Broadband speed is a common concern for gamers, live streamers, and anyone who regularly watches TV in 4k or Ultra HD, even more so for competitive gamers and professional streamers. Even the slightest lag can come at a cost for anyone competing in e-sports or streaming to large audiences.
But even regular households need fast and reliable broadband if they want to stream their favourite shows in high definition or play the latest games online. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help readers choose the best broadband for gaming and streaming, explaining some of the terminology and what can impact internet speeds at crucial times.
Key Takeaways:
The key factors that impact gaming, live streaming, and watching 4K TV
Important terms like ping, latency, bandwidth, and packet loss
How to improve your broadband setup to ensure higher speeds
The importance of high upload and download speeds
The ideal broadband speeds for households
Why is High-Speed Broadband Essential for Gamers?
A faster broadband package ensures the latest high-end games load quickly and run smoothly, with no noticeable lag, disruptions, or slow loading times. As most modern games are downloaded and have mandatory online features, a reliable internet connection is needed just to reach the start screen. However, many standard home broadband packages are not sufficient, and many PC and console gamers have probably experienced freezes and disconnections at some point.
Have you ever bought a new game that you have been eager to play, but has taken ages to download? Or have you been met with several updates that have eaten into your playing time? A faster internet connection can reduce these waiting times.
The number of users connected to a single broadband router is also an important factor when it comes to speed and performance, which is why busy households should think about upgrading to ensure a pain-free experience, whether they’re watching TV, working from home, or gaming.
Understanding Latency, Ping, and Packet Loss
Latency, ping, and packet loss are three key pieces of terminology you should try to understand to help you choose the best broadband provider for your needs. Here’s a simple breakdown of what each term means.
Latency and Ping
Latency is the total amount of time it takes for a data packet to travel from a person’s device (such as a PS5 or Nintendo Switch) to reach a server, and then return again. This is measured in milliseconds (ms). Ping is a tool that measures latency, with under 20ms deemed ideal for high-end, competitive gaming, while anything over 100ms is considered insufficient for most online activities, with even browsing the internet being noticeably slow.
Packet Loss
Packet loss refers to the packets of data sent from a device which fail to reach their destination. When these packets go missing, they have to be resent, resulting in issues like visual glitches (rubber-banding) when gaming and frozen video during a Zoom or Teams call. This loss is shown as a percentage. Ideally, any packet loss is kept below 1%, which would generally be unnoticeable, while anything over 5% would make a broadband connection almost unusable at times.
What Upload and Download Speeds Should Gamers Look For?
Download speed is very important for gaming, and a high download speed is essential to ensure the latest games run at optimal performance. Meanwhile, upload speed, although not as important from a gaming perspective, can have an impact for anyone who livestreams while gaming, with low upload speeds resulting in quality issues for anyone viewing.
Another term you’ve probably heard a lot is bandwidth, which is the amount of data that can be sent over a network. If you live with multiple people who are regularly online, then you’ll likely need a broadband package that has a high-capacity in terms of bandwidth capacity.
Tips to Improve Your Broadband for Gaming
1. Avoid Gaming at Peak Usage Times
Gaming while multiple people are online, whether they’re streaming TV or on a video call, will likely slow down your connection speed, potentially resulting in lagging or disconnections. If possible, try to avoid gaming during periods of heavy usage.
2. Change the Quality of Service (QoS) Setting on your Router
Alternatively, you can check the Quality of Service (QoS) setting on your router, locate your connected PC or console, and prioritise traffic to that device. There may even be a pre-set rule to allocate the highest level of bandwidth to gaming devices, making the process easier.
3. Upgrade to a Modern Router
An outdated router can have a significant impact on broadband speeds, so if you’re a regular gamer, it’s a good idea to invest in a modern router and update its software regularly.
4. Use a Wired Connection
A wired Ethernet connection offers a much more stable connection while gaming compared to using WiFi, which can be affected by interfering devices and thick walls. With an Ethernet cable, you can plug your PC or games console directly into the router for a more reliable gaming experience.
Broadband Issues When Live Streaming
As previously mentioned, live streaming is more reliant on a fast upload speed rather than the download speed. However, problems like interference and too many users causing congestion are also common issues that impact streaming quality.
Like gaming, using a wired connection or streaming before or after peak usage times can solve most issues, but this is not a realistic solution for everyone. Therefore, upgrading to a broadband package with the fastest available upload speeds and purchasing a new router is the most effective way to ensure smooth live streaming. If you plan on streaming in 1080p at 60fps, you’ll need speeds of 10 Mbps to 15 Mbps.
Fast Broadband For Watching UHD and 4K TV
Ultra HD and 4K streaming generally requires a download speed of 25 Mbps per device. However, you may still run into some issues at these speeds if you’re watching Netflix in 4K at peak times, numerous devices are connected to your router, or you’re viewing on an HDR TV. Because of this, households are advised to look for a fibre broadband package that guarantees download speeds of between 150 to 500 Mbps.
It’s also worth remembering that your broadband speed can decrease by 20-50% through walls, ceilings, and because of interference from other electronic devices before it reaches your TV. Some smart TVs are also limited to 100 Mbps, so check the specifications of your TV’s Ethernet card in the manual before comparing broadband deals.
Compare High Speed Broadband Deals
FAQs:
1. Does Wi-Fi 6 make a noticeable difference for gaming compared to older Wi-Fi standards?
Wi-Fi 6 reduces latency and handles multiple connected devices far more efficiently than Wi-Fi 5 or, but a wired connection still beats any Wi-Fi standard for serious gaming.
2. Is fibre broadband always necessary for gaming, or can cable/ADSL be good enough?
Fibre isn't strictly necessary for casual gaming, as cable broadband can perform well. ADSL, however, often struggles with the speed and latency competitive gaming demands, so fibre or cable is recommended where available.
3. How much data does gaming and streaming use per month?
Online gaming typically uses 40–300MB per hour, while streaming in 4K can use up to 7GB per hour.
4. Can a VPN affect gaming speed or latency?
VPNs usually add some latency due to the extra routing step, though a good VPN with a nearby server may have minimal impact. A poor-quality VPN or distant server can noticeably increase ping and cause lag.
Glossary:
Bandwidth: The total amount of data that can be sent over a network connection at once. Higher bandwidth supports more devices and activities running simultaneously without slowdown.
Quality of Service (QoS): A router setting that lets you prioritise bandwidth for specific devices.
Rubber-Banding: A visual glitch in online games where a character or object suddenly changes position, usually caused by packet loss or high latency.
Fibre Broadband: An internet connection that uses fibre-optic cables for faster and more stable speeds than traditional copper-based broadband.
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Editorial Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered advice. It is not intended to provide personalised recommendations or guarantees of any outcomes.
This content reflects general information at the time of publication and is not endorsed by any company. You should always consider your own circumstances and, where appropriate, seek independent advice before making decisions. Nothing in this content should be interpreted as a recommendation to take, or refrain from taking, any specific action.
Page Last Reviewed: 27/06/2026