Summary: Find out about the speeds you can expect from our broadband products.
If you're looking for download speed information for our older broadband products, please see our Broadband Product Archive.
We think that our customers should know exactly what to expect from our broadband products - most ISPs restrict speeds in some way, but very few will share the details with their customers.
Here we'll show you the download speeds we aim for on our Residential and Business broadband products. If you're looking for upload speed information, see our Broadband Upload Speeds guide.
To find out more about why we manage traffic, see our Traffic Management Guide.
- Plusnet Value download speeds
- Plusnet Extra download speeds
- Plusnet Pro download speeds
- Business Broadband Option 1 & 2 download speeds
- Business Broadband Option 3 download speeds
- Key
- Speed Problems
Please be aware that:
- Activities not listed are not restricted but are subject to Traffic Prioritisation
- The speeds shown here don't represent your overall line speed
- Very few games need more than 2Mb of bandwidth (we'll address the ones that do), low latency (ping) is much more important for gaming than speed
- Demos, games and system updates from services such as PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE fall under the Download Servers category rather than Gaming
- Line speed means that you'll get the fastest speed possible at the time, subject to Traffic Prioritisation
- Applications not using their standard ports may be classed incorrectly
1. Plusnet Value download speeds
Ideal for web surfing and email. It's not suitable for frequent gaming, binary USENET, Peer-to-Peer, VPN, FTP or lots of music and video downloads.
| Peer-to -Peer |
Binary USENET | FTP (non Plusnet) | VPN | Gaming | YouTube | Download sites | Download servers | Streaming | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12am-12pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | 256Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line Speed |
| 12pm-2pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | 256Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 1Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line Speed |
| 2pm-4pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | 256Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 1Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line Speed |
| 4pm-6pm | 100Kb | 100Kb | 256Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 512Kb | 1Mb | Line speed | Line Speed |
| 6pm-7pm | 50Kb | 50Kb | 128Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | 2.5Mb | 256Kb | 756Kb | Line speed | 192Kb |
| 7pm-8pm | 50Kb | 50Kb | 128Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | 2.5Mb | 256Kb | 756Kb | Line speed | 192Kb |
| 8pm-10pm | 50Kb | 50Kb | 128Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | 2.5Mb | 256Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | 192Kb |
| 10pm-11pm | 100Kb | 100Kb | 256Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 256Kb | 756Kb | Line speed | Line Speed |
| 11pm-12am | 128Kb | 128Kb | 256Kb | 512Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 512Kb | 1Mb | Line speed | Line Speed |
2. Plusnet Extra download speeds
Designed for serious Internet users, ideal for all Internet activities.
| Peer-to -Peer |
Binary USENET | FTP (non Plusnet) | VPN | Gaming | YouTube | Download sites | Download servers | Streaming | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12am-8am | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 8am-9am | 8Mb | 8Mb | 8Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 8Mb | 16Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 9am-10am | 4Mb | 4Mb | 4Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 8Mb | 8Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 10am-11am | 3Mb | 3Mb | 3Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 8Mb | 8Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 11am-12pm | 2Mb | 2Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 8Mb | 8Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 12pm-2pm | 512Kb | 512Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 1Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 2pm-4pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 1Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 4pm-6pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 512Kb | 1Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 6pm-7pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | 256Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 2.5Mb | 256Kb | 756Kb | Line speed | 256Kb |
| 7pm-8pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | 256Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 2.5Mb | 256Kb | 756Kb | Line speed | 256Kb |
| 8pm-10pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | 164Kb | 2Mb | Line speed | 2.5Mb | 256Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | 256Kb |
| 10pm-11pm | 1Mb | 1Mb | 1Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | 512Kb | 1Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 11pm-12am | 2Mb | 2Mb | 2Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | 1Mb | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
3. Plusnet Pro download speeds
Ideal for all general Internet activities and occasional gaming and VPN. Designed to cater for some, although light, binary USENET, Peer-to-Peer, VPN or music/video downloads.
