Internet Speed and Wi-Fi for Streaming Explained

Streaming quality depends far more on your home network than most people expect. A fast broadband package can still give a poor picture if the signal in your living room is weak.

How much speed do you need?

Video quality determines the speed needed, and a few people watching at once adds up. As a rough guide, standard definition needs a modest connection, high definition needs noticeably more, and 4K needs the most. Several devices streaming together share one line, so add their needs together.

Speed is not the whole story

Stability matters as much as speed. A connection that drops for a second every few minutes will cause buffering even when the headline speed looks high. Latency and packet loss can also affect playback.

Why Wi-Fi causes trouble

Walls, floors, mirrors, microwave ovens and neighbouring networks all weaken or disturb the signal. The further a device is from the router, the more it suffers. The 5 GHz band is usually faster but covers a shorter distance than 2.4 GHz.

Simple improvements

Use an Ethernet cable wherever possible. Move the router to a central, raised position. Restart it now and then. For larger homes, consider a mesh system or powerline adapters. Avoid heavy downloads on other devices while you watch.

How to test properly

Run a speed test on the device you watch on, in the room you watch in, at the time you usually watch. Run it more than once, because results vary.

When to contact your broadband provider

If every device struggles and a cable does not help, the issue may be the line or the router. Speak to your broadband provider, and see our troubleshooting guide for what to try first.