- The advertised speed is a marketing figure and is not a personal guarantee of what arrives at your address.
- The estimated speed is a personalised prediction for your line, given at the point of sale by providers signed up to the Speeds Code.
- The minimum guaranteed speed is the contractual floor; if your speed falls below it and is not fixed within 30 days, you can exit without penalty.
- These distinctions only carry the exit right when your provider has signed Ofcom's Broadband Speeds Code of Practice.
Broadband speed is described in three different ways, and the difference between them decides whether you have any rights when your connection underperforms. Treating all three as the same thing is how customers end up frustrated and stuck.
The advertised speed is marketing
The headline speed in an advert is a package label, governed by advertising rules that require it to be achievable by a defined proportion of customers, but it is not a promise about your specific line. Your distance from the cabinet, your wiring and the technology serving your street all affect what you actually receive. Never treat the advertised number as a personal entitlement.
The estimated speed is personalised
Providers signed up to Ofcom's Broadband Speeds Code of Practice must give you a personalised estimated speed at the point of sale, based on your address and line. This is more useful than the advert because it predicts your real-world experience, usually as a range. It is the figure to compare across providers before you commit.
The minimum guaranteed speed is the one with teeth
The minimum guaranteed speed is the contractual floor below which your service should not fall. Under the Speeds Code, if your speed drops below this guarantee and the provider cannot restore it within 30 days, you have the right to leave the contract, and any related TV or phone service bought with it, without paying an early termination fee. This is the only one of the three figures that gives you a concrete remedy.
The three speeds compared
| Speed type | What it is | Legally binding on your line? |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised speed | Marketing figure for the package | No personal guarantee |
| Estimated speed | Personalised prediction at point of sale | A prediction, not a guarantee |
| Minimum guaranteed speed | Contractual floor for your line | Yes, with a right to exit if unmet |
How to use this
Ask for your minimum guaranteed speed in writing before you order, and keep it. If your real-world speed falls below it, report the fault, give the provider its 30 days to fix it, and if it cannot, exercise your right to leave penalty-free. The guarantee only works if you know the number and act on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is my advertised broadband speed guaranteed?
No. The advertised speed is a marketing figure for the package, achievable by a defined proportion of customers, not a personal guarantee for your line. What you receive depends on your address, wiring and the technology serving your street.
What is the difference between estimated and minimum guaranteed speed?
The estimated speed is a personalised prediction of what your line should achieve, given at the point of sale. The minimum guaranteed speed is the contractual floor below which your service should not fall, and it carries a right to exit if it is not met and not fixed within 30 days.
What can I do if I am not getting my guaranteed speed?
Report it as a fault and give the provider up to 30 days to restore the speed. If they cannot, and they signed the Speeds Code, you can leave the broadband contract, and any service bundled with it, without an early termination fee.
Are broadband speed guarantees legally enforceable?
The minimum guaranteed speed is contractual for providers signed up to Ofcom's Broadband Speeds Code of Practice, and it gives you a right to exit penalty-free if unmet. The advertised and estimated figures are not guarantees in the same way.
What does the Ofcom Speeds Code of Practice require?
It requires signed-up providers to give a personalised estimated speed and a minimum guaranteed speed at the point of sale, to manage your expectations honestly, and to let you exit without penalty if the minimum guarantee is not met and not fixed within 30 days.
