The broadband internet standard: speeds, fibre and a backup line

On this page

At a glance

• Primary schools: at least 100 Mbps download and at least 30 Mbps upload.
• Secondary and all-through schools: capacity for 1 Gbps download and upload.
• The line should be full fibre — a leased line or FTTP. “Copper connections do not meet this standard.”
• Add a backup connection of a different type, with automatic failover.
• Content filtering and a firewall should already be in place.

The broadband internet standard is one of DfE’s six core digital and technology standards for schools and colleges in England. It has three parts: the speed and type of line, a backup connection, and security and safeguarding. Like the other core standards, the first two are targets to work towards by 2030. The page was last updated on 16 September 2026.

Part 1: full fibre at the right speed

The standard sets a speed by type of school:

The connection should be full fibre: a leased line or fibre to the premises (FTTP). The standard is blunt about older lines: “copper connections do not meet this standard.”

When: move to full fibre as soon as you can. That is usually when your existing contract ends, or once full fibre becomes available to the school. If you sign or extend a contract for a non-fibre line, it should let you switch to fibre when it becomes available.

Part 2: a backup connection

The second part is about avoiding a single point of failure. In practice the standard describes:

• more than one connection, of different service types — DfE’s examples are a leased line with FTTP, or FTTP with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite;
• more than one router, set up to fail over automatically;
• redundant power on core network equipment.

Put the backup in alongside a new connection, or as soon as possible after it’s installed. Our guide to backup broadband goes into more detail.

Part 3: security and safeguarding

Content filtering must meet the online safety requirements in Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE), and a firewall is required. The firewall can be a device on site that the school manages, or an “edge” service run by your supplier or IT support. DfE says these “should already be in place”.

What the standard doesn’t say

The standard gives no per-pupil or per-device speed, no IPv6 requirement, no contract length or notice period, and no costs. That’s why our bandwidth estimator leaves the “Mbps per user” box for you to fill in: there is no official UK figure to put there.

Questions people ask

What broadband speed does a primary school need?

DfE’s broadband internet standard says primary schools should have at least 100 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload, over full fibre. It’s a standard to work towards by 2030, not a legal requirement. You can compare it with your own estimate in our bandwidth estimator.

And a secondary school?

DfE says secondary and all-through schools (and further education colleges) should have capacity for 1 Gbps download and upload, over full fibre.

Is there an official “Mbps per pupil” figure?

Not in current DfE or Hwb guidance. DfE sets speeds per school; the Welsh standard says bandwidth should match the school’s size and use. That’s why our estimator leaves the per-user box for you to fill in.

Is FTTC or copper broadband good enough?

Not for the DfE standard: “copper connections do not meet this standard.” In Wales, even FTTP-type services are “generally unsuitable”, except for schools with fewer than 50 learners where dedicated services aren’t available.

Sources

Checked 25 October 2026. We wrote this guide from these sources, in our own words:

1. DfE: Broadband internet core standard (gov.uk)
2. DfE: Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges (gov.uk)
3. Keeping children safe in education 2026 (PDF) (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

Broadband for Schools is an independent guide. We are not a broker, a reseller or a supplier, and we are not connected to the Department for Education, any local authority or any provider. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.