The FCC has some basic guidance on internet activities and the speeds they require: Do people in your house mainly use the internet for social media browsing and emails? Or, have you cut the cable cord and now rely on video streaming services to watch TV. Types of Internet Activitiesĭifferent online activities eat up different amounts of bandwidth.
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But you may want to splurge for the plan with 100+ Mbps if you have a house full of people clambering to connect. How many possible users could be on the internet at one time? This is a crucial thing to think through, especially during peak usage times - like in the morning before work or when you get home. Here are some things to consider when thinking about your internet speed: Number of Internet Users The FCC says this is the minimum broadband needed for common internet usage.Īll of these definitions are good to know, but you may be thinking: How fast does the internet at my new place have to be? You’re seeing all of these speed ranges and price points and thinking, how do I choose? Going back to those government regulations, the FCC has set a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps and a minimum upload speed of 3 Mbps. It’s normal for your upload speed to be around one-tenth of your download speed. Key note:ĭownload speed is much more important for the average user since you only notice upload speed when trying to share large files. To use the YouTube example again, upload speed would measure the time it would take for you to post that adorable video of your dog howling the Star-Spangled Banner. Upload speed is how quickly your connection can send data from your devices to the internet. For example, if you use your computer to watch YouTube videos, it’s the speed at which your computer loads the video. Here’s what you need to know: Download Speedĭownload speed is how quickly your connection can retrieve data from the internet (web pages, videos, photos, etc.). When you shop around for new plans, you’ll likely see two different speeds listed in the description - a “download speed” and an “upload speed.” Don’t get overwhelmed by the different numbers, but do understand the difference. But larger jumps, like 10 to 100 Mbps, can give you a totally different experience.
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When thinking through new internet plans to upgrade speed, know that speed increments, such as 15 to 25 Mbps, likely won’t result in a noticeable difference in performance. Gbps speeds fall in the ultra-fast range, and those offerings are becoming more common. Kbps speeds are too slow to be considered broadband and most providers don’t offer kbps speeds. You’ll likely find that most providers offer speeds in the Mbps range, due to current consumer internet needs. Bits per second (bps) is a measurement of how fast that data is being transmitted. What exactly is a bit? Put simply, a bit is a small piece of data. Those prefixes are used to explain exactly how many thousands of bits are being transferred over that internet connection per second.
When shopping around for new internet plans, you’ll notice that speeds are usually displayed with the prefixes k, M, and G (listed from slowest to fastest). What to Look for When Choosing Internet Speed