How you know you have “good” internet speed depends on how you use your internet. For example, if you need it to stream for several hours or just to write a few documents, the internet speed you need may be different. In this article, we'll cover what a good internet speed should be based on your usage.
Broadband and National Internet Speed
The United States does not have an official definition of broadband. The Federal Communications Commission defines broadband as a download speed of 25 Mbps, but it also allows states to establish guidelines for what qualifies as broadband. Most states have minimum standards of 10 Mbps for download and 3 Mbps for upload speed.
Individual Internet Service Providers (ISPs) set their speeds. For example, in 2015, Verizon began offering a new Fios service that offers download speeds of 300Mbps up and 100Mbps downstream. It's fast enough to deliver incredible 1080p HD streams across multiple devices without latency.
Testing your current speed
If you want to know your internet speed, use a network speed test tool. The test will show you download and upload speeds simultaneously. If your upload speed is lower than your download speed, it would be a good idea to upgrade or change your ISP. Remember that download speed is the speed at which you can access information on the internet. Upload speed is how fast you can send data from your computer to the web.
You can also use a speed test to determine whether your wireless or wired connection is faster. If you have both options, connect to the router via an Ethernet cable to perform a speed test. Keep in mind that some internet providers may limit your download speeds, but upload speeds should stay the same unless you are on a capped plan.
Recommendations for Internet Speeds
You can consider a few factors to choose the appropriate internet speed. They understand :
– The number of devices
– The 20 Mbps rule
– Get double your needs
The number of devices
When you have multiple devices that need to access the Internet simultaneously, it's essential to keep an eye on low Internet speeds. Your bandwidth capacity may be more efficient for one device, but that doesn't mean others will experience optimal throughput. For example, if you have multiple wireless devices that need to be connected simultaneously, your router may not be able to provide sufficient bandwidth. However, some routers may not limit this speed. Unfortunately, this can be a problem if you have an Xbox or computer that streams video simultaneously.
The 20 Mbps rule
Although the majority of households don't need internet speeds of 25 Mbps or higher, sometimes it's best to go slightly above the recommended minimum of 20 Mbps. For example, you will need higher speeds if you plan to use internet TV or a smart home system. The same goes if you like playing games online. Considering the need for fast download speeds, 20 Mbps is sufficient for a single device with limited to moderate usage.
Get double the required speed
Consumers are looking more than ever to maximize their bandwidth. However, if you're getting a slower speed than you're paying for, it doesn't make sense to pay extra. Ideally, you want to know what your 20 Mbps is worth to see if you're getting a better deal elsewhere.
The easiest way to do this is to figure out what your 20 Mbps speed is worth. To do this, divide your monthly expenses by the debit you receive.
The expected levels of high-speed Internet are:
– 200Mbps
– 250 Mbps
– 300 Mbps
– 400 Mbps
– 500 Mbps
– 1000 Mbps
The bottom line
Generally speaking, you should check your bandwidth and download speeds before dismissing your internet connection as slow. Even if your download speeds are relatively slow, your upload speeds can be fast enough to stream YouTube videos and play online games without worrying about buffering and lag.
To find out how much data you receive per second, divide your download speed (measured in megabytes per second) by 8 to get the number of kilobytes per second. For example, if your downstream speed is 5 Mbps, that corresponds to 500 kbps upstream.