- Latency is the delay before data starts to move, measured in milliseconds (ms), and is separate from download speed.
- Ping measures the round trip time for a small packet to reach a server and return, and is the common way latency is quoted.
- Full fibre (FTTP) typically delivers lower latency than copper-based ADSL, because there is no copper section to add delay.
- Geostationary satellite broadband has very high latency because signals travel roughly 35,786 km to orbit and back, as set out by physical distance.
- Ofcom codes of practice cover speed at the point of sale, and latency is a key quality factor for gaming and real-time video calls.
Latency is the delay before data starts to flow, measured in milliseconds. Low latency matters more than raw speed for gaming and video calls. Full fibre is low latency, while geostationary satellite is high.
Last reviewed: June 2026
What latency actually is
Latency is the time it takes for a piece of data to travel from a device to its destination and back. It is measured in milliseconds, and it is a completely different thing from download speed. Speed describes how much data can move per second, like the width of a pipe, while latency describes how quickly the first drop arrives, like the delay before water comes out of the tap. A connection can have a high download speed and still feel sluggish if its latency is poor.
For everyday browsing and streaming, modest latency is rarely noticeable, because those activities tolerate small delays and buffer ahead. For anything interactive, where each action waits on a response from a distant server, latency becomes the factor that decides how responsive the connection feels.
Ping, jitter and packet loss
Three related terms describe the responsiveness of a connection. Ping is the round trip time for a small packet to reach a server and come back, and it is the figure most people mean when they talk about latency. Jitter is the variation in that delay from one packet to the next; a stable connection has low jitter, while an unstable one sees the delay jump around, which can disrupt voice and video. Packet loss is the proportion of data that never arrives and has to be sent again, which adds further delay and can cause stutter in calls and games.
Together these measures paint a fuller picture than ping alone. A line with a good average ping but high jitter can still feel unreliable during a video call, because the inconsistency matters as much as the average.
| Connection type | Typical latency (ping) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full fibre (FTTP) | About 5 to 15 ms | Lowest among common fixed connections |
| Cable (HFC) | About 10 to 25 ms | Generally low and stable |
| FTTC (part fibre) | About 10 to 25 ms | Slightly higher than full fibre |
| ADSL (copper) | About 20 to 50 ms | Higher due to copper and processing |
| 5G fixed wireless | About 10 to 40 ms | Varies with signal and mast load |
| Satellite (geostationary) | About 600 to 700 ms | High due to distance to orbit |
Why latency differs by connection type
Different technologies introduce different amounts of delay. Full fibre tends to have the lowest latency among fixed connections, because the signal travels as light through glass with no copper section to slow it. Part-fibre FTTC adds a little more, and older ADSL more again, partly because of the copper and partly because of the way the data is processed on the line. Fixed wireless over 4G or 5G sits in a middle band, depending on signal quality and how busy the mast is.
Satellite is the standout case. A geostationary satellite orbits roughly 35,786 km above the Earth, so even at the speed of light the signal takes a noticeable time to reach orbit and return, before any processing. This is a matter of physical distance rather than a fault, and it is why geostationary satellite latency is measured in hundreds of milliseconds. Low earth orbit systems sit far closer to the ground, which reduces the distance the signal travels and therefore the latency.
Why latency matters for gaming and video calls
In fast online games, the time between an action and the game responding is governed by latency. A low ping makes controls feel immediate, while a high ping introduces lag that can be the difference between success and failure in competitive play. Jitter and packet loss make this worse by adding unpredictability. For video calls, latency and jitter affect how natural a conversation feels, with high values causing people to talk over each other and audio to break up.
This is why, for these activities, a connection with lower latency can feel better than a faster one with higher latency. The headline download figure says little about how responsive a line will feel in real-time use.
How to measure latency
Latency is shown by most speed test tools alongside the download and upload figures, usually labelled ping, and sometimes with a jitter reading. For the clearest result, a wired test from the router removes WiFi as a variable, since wireless links add their own delay. Running the test to a nearby server gives the lowest figure, while testing to a distant server shows how far away services add to the delay. Repeating the test at different times reveals how much latency rises when the network is busy.
Within the home, latency can also be affected by the router, the WiFi conditions and the number of devices competing for the connection. Reducing congestion, using a wired link for latency-sensitive devices and keeping the router clear of interference all help keep the figure low.
Can you reduce latency
Some causes of latency are fixed by physics and the network, but several are within a household's control. Using a wired connection rather than WiFi for gaming consoles and work computers removes wireless delay and jitter. Keeping firmware up to date, avoiding overloaded WiFi channels and limiting heavy background downloads during latency-sensitive activity all help. Choosing a lower-latency technology where available, such as full fibre over satellite, has the largest effect, but good in-home practice protects whatever the line can provide.
Latency, bufferbloat and a busy connection
One often-overlooked cause of high latency is a phenomenon known as bufferbloat. When a connection is fully loaded, for example during a large upload, data can queue in network buffers and add delay to everything else, including games and calls. The download or upload speed may look fine, yet the responsiveness collapses while the line is saturated. This is why a video call can stutter the moment a large backup starts, even on a fast connection. Some modern routers include features that manage these queues to keep latency low under load, sometimes labelled as smart queue management or quality of service.
Understanding bufferbloat helps explain a common frustration: that a fast connection can still feel laggy at the worst moment. Spreading heavy transfers to quieter times, or using a router that prioritises interactive traffic, keeps latency low when it matters most. It also reinforces why latency, jitter and packet loss deserve attention alongside the headline speed when judging how a connection will behave in real-time use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good latency for broadband?
For general use, a ping under about 50 ms feels responsive, and full fibre often delivers figures well below that. For competitive online gaming, lower is better, with many players aiming for under 30 ms to a nearby server. Geostationary satellite latency runs into the hundreds of milliseconds because of the distance involved.
Why does latency matter for gaming?
Online games respond to actions only after data travels to the server and back, so latency sets how immediate the controls feel. A low ping makes play feel responsive, while a high ping causes lag. Jitter and packet loss add unpredictability, which can disrupt fast-paced and competitive games.
How is latency measured?
Latency is measured in milliseconds and is usually shown as ping in speed test tools, representing the round trip time for a small packet. A wired test to a nearby server gives the cleanest reading. Some tools also report jitter, the variation in delay, which matters for calls and games.
Can I reduce latency on my broadband?
Several steps help: use a wired connection rather than WiFi for sensitive devices, keep router firmware updated, avoid congested WiFi channels, and limit heavy background downloads during gaming or calls. The biggest single factor is the underlying technology, with full fibre offering much lower latency than satellite.
What causes high latency?
Common causes include the connection technology itself, congestion at peak times, long physical distance to the server, WiFi interference, and an overloaded router. Geostationary satellite has inherently high latency because of the distance the signal travels to orbit and back, regardless of other factors.
