4. Business Broadband Option 1 & 2 download speeds
  5. Business Broadband Option 3 download speeds
  6. Key
  7. Speed Problems

Please be aware that:

  • Activities not listed are not restricted but are subject to Traffic Prioritisation
  • The speeds shown here don't represent your overall line speed
  • Very few games need more than 2Mb of bandwidth (we'll address the ones that do), low latency (ping) is much more important for gaming than speed
  • Demos, games and system updates from services such as PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE fall under the Download Servers category rather than Gaming
  • Line speed means that you'll get the fastest speed possible at the time, subject to Traffic Prioritisation
  • Applications not using their standard ports may be classed incorrectly

1. Plusnet Value download speeds

Ideal for web surfing and email. It's not suitable for frequent gaming, binary USENET, Peer-to-Peer, VPN, FTP or lots of music and video downloads.

  Peer-to
-Peer		 Binary USENET FTP (non Plusnet) VPN Gaming YouTube Download sites Download servers Streaming Other
12am-12pm 256Kb 256Kb 256Kb 512Kb 2Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line Speed
12pm-2pm 164Kb 164Kb 256Kb 512Kb 2Mb Line speed 1Mb 2Mb Line speed Line Speed
2pm-4pm 128Kb 128Kb 256Kb 512Kb 2Mb Line speed 1Mb 2Mb Line speed Line Speed
4pm-6pm 100Kb 100Kb 256Kb 512Kb 2Mb Line speed 512Kb 1Mb Line speed Line Speed
6pm-7pm 50Kb 50Kb 128Kb 512Kb 2Mb 2.5Mb 256Kb 756Kb Line speed 192Kb
7pm-8pm 50Kb 50Kb 128Kb 512Kb 2Mb 2.5Mb 256Kb 756Kb Line speed 192Kb
8pm-10pm 50Kb 50Kb 128Kb 512Kb 2Mb 2.5Mb 256Kb 512Kb Line speed 192Kb
10pm-11pm 100Kb 100Kb 256Kb 512Kb 2Mb Line speed 256Kb 756Kb Line speed Line Speed
11pm-12am 128Kb 128Kb 256Kb 512Kb 2Mb Line speed 512Kb 1Mb Line speed Line Speed

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2. Plusnet Extra download speeds

Designed for serious Internet users, ideal for all Internet activities.

  Peer-to
-Peer		 Binary USENET FTP (non Plusnet) VPN Gaming YouTube Download sites Download servers Streaming Other
12am-8am Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
8am-9am 8Mb 8Mb 8Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed 8Mb 16Mb Line speed Line speed
9am-10am 4Mb 4Mb 4Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed 8Mb 8Mb Line speed Line speed
10am-11am 3Mb 3Mb 3Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed 8Mb 8Mb Line speed Line speed
11am-12pm 2Mb 2Mb 2Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed 8Mb 8Mb Line speed Line speed
12pm-2pm 512Kb 512Kb 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed 1Mb 2Mb Line speed Line speed
2pm-4pm 256Kb 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed 1Mb 2Mb Line speed Line speed
4pm-6pm 164Kb 164Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed 512Kb 1Mb Line speed Line speed
6pm-7pm 128Kb 128Kb 256Kb 2Mb Line speed 2.5Mb 256Kb 756Kb Line speed 256Kb
7pm-8pm 128Kb 128Kb 256Kb 2Mb Line speed 2.5Mb 256Kb 756Kb Line speed 256Kb
8pm-10pm 128Kb 128Kb 164Kb 2Mb Line speed 2.5Mb 256Kb 512Kb Line speed 256Kb
10pm-11pm 1Mb 1Mb 1Mb 2Mb Line speed Line speed 512Kb 1Mb Line speed Line speed
11pm-12am 2Mb 2Mb 2Mb 2Mb Line speed Line speed 1Mb 2Mb Line speed Line speed

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3. Plusnet Pro download speeds

Ideal for all general Internet activities and occasional gaming and VPN. Designed to cater for some, although light, binary USENET, Peer-to-Peer, VPN or music/video downloads.

