Download throughput test
Test files served from our Lahore network
Download any file below to measure the real throughput between your connection and our local edge — no distant hops, no third-party detour. For an accurate reading, pick a size comfortably larger than your line rate.
About this test
These are incompressible test files served directly from Earthlink Broadband’s network in Lahore. Downloading one measures the throughput between your device and our edge, which is useful for checking whether you are receiving your subscribed speed. For a scripted test, run curl -o /dev/null https://lhr-speed.elb.com.pk/1GB.bin or wget -O /dev/null https://lhr-speed.elb.com.pk/1GB.bin. Choose a file at least a few times larger than your plan so the transfer runs long enough to settle.
How to get an accurate speed test result
A speed test measures the weakest link between you and the server. These steps remove the common causes of a misleadingly low reading.
Test over cable, not WiFi, when you can
WiFi is usually the bottleneck, not your internet line. A laptop on 2.4 GHz WiFi may cap around 40–60 Mbps regardless of your plan. Plug into the router with an Ethernet cable to see what your connection is actually delivering.
Stop other downloads and devices first
Streaming, cloud backups, game updates and other people in the house all share your line. Anything running in the background is subtracted from your test result.
Pick a file big enough for your plan
A download needs several seconds to reach full speed. On a 25 Mbps line use the 100 MB file; on 100 Mbps use 1 GB; on gigabit use the 10 GB file. Too small a file finishes before the connection settles and under-reports your speed.
Understand Mbps versus MB/s
Internet plans are sold in megabits per second (Mbps), but browsers report downloads in megabytes per second (MB/s). Divide by 8 to convert: a 100 Mbps connection downloads at roughly 12.5 MB/s at full speed. Seeing 12 MB/s on a 100 Mbps plan means you are getting what you pay for.
Test more than once, at different times
Evening peak hours look different from mid-morning. Run the test a few times across a day before concluding there is a problem, and note the times when it drops.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my internet download speed?
Download one of the test files above that is larger than your subscribed plan and watch the rate your browser reports. A file a few times bigger than your line rate gives the most accurate result, because the transfer runs long enough to settle.
Why use a local Lahore server instead of Speedtest.net?
This server sits inside Earthlink Broadband’s network in Lahore, so a download measures throughput to a nearby node without long international paths. It complements global tools and shows how your local connection really performs.
How do I run a speed test from the command line?
Use curl -o /dev/null https://lhr-speed.elb.com.pk/1GB.bin or wget -O /dev/null https://lhr-speed.elb.com.pk/1GB.bin. Both download the file and discard it while reporting the achieved speed.
Which file size should I download?
Pick a file at least a few times larger than your plan. On a 100 Mbps line the 1 GB file works well; on gigabit connections use the 10 GB file so the transfer lasts long enough to measure accurately.
What is a good internet speed in Pakistan?
For one person browsing and streaming HD, 15–25 Mbps is comfortable. A family with several devices and 4K streaming is better served by 50–100 Mbps. For online gaming, a stable low-latency connection matters more than raw speed.
Why is my result lower than the speed I pay for?
Usually WiFi rather than cable, other devices sharing the line, evening peak congestion, or an ageing router. Test over Ethernet with everything else idle to see your true line speed — if it is still low, contact your provider.
Are the test files safe to download?
Yes. They contain only random, incompressible data with no executable content, and exist solely to measure download throughput.