Remote work stresses the parts of a connection home plans are weakest at: upload (for calls and file sharing) and consistency (for VPN and cloud apps). Raw download speed is rarely the bottleneck.
What you need
- Per remote worker: ~25 Mbps down, 5–10 Mbps up
- Video calls: stable upload + low jitter (see speed for video calls)
- VPN: expect some speed/ping overhead — test both ways
- Multiple workers + kids streaming: 100–300 Mbps total
Make it reliable
- Use wired Ethernet for your main work device.
- Prioritise your work device with router QoS.
- Check upload, ping and jitter — not just download — with a quick test.
- If it's slow, work through the improvement guide.
Frequently asked questions
What internet speed is good for working from home?
For one person: 25 Mbps download and 5–10 Mbps upload is comfortable for calls, VPN and cloud apps. Households with multiple remote workers should aim for 100 Mbps+.
Why does my VPN make the internet slower?
A VPN adds encryption overhead and routes traffic through a remote server, which can reduce speed and raise ping. Test with and without the VPN to measure the impact.
Is upload important for remote work?
Yes — video calls, cloud backups, and sending large files all rely on upload, which is often the limiting factor on home plans.
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