  Peer-to
-Peer		 Binary USENET FTP (non Plusnet) VPN Gaming YouTube Download sites Download servers Streaming Other
All Day Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line Speed Line speed Line Speed

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4. Business Broadband Option 1 & 2 download speeds

Monday to Friday

  Peer-to
-Peer		 Binary USENET External FTP VPN Gaming YouTube Download sites Download servers Streaming † Other
12am-12pm Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
12pm-2pm 512Kb 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
2pm-4pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
4pm-5pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
5pm-6pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 256Kb 1 Mb Line speed Line speed
6pm-7pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 256Kb 768Kb Line speed 228Kb
7pm-10pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed 1Mb 256Kb 512Kb Line speed 228Kb
10pm-11pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
11pm-12am 512Kb 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed

Weekends

  Peer-to
-Peer		 Binary USENET External FTP VPN Gaming YouTube Download sites Download servers Streaming † Other
12am-10am Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
10am-12pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 1400Kb Line speed
12pm-4pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 512Kb Line speed 1400Kb Line speed
4pm-5pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 256Kb Line speed 1400Kb Line speed
5pm-6pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 256Kb 1Mb 1400Kb Line speed
6pm-7pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 256Kb 768Kb 1400Kb 228Kb
7pm-10pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed 1Mb 256Kb 512Kb 1400Kb 228Kb
10pm-11pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
11pm-12am 512Kb 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
  • Business Broadband Option 1 is ideal for the small office/home office worker wanting cost-effective broadband
  • Business Broadband Option 2 is ideal for small businesses with up to 10 staff wanting a business-class broadband solution

† HD Streaming does not work when the line speed is restricted to 1400Kb

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5. Business Broadband Option 3 download speeds

Monday to Friday

  Peer-to
-Peer		 Binary USENET External FTP VPN Gaming YouTube Download sites Download servers Streaming † Other
12am-12pm Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
12pm-2pm 512Kb 512Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
2pm-4pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
4pm-5pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
5pm-6pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 256Kb 1Mb Line speed Line speed
6pm-7pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 256Kb 768Kb Line speed 228Kb
7pm-10pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb 1Mb 256Kb 512Kb Line speed 228Kb
10pm-11pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
11pm-12am 512Kb 512Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed

Weekends

  Peer-to
-Peer		 Binary USENET External FTP VPN Gaming YouTube Download sites Download servers Streaming † Other
12am-10am Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
10am-12pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
12pm-4pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
4pm-5pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 256Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
5pm-6pm 164Kb 164Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 256Kb 1Mb Line speed Line speed
6pm-7pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 256Kb 768Kb Line speed 228Kb
7pm-10pm 128Kb 128Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb 1Mb 256Kb 512Kb Line speed 228Kb
10pm-11pm 256Kb 256Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed 512Kb Line speed Line speed Line speed
11pm-12am 512Kb 512Kb Line speed Line speed 2Mb Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed Line speed
  • Business Broadband Option 3 is ideal for businesses needing a premier unlimited access service offering 24/7 reliability.

† HD Streaming will not work when the line speed is restricted to 1400Kb

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6. Key

  • Peer-to-Peer - Downloading with a file sharing application
  • Binary USENET - Downloading files from binary newsgroups (does not include text only services)
  • FTP (non Plusnet) - Using FTP to move files to or from servers not operated by us
  • Plusnet FTP - Using FTP to move files to or from servers operated by us
  • VPN - A secure way to connect to a network at another location, often used by home workers to access work systems
  • Download sites & servers - Large file downloads from the following sites and sources
  • Gaming - Online gaming
  • Streaming - Playing continuous multimedia TV, movie or music files
  • YouTube - Online video

Line Speed depends on the type of broadband you have. Most customers have Max DSL.

  • Fixed speed: up to 2Mbs
  • Max DSL/Max Premium: up to 8Mbps
  • ADSL2+: up to 20Mbps
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7. Speed Problems

We can't guarantee that you'll always see these speeds, but if your line and the network are running properly then it's rare to see much lower - your broadband speed can be affected by a number of things. Read more about them here.

If you think there's a problem with your broadband service, take a look at our Slow Speeds Guide.

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This page last updated 25th May 2010

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RELATED ARTICLES

Traffic Management Guide

Referral discount for broadband products

Residential Broadband Products FAQ

Business Broadband Products FAQ

How we manage abnormal load on our network

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We sell broadband and phone to homes and businesses in the UK. We won "Best Value Home Broadband" in the Top 10 Broadband Awards 2009.

† The uSwitch Customer Satisfaction Survey 2009 reported that 79% of Plusnet users would recommend us to a friend.

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