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What is bandwidth and how much do you need?
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If you’re crazy for superfast internet speeds, you’ll need to think about bandwidth. Here’s everything you need to know about bandwidth, including what it is, what it means, and how much of it you need
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 18 March 2025
What is bandwidth? Definition and meaning
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted over a network in a given amount of time. Every online activity you carry out, from checking emails to streaming Netflix, uses bandwidth. And there’s only so much of it.
Bandwidth usually measured in megabits per second (mbps), which refers to how well a connection can handle data. When you stream videos, browse websites, or download files, your connection’s bandwidth determines how quickly this happens.
Higher bandwidth means you can download large files faster or stream videos in higher quality without buffering. Meanwhile, a lower bandwidth might cause delays, slow downloads, or interruptions in streaming. For example, a household with multiple devices connected to the internet may need higher bandwidth to ensure smooth functioning for everyone.
Bandwidth vs internet speed: what’s the difference?
While bandwidth is the amount of data that can flow through a network, internet speed is how fast that data travels. In other words, bandwidth is about capacity (how much data can flow), but internet speed is about performance (how fast that data arrives).
Both are usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). Think of bandwidth like a highway — the wider the highway (higher bandwidth), the more cars (data) can travel at once without slowing down.
If bandwidth is the highway's width, internet speed is the rate at which cars drive along it.
Unsure of your internet speed? Take our broadband speed test.
How is a signal sent in a bandwidth?
A signal is sent in a bandwidth using a range of frequencies to carry data from one point to another. When you use the internet, your data is converted into a digital signal consisting patterns of 1s and 0s, and this digital signal is transmitted to your device over a specific range of frequencies, which make up the bandwidth.
For example, when you stream a video, the video’s data is broken into small packets, which travel over these frequencies to reach your device. The signal then travels through wires (such as fiber optic cables) or wirelessly (using radio waves). Once the signal reaches its destination, like your computer or phone, it’s decoded back into its original form, so you can watch the video, hear the sound, or read this blog post!
What does bandwidth mean for my internet speed?
If you’re streaming a video, downloading a file, and browsing the web all at once, you’ll need the space to send and receive data for these activities. If your bandwidth is high, they can happen at the same time without slowing each other down.
But if your bandwidth is low, the data will get bottlenecked, and you might experience buffering on your video, slower downloads, and, ultimately, slower internet speeds.
So, while bandwidth doesn’t directly equal internet speed, it does affect how well your connection can handle multiple tasks and larger amounts of data.
How can I check my bandwidth?
Open the Start Menu and search for "Task Manager", then open it.
In Task Manager, click on the "Performance" tab.
On the left, select your active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
Look at the "Send" and "Receive" rates under "Network." These show your current bandwidth usage in Mbps (megabits per second).
Open System Settings
Go to Network and select your active internet connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
Click on Advanced (if available) and go to the Hardware or TCP/IP tab.
Look for details about the network speed or link speed, which typically reflects your bandwidth capability (e.g., "100 Mbps" or "1 Gbps").
Open Settings and go to Connections or Network & Internet (depending on your device).
Tap on Wi-Fi, then select the connected Wi-Fi network.
Look for the "Link Speed" or "Connection Speed" (usually displayed in Mbps). This reflects your bandwidth on the current connection.
iOS does not display bandwidth directly in WiFi settings, so you may need a third-party app from the App Store to get specific details about your bandwidth.
How much bandwidth do I need for my home?
The amount of bandwidth you need depends on how many people or devices will be using the internet and what types of activities you’ll be doing online. For basic tasks like browsing the web, checking email, or using social media, you won’t need much bandwidth, and 5 to 10 Mbps should be enough for one or two people.
But if you’re streaming HD videos, playing online games, or having video calls, you’ll need a faster connection. For example, streaming HD videos on Netflix usually requires about 5 Mbps per stream, while 4K videos can need up to 25 Mbps.
For a household of 3 people or more, with some people streaming, others gaming, and some working from home, a plan with 50 to 200 Mbps is a good starting point. And if you have smart home devices like cameras or regularly upload large files, you might need an even faster connection.
It’s always better to overestimate a little to avoid frustration with slow speeds. If you're unsure, start by looking at affordable broadband deal and you think you'll need bandwidth and speed for your home.
How much bandwidth do I need for my home?
When it comes to online gaming, you don’t actually as much bandwidth as you might think. Most online games only require a relatively low amount of speed to run. For example, popular online games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or Minecraft generally need between 5 to 25 Mbps of download speed and about 5 Mbps of upload speed.
That’s because the game isn’t downloading the entire world; it’s only sending and receiving small pieces of data, like player movements and actions. For online games, it’s ping and latency that affect your online gaming experience, so make sure they’re low if you want a good internet speed for gaming.
For the best broadband for playing online games, take a look at high-speed gaming broadand deals that with low latency and ping to make your gaming experience as good as it could be.
What can affect my bandwidth?
The speed of your internet depends heavily on the internet plan you choose from your service provider. If your plan offers a limited bandwidth (e.g., 50 Mbps), you won’t be able to go beyond that speed, no matter what. High-speed fibre broadband generally costs more than slower options, but it provides better performance for activities like streaming, gaming, or downloading large files.
If you've got a need for speed, check out our gigabit broadband deals to explore the fastest speeds we've got to offer.
Bandwidth is shared among all devices connected to your network. If multiple people are streaming videos, making video calls, or downloading files it all takes up bandwidth and slows down the connection for everyone.
During peak times when many people in your area are using the internet, such as evenings or weekends, your bandwidth can be affected.
If you are using WiFi, the strength of your signal can affect your bandwidth. The farther you are from the router, or if there are walls and obstacles in the way, your connection may slow down. Older routers or outdated Wi-Fi standards can also limit your bandwidth.
Different types of internet connections — such as fiber-optic, cable, DSL, or satellite — have different bandwidth capabilities. For example, fiber-optic connections typically offer much faster speeds than DSL or satellite connections. The fastest type of broadband currently available in the UK is gigabit broadband, which offers ultrafast speeds of up to 2GB and can be easily upgraded to handle more data whenever you need it.
How to improve bandwidth
If your household is using multiple devices and a large amount of bandwidth, it may be affecting your internet speed. Here are a couple of things you can try to fix it:
1. Turn your router off and on again
It may sound cliché but turning your router off for 20-30 seconds may help improve bandwidth for your device by refreshing your internet connection.
2. Move your router
Moving your router to a central location and away from walls is an easy way to improve your internet speed. It’s also important to keep the router away from microwaves, cordless phones, and other devices that can interfere with the signal.
3. Connect your device directly to the router
Connecting an Ethernet cable from your device to your router can be quick temporary solution to get a faster and more stable internet connection. Ethernet cables are faster and more reliable than WiFi connections, so you'll have faster speeds and better bandwidth when you're online
4. Reduce background usage
You can easily improve your device bandwidth by stopping downloads, streaming, or updates running in the background on other devices in your home.
5. Upgrade your broadband package
The easiest way to improve your bandwidth is to upgrade your broadband package. If your internet speeds are consistently slow, it may be time to consider switching your broadband provider. It’s never been easy to switch broadband thanks to One Touch Switch, so take a look at our range of broadband deals if you’re looking for an upgrade.
Switch to Virgin Media broadband
Whether you’re looking for just broadband or a broadband and tv package, switching to Virgin Media has never been easier. Be sure to check out all of our broadband deals and make the switch to our superfast internet today.
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