Small business broadband speed guide (UK)
For most UK small businesses, reliable performance comes from stable latency, low jitter, and enough headroom for concurrent cloud and call activity, not just a headline download figure.
Useful speed bands for SMEs
| Business profile | Typical demand | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Micro team (1-3 users) | Email, CRM, occasional calls | 30-80 Mbps with stable latency is usually workable. |
| Small team (4-10 users) | Frequent VoIP/video and cloud docs | 80-200 Mbps with low jitter gives more resilience. |
| Heavier cloud workflows | Large uploads, shared drives, multiple calls | 200+ Mbps and strong upstream performance reduce contention risk. |
What to check before escalation
- Ethernet baseline from one known-good workstation.
- Repeated busy-hour tests over at least two business days.
- VoIP/call quality notes alongside speed metrics.
- Router and LAN bottlenecks ruled out.
If you're comparing broadband options, include SLA terms and fault response windows, not speed claims alone.