| Peer-to -Peer |
Binary USENET | FTP (non Plusnet) | VPN | Gaming | YouTube | Download sites | Download servers | Streaming | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Day | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line Speed | Line speed | Line Speed |
4. Business Broadband Option 1 & 2 download speeds
Monday to Friday
| Peer-to -Peer |
Binary USENET | External FTP | VPN | Gaming | YouTube | Download sites | Download servers | Streaming † | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12am-12pm | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 12pm-2pm | 512Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 2pm-4pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 4pm-5pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 5pm-6pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 256Kb | 1 Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 6pm-7pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 256Kb | 768Kb | Line speed | 228Kb |
| 7pm-10pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 1Mb | 256Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | 228Kb |
| 10pm-11pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 11pm-12am | 512Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
Weekends
| Peer-to -Peer |
Binary USENET | External FTP | VPN | Gaming | YouTube | Download sites | Download servers | Streaming † | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12am-10am | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 10am-12pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 1400Kb | Line speed |
| 12pm-4pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | 1400Kb | Line speed |
| 4pm-5pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 256Kb | Line speed | 1400Kb | Line speed |
| 5pm-6pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 256Kb | 1Mb | 1400Kb | Line speed |
| 6pm-7pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 256Kb | 768Kb | 1400Kb | 228Kb |
| 7pm-10pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 1Mb | 256Kb | 512Kb | 1400Kb | 228Kb |
| 10pm-11pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 11pm-12am | 512Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
- Business Broadband Option 1 is ideal for the small office/home office worker wanting cost-effective broadband
- Business Broadband Option 2 is ideal for small businesses with up to 10 staff wanting a business-class broadband solution
† HD Streaming does not work when the line speed is restricted to 1400Kb
[Top]5. Business Broadband Option 3 download speeds
Monday to Friday
| Peer-to -Peer |
Binary USENET | External FTP | VPN | Gaming | YouTube | Download sites | Download servers | Streaming † | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12am-12pm | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 12pm-2pm | 512Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 2pm-4pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 4pm-5pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 5pm-6pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 256Kb | 1Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 6pm-7pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 256Kb | 768Kb | Line speed | 228Kb |
| 7pm-10pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | 1Mb | 256Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | 228Kb |
| 10pm-11pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 11pm-12am | 512Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
Weekends
| Peer-to -Peer |
Binary USENET | External FTP | VPN | Gaming | YouTube | Download sites | Download servers | Streaming † | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12am-10am | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 10am-12pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 12pm-4pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 4pm-5pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 5pm-6pm | 164Kb | 164Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 256Kb | 1Mb | Line speed | Line speed |
| 6pm-7pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 256Kb | 768Kb | Line speed | 228Kb |
| 7pm-10pm | 128Kb | 128Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | 1Mb | 256Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | 228Kb |
| 10pm-11pm | 256Kb | 256Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
| 11pm-12am | 512Kb | 512Kb | Line speed | Line speed | 2Mb | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed | Line speed |
- Business Broadband Option 3 is ideal for businesses needing a premier unlimited access service offering 24/7 reliability.
† HD Streaming will not work when the line speed is restricted to 1400Kb
[Top]6. Key
- Peer-to-Peer - Downloading with a file sharing application
- Binary USENET - Downloading files from binary newsgroups (does not include text only services)
- FTP (non Plusnet) - Using FTP to move files to or from servers not operated by us
- Plusnet FTP - Using FTP to move files to or from servers operated by us
- VPN - A secure way to connect to a network at another location, often used by home workers to access work systems
- Download sites & servers - Large file downloads from the following sites and sources
- Gaming - Online gaming
- Streaming - Playing continuous multimedia TV, movie or music files
- YouTube - Online video
Line Speed depends on the type of broadband you have. Most customers have Max DSL.
- Fixed speed: up to 2Mbs
- Max DSL/Max Premium: up to 8Mbps
- ADSL2+: up to 20Mbps
7. Speed Problems
We can't guarantee that you'll always see these speeds, but if your line and the network are running properly then it's rare to see much lower - your broadband speed can be affected by a number of things. Read more about them here.
If you think there's a problem with your broadband service, take a look at our Slow Speeds Guide.
[Top]This page last updated 25th May 2010
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