How you know you have a “good” internet speed depends on what you use your internet for. For example, if you need it for streaming for several hours or just writing some documents, the internet you will require may differ. In this article we will cover what should be an accordingly good internet speed based on your usage.
Broadband and the National Internet Speed
The United States has no official definition for broadband. The Federal Communications Commission defines broadband as a 25Mbps download speed, but it also allows states to set guidelines for what qualifies as broadband. Most states have minimum standards of 10Mbps for download and 3Mbps for upload speed.
Individual Internet Service Providers (ISPs) set their speeds. For example, in 2015, Verizon began offering a new Fios service that provides download speeds of 300Mbps up and 100Mbps down. That’s fast enough to provide incredible 1080p HD streams on multiple devices without lag time.
Testing Your Current Speed
If you want to know how fast your Internet is, use a network speed test tool. The test will show you both the download and upload speeds simultaneously. If your upload speed is lower than your download speed, upgrading or switching providers is a good idea. Remember, the download speed is how fast you can access information from the Internet. The upload speed is how quickly 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 for a speed test. Remember that some ISPs may limit your download speeds, but the upload speeds should remain the same unless you’re on a capped plan.
Recommendations for Internet Speeds
You may consider a few factors when choosing the proper internet speed. They include:
• The number of devices
• The 20 Mbps rule
• Getting double your requirement
The Number of Devices
When you have several devices that need to access the Internet simultaneously, keeping an eye out for low internet speed is essential. Your bandwidth capacity may be more efficient for one device, but that doesn’t mean the others will get optimal rates. For example, if you have multiple wireless devices that need to be connected simultaneously, your router may not be able to provide enough bandwidth. However, some routers may not limit that speed. Unfortunately, this can be a problem if you have an Xbox or computer streaming video simultaneously.
The 20 Mbps Rule
Although the majority of households don’t need internet speeds of 25 Mbps or above, there are times when it is better to go slightly over the recommended minimum of 20 Mbps. For example, you will need faster speeds if you plan to use an internet TV or an intelligent home system. The same is true if you like to play online games. Considering the need for fast download speeds, 20 Mbps is enough for a single device with limited to moderate use.
Getting Double Your Required Speed
Consumers are more focused on maximizing their bandwidth than ever before. However, if you are getting a slower speed than what you are 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 find out what your 20 Mbps speed is worth. To do this, divide your monthly expense by the rate you receive.
Expected fast-speed Internet levels include:
• 200Mbps
• 250 Mbps
• 300 Mbps
• 400 Mbps
• 500 Mbps
• 1000 Mbps
The Bottom Line
In general terms, you might want to check your bandwidth and upload speeds before writing off the internet connection as slow. Even if your download speeds are relatively low, your upload speeds could still be high enough to stream YouTube videos and play online games without worrying about buffering and lag.
To find out how much data you’re getting per second, divide your download speed (measured in megabytes per second) by 8 to get the number of kilobytes per second. For example, if you’re getting 5Mbps down, that’s 500kbps up.
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