Mbps vs Gbps: Which One Is Right for You?

Broadband speeds
June 20th, 2025
Mbps vs Gbps: Which One Is Right for You?

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Why Understanding Speed Units Matters

When you look at broadband deals, you may see Gbps and Mbps written next to each other. They both measure how fast data moves. But Gbps, or gigabits per second, shows gigabit speeds that are 1,000 times greater than Mbps, or megabits per second. If you use the wrong unit, you might not get enough speed for streaming in 4K. You could also get much internet speed that you do not need, and that means you pay too much for your internet plan. It’s important to know how internet speed, gigabits, megabits, and these units work when you pick your internet plan.

What Exactly Is a “Bit” or “Byte”?

A bit is the smallest unit of data in computing. There are eight bits in one byte. You will see file sizes shown in megabytes (MB) and terabytes (TB). Line speeds use bits, like megabits (Mb) and gigabits (Gb). If you need to change from one to another, there are ways to convert them.

This helps you know the difference between mb, gb, tb, megabytes, terabytes, unit of data, and how bytes and bits are used.

  • Bits to Bytes: You need to divide by 8.
  • Bytes to Bits: You have to multiply by 8.
File / Speed Unit Abbrev. Size
Byte B 8 bits
Kilobyte KB 1,000 B
Megabyte MB 1,000 KB
Gigabyte GB 1,000 MB
Terabyte TB 1,000 GB

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What’s the Difference Between Mbps and Gbps in Everyday Use?

Most UK broadband plans advertise speed in Mbps (megabits per second), while premium fibre internet plans often highlight Gbps (gigabits per second). 1 Gbps equals 1,000 Mbps, making it ideal for smart homes, game consoles, and online multiplayer games where faster internet improves download times and streaming quality.

Speed Tier Typical Technology Real-World Use
25 Mbps FTTC copper HD stream + browsing on a couple of laptops
100 Mbps Fibre/Cable Multiple HD streams, online games, cloud backups
500 Mbps Full fibre internet Smooth 4K + large downloads on several smart devices
1 Gbps FTTP or DOCSIS 3.1 Heavy 4K streaming, online multiplayer games, fast work uploads, smart-home hubs

Do You Need Gigabit Speeds?

Ask two questions:

  1. How many devices are used at the busiest time? Count your phones, tablets, game consoles, PCs, and smart TVs.
  2. What are they all doing at the same time? Are people watching 4K Netflix, using Zoom, running Steam updates, or doing gameplay streaming?

If your home does not use more than about 300 Mbps together, you may not notice much difference by paying for gigabit speeds. So, you should first compare broadband packages in the 150-500 Mbps range.

Difference Between Mbps and Gbps

How Different Technologies Deliver Speed

Technology Download / Upload Notes
ADSL2+ 10–24 Mbps Legacy copper—fine for email but struggles with 4K
Cable Internet Providers 50–1,000 Mbps (asymmetric) Fast down, slower up; can slow at peak
FTTP / FTTH 100 Mbps – 1 Gbps+ (often symmetric) Best latency; future-proof
Fixed-Wireless 5G 100 Mbps – 1 Gbps Coverage dependent; good for rural

When a new internet service provider brings fast full fibre internet to your street, you may find the price difference between 150 Mb and 900 Mb is just a few pounds. It may be worth thinking about if you have several game consoles and gamers using the line at the same time.

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How Latency and Upload Influence Experience

Raw throughput is only one part of the story. If you play online multiplayer games, you will care more about ping. A ping under 40 ms is best. Upload speed is also very important. Cloud backups and live-streams need a fast upload. Many gigabit plans now be offering 900/900 upload and download. This gives creators the power to get 4K video out fast with no buffering.

Example Download Times (10 GB File)

Speed Time
50 Mbps ~28 min
100 Mbps ~14 min
500 Mbps ~2 min 50 s
1 Gbps ~1 min 25 s

Faster internet is helpful only when the website or app you are using can send data to you just as fast. You also need to make sure your modem and Wi-Fi are not slowing things down.

