The advertised 5G download speed of 150Mbps applies to at least 50% of 5G Broadband customers between the peak hours of 8pm and 10pm. We measure the speeds delivered by our 5G Radio Access Network to customers across our 5G Network and calculate the average (median) 5G data throughput rate at peak hours on a daily basis. In Dec 23 - Jan 24 the median figure was well above 150 Mbps each day and we continue to monitor this on an ongoing basis. Due to the nature of the wireless technology delivering your Broadband, the speed that any individual premises will experience is not guaranteed, may vary and can be impacted by local factors, such as the positioning of the hub, line of sight to your nearest mast, local topography (such as hills), number of users accessing the network in your area and thickness of walls and windows.
A Guide to Broadband Streaming Speeds
November 11, 2024
Streaming keeps us all entertained. But when it comes to a good online viewing experience, what connection speed do you need to have? The last thing you want is for your favourite TV show to start buffering or lose image quality at a key point because your connection isn’t good enough. So, we’ve put together a short guide on the key requirements for totally immersive broadband streaming.
The best internet speeds for different streaming quality
A large part of knowing your ideal internet speed is knowing what picture quality you intend to stream at. Many streaming platforms even charge different subscription fees for different picture quality. We’ve looked across sources including Freeview, Sky and Uswitch to gather a consensus on the ideal streaming speed for each picture quality level.
What’s the ideal internet speed for standard definition streaming?
The general recommendation is that the minimum ideal speed for SD viewing is 2-3Mbps.
What’s the ideal internet speed for 1080p Full High Definition streaming?
Most sources recommend a minimum ideal speed of 5-8Mbps for FHD viewing.
What’s the ideal internet speed for 4K streaming?
The most recommended minimum ideal speed for 4K video streaming is 25Mbps.
What’s the ideal broadband speed for the most popular streaming platforms?
Your exact internet speed requirements will depend on which streaming service you’re using and what video quality you prefer. Let’s take a look at the guidance from a few key platforms:
What’s the minimum broadband speed for Netflix?
Looking at Netfix's streaming figures, they recommend the following speeds:
- High definition (HD 720p): minimum of 3 Mbps
- Full high definition (FHD 1080p): minimum of 5 Mbps
- Ultra-high definition (UHD 4K): minimum of 15 Mbps
What’s the minimum broadband speed for iPlayer?
Going straight to the source for the BBC’s streaming requirements, they say:
- iPlayer shows in high definition (HD) stream at up to 5 Mbps
- iPlayer shows in standard definition (SD) stream at up to 1.5 Mbps
What’s the minimum internet speed for YouTube?
Again, looking at Google’s recommended streaming speeds, they suggest:
- iPlayer shows in high definition (HD) stream at up to 5 Mbps
- iPlayer shows in standard definition (SD) stream at up to 1.5 Mbps
How fast is Three’s 5G broadband for streaming?
Our 5G broadband speeds are more than equipped to deal with all your TV and film streaming needs. With average download speeds of around 150Mbps[1] and estimated maximum speeds of over 500Mbps, our reliable and superfast 5G connection can handle binge-streaming, online gaming, and much more, within the same household.
So, even if several family members or housemates are all streaming in different rooms, Three 5G broadband will deal with all of that – plus it allows you all to view everything in your chosen quality.
If you want to find out more, discover our 5G broadband options now.
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Advertised 5G Home Broadband Speed Claim