Broadband speed tests are a great way to check the speed of your broadband connection. A successful speed test will tell you the speed that you can currently upload and download from your current broadband provider, and will allow you to compare those numbers against the speeds you’re paying for.

The actual speed of your broadband connection will ofcourse have an effect on your internet use and browsing habits. A slower broadband speed for example will increase download times for large files, and can in some cases cause slow loading of web pages. By performing a broadband speed test you will be able to see the current speeds you are receiving and allow you to decide whether upgrading to a faster broadband speed may be a good idea.

Generally speaking broadband speeds tends to be measured in megabits per second (Mbps). On completion, the speed test will tell you how long it takes information from the internet to be transferred to your computer (download), along with how long it takes information to be transferred from your computer to the internet (upload).

The results of the broadband speed test will highlight these speeds as a value in Mb for both downlod and upload speeds. Most users

To help you get the most accurate results from your internet speed test, you should refrain from using any other applications, and not browse the web while the test is taking place. The tests only usually last for around 30 seconds or so.

There are many different factors that can affect the results of a broadband speed test. The exact speed results will vary from customer to customer and the speeds of one 4Mb service will be different depending on provider. The results could show that you’re receiving a slower speed than what you are paying for, this can be dependent on your location, how far you are from your local telephone exchange, and how many people in your area are using the same service.