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Wi-Fi, Modems and Home Bottlenecks

Many people get full fibre and then feel puzzled when their living room computer will not ever go above 200 Mb. There can be a few main reasons for this.

  • A WiFi 5 router can only reach 433 Mb on a 5 GHz band.
  • The Cat 5 cables between the router and switch can only handle up to 100 Mb.
  • The modem from your ISP is still using an old DOCSIS profile.

Upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E mesh router, or one that can handle gigabit speeds, often lets you get the speed you pay for.

Price vs Performance in 2025

Speed Tier Average Promo (12 mo) £ per 100 Mb
67 Mbps FTTC £26 £39
150 Mbps Cable £30 £20
500 Mbps FTTP £40 £8
900 Mbps FTTP £50 £5

Spending just £10 more each month can make the speed four times faster. But it is important to check customer service ratings. Some cheap deals have problems. They may go down often or take a long time to fix.

How Much Does Speed Cost in 2025?

Typical new-customer promo prices (12- or 24-month term, UK average):

Speed Tier Approx. Monthly Price Effective £ per 100 Mbps
67 Mbps FTTC £26 £38
150 Mbps cable £31 £21
500 Mbps FTTP £40 £8
900 Mbps FTTP £50 £5

The faster internet packages may give you more bandwidth for your money. But the total amount you pay each month still matters. Make sure you only pay for the bandwidth that you will use.

How Much Does Speed Cost in 2025

How Will Internet Speeds Change by 2030?

  • Full fibre build-out: The government plans to have 99% gigabit coverage by 2030.
  • 10 Gb residential trials are now happening on XGS-PON networks.
  • Fixed-wireless 5G gets speeds higher than 1 gbps at some test sites in rural areas.
  • Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems are starting to show up in UK stores (in theory, these can give a 30 gbps LAN).

Keeping your equipment up-to-date, like your router, Ethernet and Wi-Fi cards, helps you get the most out of new networks in the future.

How to Test and Optimise Your Connection

  1. Run speed tests three times. Do it during both busy and quiet times.
  2. Compare wired vs Wi-Fi results to see the difference.
  3. Switch DNS to a public resolver if there is high delay.
  4. Position router centrally in your home and upgrade antennas if you can.
  5. Consider powerline adapters or MoCA if you live in a house with thick walls.

If the numbers keep staying more than 20% below your internet speed contract, you should make a complaint. Ask for someone to check the line or give you a downgrade refund.

Correct as of 18 June 2025

FAQ’s About Gbps vs Mbps

Does gigabit broadband improve gaming ping?

Most of the time, no. Latency has more to do with the way the data goes from one place to another and how busy the network is. It is not about the number of megabits or how high your Mbps are. A good and steady 100 Mbps line can give you the same ping times as a gigabit line.

Is Wi-Fi 6 fast enough for gigabit internet?

Yes, Wi-Fi 6 can give you speeds over 1.5 gbps when you use 160 MHz channels. Make sure that both the router and all of your devices support Wi-Fi 6 or 6E.

How many devices can share 100 Mbps comfortably?

A simple rule is that 100 Mbps is enough for four people to stream HD videos at the same time. You can also use it for two 4K streams and still surf the web or use smart home devices without getting slowed down. This way, there will not be much congestion on your network. If you want a good internet experience, 100 Mbps should work well for most small households.

Do I need new cables for a 1 Gbps plan?

Use at least Cat 5e Ethernet cables for every wired device. It is better if you use Cat 6, as this is preferred. The older Cat 5 cables only go up to 100 Mbps.

Can I upgrade speed mid-contract without penalty?

Many internet providers let you move up to a faster plan while still in your contract. They often do not charge an exit fee for this. But, most will make you agree to a new minimum contract time. It’s always best to read the fine print before you decide to make the switch. This helps you know what you are signing up for and if there will be any unexpected changes.

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