If you love streaming Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or podcasts, you need fast, stable broadband that ensures smooth playback without buffering. While music streaming doesn’t require ultra-fast speeds, a reliable connection is essential, especially for high-quality audio or smart speaker use.
This guide explains how to choose the best broadband for music and podcast streaming, what speed you need, and how to prevent buffering interruptions.
- What broadband speed do you need for music and podcast streaming?
Music streaming doesn’t consume as much bandwidth as video, but higher-quality audio requires better speeds.
Streaming Quality | Minimum Speed | Recommended Speed |
Standard quality (96-160kbps) | 1 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
High quality (320kbps) | 2 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
Lossless / Hi-Res Audio (FLAC, Tidal, Apple Music Lossless) | 5 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
Multi-room smart speaker streaming | 10 Mbps | 30 Mbps+ |
📌 Tip: If you stream music on multiple devices or smart speakers, choose fibre broadband for better stability.
- Why fibre broadband is best for music and podcast streaming
✔ No buffering – Prevents music stopping mid-song or podcasts cutting out.
✔ Better multi-device streaming – Fibre broadband supports multiple users listening at once.
✔ Improved smart speaker performance – Reduces delays when using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home.
✔ Supports lossless audio quality – Ensures high-quality sound without dropouts.
📌 Tip: If you frequently stream in lossless audio formats, upgrading to full-fibre broadband (FTTP) prevents interruptions and slow loading times.
- How to improve your broadband for music streaming
If your music buffers, skips, or won’t load, try these fixes:
✔ Use a wired connection for smart speakers – Ethernet provides a more stable connection than Wi-Fi.
✔ Upgrade your router – Some older routers struggle to maintain strong Wi-Fi signals.
✔ Reduce background activity – Large file downloads can slow down streaming performance.
✔ Switch to a dual-band or mesh Wi-Fi system – Eliminates Wi-Fi dead zones in larger homes.
📌 Tip: If your Spotify or Apple Music buffers frequently, your broadband provider may be throttling your connection—consider switching to one that doesn’t limit streaming speeds.
- Find the best broadband for music and podcast streaming
Need fast, reliable broadband that keeps up with your streaming habits?
Check broadband deals here to find a package that ensures smooth, buffer-free music and podcast streaming.
Final thoughts: Upgrade your broadband for better streaming
If your broadband interrupts music playback, struggles with multi-room streaming, or slows down during peak hours, switching to fibre broadband or upgrading your router can improve streaming quality.
Compare broadband deals today and choose a package that supports high-quality music and podcast streaming.