The Ookla broadband speed test measures the speed between your device and a test server using your device’s internet connection. The test measures your ping, download and upload speeds, with the latter two being essential because most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) make separate promises for download and upload speeds.
The download speed is measured in Mbps or megabits-per-second and refers to how quickly the test data is transmitted to your computer from the test servers, using your internet connection.
The upload speed refers to how fast data can be transferred from your device to the test server. However, the download speed is typically more important than upload speed because online experiences are more reliant and affected by download speed.
The Speedtest results help gauge the performance of your current internet connection and confirm whether or not you are getting the speed you are paying for.
Speedtest results can be affected by several factors, including the type of device (phones, tablets, PCs, etc.) used to run the test, the Wi-Fi and cellular radio capabilities of the device, and the distance between the device and the broadband router and/or the nearest mobile connection mast or cell tower.
As 5G and gigabit internet have expanded across the globe, we are seeing more and more high-speed results on Speedtests. However, the Speedtest results may not necessarily reflect the actual internet speed that you will experience while using the internet, as various factors such as network congestion, the type of website or application being used, and the device being used can also affect the user experience.
