The different fibre line speeds explained

• We know the choice of which Fibre line speed is best for your home and family can seem complicated with so many different options available. Read on for our recommendations, advice and some answers to the most frequently asked customers received.

  How is speed measured?

  The speed at which data moves along a Fibre line is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). The higher the number of Mbps, the faster the data is transmitted and received. Higher than Megabits per second (Mbps) are Gigabits per second (Gbps), which are the fastest speeds you can get. These start back at 1 again.

  What is the difference between download vs upload speeds?

  Download speeds refer to the speeds at which you are able to download data EG: Streaming the latest movies and series, while upload speeds refer to speeds when you are upload (send out) data EG: Creating and loading your own video

  Upload and download speeds are presented in different ways including the following:

  • 25Mbps/10Mbps. Download is the first speed mentioned
  • 25Mbps Up. This references the upload speed
  • 25 Mbps Down. This references the download speed

  Do I need to choose a higher upload or download speed?

  A higher upload speed is important if you are actively creating your own content and posting it on platforms like YouTube or your own website, or making online video calls, or if you play streaming games online and use cloud storage. For the majority of users, we’d recommend a faster download speed as it is more commonly used to get data onto a device when making your decision.

  What is a synchronous vs asynchronous product?

  Synchronous products are those where the upload and download speeds are the same. For example a 25Mbps/ 25Mbps product. An Asynchronous product has a different upload and download speed. For example, a 25Mbps/ 10Mbps product. Remember the download speed is always first.

  WiFi speeds.

  WiFi speeds are dependent on your connection between your router and WiFi enabled device. In most cases either one or both are only able to transmit more than 50Mbps. We recommend you check if your router and mobile device is capable of achieving higher than 100Mbps line speeds.

  What speed do I need?

  Consider what activities you are doing online and how many people and devices are connected at the same time. The higher the number of online activities and greater the number of people connecting, the faster the download speed you should choose. Mweb Fibre offers a range of speeds depending on the Fibre Network Operator, from the entry-level 25Mbps to the popular 50Mbps and all the way to the lightning-fast speed of 1Gbps.

  	20 – 30Mbps	35Mbps to 50Mbps	100Mbps to 200Mbps	500Mbps to 1GBps
  Connected devices	2 - 3	4 - 6	7 - 12	More than 12
  4K video streaming	1 Device	2 Devices	5 Devices	More than 5 Devices
  HD video streaming	2 Devices	Up to 4 Devices	10 Devices	More than 10 Devices
  Online gaming	Yes	Yes Multiple players	Yes Multiple players	Yes Multiple players
  Streaming own gameplay – via Twitch, Facebook or YouTube	1 Device	2 Devices	5 Devices	More than 5 Devices
  Video calls over Zoom, Skye, Teams or WhatsApp	2 calls at the same time	4 calls at the same time	10 calls at the same time	More than 10 calls at the same time
  Studies and schooling	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Emails + browsing only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes