Busting broadband myths: Does more people online mean slower internet?

We’ve all heard that exasperated cry: “There are too many people online – that’s why my internet is so slow!” But is this even true?

The idea that more people online equals a slower connection is one of the most common misconceptions about home broadband. And while this myth does contain seeds of truth, the reality (as it often is) is a bit more complex. So before you start blaming the kids’ gaming sessions for your buffering videos, here’s what you really need to know.

Understanding internet speed

When we talk about internet speed, what we really mean is bandwidth – the amount of data that can be sent to and from your devices each second.

If you’re struggling to grasp the concept of bandwidth, it can help to think of it as the number of lanes on a motorway: the more lanes you have, the more cars can travel at the same time without causing congestion.

But if you take this analogy too far, that’s when it begins to fall apart. It would be easy to think that if one user is online they get the full bandwidth, so two users would mean they each get 50%, and three users would receive a third each, etc.

And while it’s true to say that more bandwidth is generally better, when it comes to how much you have available, it’s not as simple as just evenly dividing your bandwidth between all users.

In fact, how much bandwidth you need – and are allocated – will depend on what each person is doing online. Streaming a movie in 4K, for example, takes up more bandwidth than browsing your social media feed or reading the news.

So, is the myth true?

Well, yes and no. If multiple people are trying to download large files at once or stream in Ultra HD, you may notice things slowing down. But everyday activities like shopping or checking emails won’t eat up much bandwidth at all, so you likely won’t see a dip in speed.

Life in the fast lane?

Back to that motorway analogy. If there’s only one car, it has the whole road to itself and can travel quickly. Now imagine a typical journey in the real world. The left lane might be occupied by slower-moving traffic (think sending an email), while others are zipping along (streaming Netflix in 4K) in the middle or outside lanes. Unless there’s a traffic jam and everything grinds to a halt, everyone can still reach their destination without a problem.

But obviously, the more cars on the road (users), the more likely those lanes are to become congested. To keep traffic flowing smoothly, having a broadband package with higher bandwidth can make a real difference – especially in busy households where people are working, streaming, and gaming simultaneously.

How much bandwidth do you really need?

Different online activities need different speeds, and if your household is full of heavy internet users, a higher-speed package would definitely help.

HD video streaming requires about 5Mbps, but if you want to do your streaming in 4K – and why wouldn’t you? – that requirement jumps to around 15Mbps.

Decent quality video calls will typically need around 3-5Mbps, and if you’re working at home, remember you’ll need enough spare bandwidth for accessing remote files and applications too.

And if you’re a gamer, there really is no upper limit when it comes to downloading the latest titles and updates. The faster the better!

With all that going on, you can see why having more bandwidth isn’t just a nice-to-have… it’s essential. More bandwidth means more ‘lanes’ on your motorway, so everyone can enjoy their online activities without interruption. Check out our full fibre broadband packages. Enter your postcode here and find the right amount of bandwidth for your household.

What else affects your internet speed?

It isn’t just about how many people are online. Other factors can also affect the speed of your connection. Here’s what else you should keep in mind:

• Distance from the router: WiFi signals get weaker the further they travel, so being in another room or on a different floor can reduce the speeds you experience.
• Obstacles: Walls, furniture, and even heavy materials can disrupt your WiFi signal too. The best wireless signal will always be as close to line-of-sight as possible.
• Old routers and devices: Outdated technology may struggle to keep up with faster internet speeds. A newer router will be compatible with newer, faster wireless standards, while a ten-year-old smartphone won’t be able to transmit data as quickly as a brand-new one.

Speed and reliability you can count on

When it comes to reliable broadband, bandwidth is only one part of the equation. Full fibre broadband from Zen offers more speed, but also the kind of stability that traditional broadband connections just can’t match.

With our full fibre packages, you can enjoy speeds that keep everyone in the home happily connected – no matter what they’re doing online.

But more than that, we’re also committed to delivering a service you can rely on. That’s why we’re proud to be the only broadband provider recommended by Which? So whether it’s for work, play, or everything in between, Zen full fibre broadband has you covered.

Answering the question

So, back to the original question: Does more people online mean slower internet?

The real answer is “It depends”. If all they’re doing online is browsing, shopping, and sending and receiving emails, then it really doesn’t matter how many people are online.

But once you add streaming 4K movies, downloading large files, and regular video calls to the mix, that’s when you need enough bandwidth to make sure everyone enjoys a smooth connection.

It’s not about ‘how many people’ and much more about ‘what they’re using your connection for’.