---
title: "Average, advertised and minimum broadband speed: which should you compare? · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/broadband-average-vs-minimum-speed"
description: "Understand typical, maximum and guaranteed broadband speeds, Mbps versus MB/s, and why national averages cannot establish your individual entitlement."
---

# Average, advertised and minimum broadband speed: which should you compare?

The word “speed” can describe a plan, a radio link, a download or a population average. Compare like with like before concluding your service is underperforming.

Applies to: Home internet on Windows, macOS, phones and tablets. No Kilobat account or app required. · Checked: 3 November 2026

## When this helps

- Your download app shows a different number from your speed test.
- A national broadband ranking seems much faster than your connection.

## Mbps and MB/s are different units

One byte contains eight bits. A download shown as 10 MB/s corresponds to 80 Mbps before accounting for measurement differences.

Do not compare a download rate in bytes per second directly with a plan advertised in bits per second.

## Read the label beside the number

| Label | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Maximum or up to | Is this a theoretical limit or an address-specific estimate? |
| Typical evening speed | Which time window and customer group does it describe? |
| Minimum guaranteed speed | What conditions and measurement point does the contract specify? |
| National average | Which technology, population, period and method were sampled? |
| Wi-Fi link rate | What throughput does the device actually achieve? |

## Why a national average is not a diagnosis

A volunteer measurement panel and a self-selected speed-test sample represent different groups. Mixing fibre, mobile and satellite results can hide important differences.

Keep each statistic’s date, population and method with the number. Use repeated measurements of your own connection for troubleshooting.

## Choose the comparison that answers your question

For a local Wi-Fi issue, compare [wired and wireless tests](https://kilobat.app/guides/wifi-slow-ethernet-fast). For a contract concern, start with [your plan and repeatable measurements](https://kilobat.app/guides/internet-slower-than-advertised).

## Sources

- [Cloudflare: what a speed test measures](https://speed.cloudflare.com/about/)
- [ACCC: broadband speeds](https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/telecommunications-and-internet/broadband-speeds)
- [Ofcom: broadband faults, minimum speeds and complaints](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/service-quality/broadband-wifi-help)

Checked on 3 November 2026.

## Related guides

- [Internet slower than advertised? Test it before you complain](https://kilobat.app/guides/internet-slower-than-advertised): A low speed test is a starting point.
- [Wi-Fi slow but Ethernet fast? Find the wireless bottleneck](https://kilobat.app/guides/wifi-slow-ethernet-fast): If the same device is consistently faster on Ethernet, investigate the wireless path first.
- [Slow NBN speeds: evening tests, provider complaints and the TIO](https://kilobat.app/guides/slow-nbn-speeds-complaint): Compare your results with the right NBN plan figure, then ask your retail provider to investigate.