Is 5 Mbps good enough?
Grade 2 of 7: Disappointing
Disappointing, and I say that as someone who expected nothing.
5 Mbps download is grade 2 of 7 on the Speed Roast scale: Disappointing. It carries 1 HD stream, no 4K, and downloads a full game in 29 hours 38 minutes.
What 5 Mbps can do
- HD streamingJust
One HD stream, with nothing else competing for the line.
- 4K streamingNo
4K needs more than this. Expect the picture to drop to HD or below.
- Video callsJust
A one-to-one call works. Group calls with cameras on will strain it, and upload speed is the usual limit.
- Online gamingJust
Playing is fine if ping is low, but every update will take a while and anything else on the line will cause lag.
- Working from homeNo
Email works. Anything with a video window does not.
Who it serves
One person, one device, and a lot of waiting. Not a household speed.
How long downloads take
| A song (5 MB) | 9 seconds |
| A one-hour HD episode (2 GB) | 59 minutes |
| A film in 4K (15 GB) | 7 hours 24 minutes |
| A modern console game (60 GB) | 29 hours 38 minutes |
Assumes the connection delivers about nine-tenths of 5 Mbps for the whole transfer, which a good line does and a busy one does not.
If your test said 5 Mbps
- A speed this low on a wired connection usually means a fault on the line, an ancient plan, or a router that has given up. Reboot the router first; it fixes more than it should.
- Test on a cable if you can. Wi-Fi routinely halves a connection, and a test over Wi-Fi measures the router as much as the line.
- Check the speed your plan promises. Providers advertise an "up to" or "average" figure; a result well below it, on a cable, is worth a complaint.
- Test at different times. Cable and older networks slow down in the evening when the neighbourhood is home.
- If fibre or cable is available at your address, almost any plan will be a large step up from here.
Questions people ask
Is 5 Mbps good for streaming?
Yes for HD: about 1 stream at once. For 4K it is not enough; the picture will drop to HD.
Is 5 Mbps good for gaming?
Playing works if ping is low, but updates are slow and anyone else using the connection will cause lag.
How many people can share 5 Mbps?
One person, one device, and a lot of waiting. Not a household speed.
How long does a 60 GB game take to download at 5 Mbps?
About 29 hours 38 minutes, assuming the connection actually delivers 5 Mbps for the whole download.
The grades are mine, applied to download speed. Streaming figures use the services’ published minimums with a margin. See how I work.