Why is my upload speed so slow?!

Have you ever noticed that your uploads seem to take light years to complete compared to your downloads – slowing down the efficiency of you or your colleagues?

When debating over which ISP to go with, some consumers don’t check for upload speed or aren’t aware of the difference when considering which contract to enter. 

You may be tempted to go straight to one of the ‘big guys’ with their guaranteed download speeds – but many providers don’t list specific upload speeds in their large print, misleading businesses who need more bandwidth than they can offer. 

It’s also common to see broadband providers supply details of upload speeds over 90% slower than their subsequent download speed.

Why doesn’t my ISP care about my upload speeds?

Chances are, they probably do. 

But the issue isn’t with your provider hogging your upload bandwidth – it comes down to the limited capabilities and lack of availability of bandwidth with standard internet infrastructure.

Common, copper broadband that is present in the majority of U.K homes and businesses doesn’t have the capability to handle high upload speeds. They were built over two decades ago with a completely different purpose. 

In the 90’s, it was assumed the internet would be used for the consumption of content as opposed to the supply of content. This means that our upload speeds will always pale in comparison to downloads on a standard, copper broadband connection in the UK. 

This isn’t so bad for consumers at home who need that Warzone download quickly or want to stream the Drag Race finale – but detrimental to some businesses who rely on their upload speed for their employees to do their job properly.

Slow internet speeds alone cause brands to lose 38 hours a year in productivity, per employee – potentially costing days more for those employees constantly uploading large documents, images or videos. 

What is a good upload speed?

A ‘good’ upload speed is all dependent on what you use it for and how much you rely on uploading large files and media to complete everyday tasks. The amount of bandwidth required for uploads will change depending on what you’re using it for.

There are hundreds of job roles in the U.K. which place the same amount of importance on upload speed, as download speed – possibly more.

Take the job of a radiographer for example. Their job wouldn’t be possible without the ability to quickly upload super high-quality images taken from their multiple radiographic examinations throughout the day and night – regardless of number of users, or peak usage hours. 

A hospital’s internet speed and bandwidth must be capable of juggling connections and usage from thousands of devices, all downloading & uploading large files at the same time.

For creative employees such as video editors, streamers or graphic designers – it’s crucial to have the ability to provide your audience with relevant content when it matters, without the stress of a delay to upload or in streaming. Two-way communications are just as – if not more – important than simply downloads.

Hitting your audience with relevant, up-to-date content proves difficult when a simple 15 minute, 1080p video takes around 50 minutes to upload on a standard UK broadband speed (7mbps, UK 2020; calculator). 

How can Gigabit internet help us ‘cancel the curse of copper connections’?

Don’t get tangled up in outdated copper wiring and opt for a PureFibre, Gigabit-capable connection instead. 

PureFibre on the CityFibre network gives businesses minimum, GUARANTEED internet speeds both ways – for both uploads and downloads. 

Modern connections are been developed, built and installed with the future of the internet in mind. 

Using Gigabit Networks’ Ethernet Flex product, for example – uploading the same 15 minute, 1080p video above would take just 1 minute and 47 seconds (calculator) – so you can get your content where it needs to be, when you need it the most with no delay. 

Factors you might not have even thought of, such as weather and maintenance, can also cause standard, copper connections to drop – detrimental to businesses who rely on their internet for operations. 

Our 99.99% SLA and 6 Hour Guaranteed fix guarantees maximum uptime – meaning you don’t have to worry if the worst happens and your internet goes down. We won’t leave you in the dark – unlike some other ISP’s, who declare in their fine print that you could be left up to 5 business days before your connection is repaired and back online.

Our advice? Always check the fine print, and assess all of your employee and business needs when deciding on your internet provider. Assumptions based on product descriptions could leave you with an upload speed over 10 times slower than your downloads, or a 5 business day wait to fix your connection. Don’t be fooled by big name brands or confusing ISP jargon. 

If you’d like to find out more about how our PureFibre, Gigabit Ethernet Flex Package will boost your businesses’ productivity, find out more here.

If you’d prefer to speak to someone about your specific business needs and how we can help streamline your business, book a no-pressure meeting with a Gigabit specialist to discuss the possibilities of Gigabit.