Understanding your Speed Test Results

Download is a measure of how fast your connection delivers content to your computer.

With most web pages and basic email programs you'll find little difference between, for instance, a 1.5MB download and a 3.0MB download. However, for large files or a connection used by a large number of people a lower download speed can be the difference between a quality broadband experience and a frustrating one.

Upload is the measure of how fast content is delivered from your computer or local area network to others on the Internet.

To achieve optimal delivery, download and upload speed should match or at least be very close. This is important for VoIP, email and other interactive programs. Upload speed is even more important if you are operating an email, web or file server at your location.

Kbps transfer rate = kilobit per second transfer rate. There are 8 bits in a byte, so we would divide kbps by 8 to get KB/sec transfer rate.