Start by providing evidence of your internet speeds – it's a good idea to keep a diary of interruptions and to regularly use the speed checker tool to build up a true picture of your service. We suggest calling your internet service provider (ISP) as a first step to see what it can do. However, if you've done everything you can to speed up your connection and you're still getting a lower speed than you were promised, your broadband provider may be in breach of contract. If your speeds are significantly less than you expected, there are steps you can take to improve things - get started by checking our advice on Speed up slow broadband. What you can do if your broadband speeds are slow The results also only show the speeds you're getting on the device you're using for the test – the speed your provider is delivering to your home may be higher, especially if you're performing the test wirelessly at some distance from your router. So to build an accurate picture, we would suggest you run several tests during a single week, in peak use time (between 8pm and 10pm) and during off-peak times. It's important to note that the speed test results only represent a snapshot of your broadband connection at the time of testing. However, if you use your connection for video calls or online gaming, keep an eye on the upload rate, too, as it's essential for both. Download speeds are usually of more interest, as most tasks require you to download information. The download speed shows the rate at which data is transferred from the internet to your device, while the upload speed shows the reverse – the rate that data is transferred from your device to the internet. More responsive connections – indicated with a low number – are necessary for applications where timing is everything, such as interactive video games.

The response time, measured in milliseconds (ms), shows how quickly you get a response after you've sent out a request. The tool measures the response time, or latency, of your broadband connection, as well as your download and upload speeds. What do the broadband speed test results show?

Broadband test speed