Table of Contents
You don’t have to be an IT expert to appreciate the benefits of high-speed internet service. From faster file downloads to interruption-free video and music streaming to not having to worry about being the star of one of those awkward freeze frames on a virtual conference call, fast internet can save you every time you need to stay connected to the internet.
But how fast should your Wi-Fi connection be at home? This guide will give you a basic understanding of internet speed in relation to your devices and usage.
Featured Partners
1
T-Mobile
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
27
2
Xfinity
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
36
3
AT&T Internet
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Number of States Covered
21
What Is Internet Speed?
It can certainly be irritating when your website takes too long to load or an email takes too long to send. But what is the reason behind the lag? Slow load time could potentially mean you have a slow internet speed – how much time it takes for a certain amount of data to transfer from a server to your device, measured in Mbps. So, whether you’re streaming a show on Netflix, attending a video conference on Zoom or downloading your favorite songs, your internet speed is working behind the scenes to transfer all this data.
How Internet Speed Is Measured
Internet speed refers to how long it takes data to transfer back and forth to your device from the web server via the router. Megabits per second (Mbps) is the standard measurement for internet speeds. The number of Mbps measures the rate at which information is downloaded/uploaded from the internet to various devices.
Bandwidth is the amount of information that is downloaded or uploaded per second, also measured in Mbps. Broadband internet, which is what many internet providers (ISP) offer today, is service with a wider bandwidth over a high-speed internet connection. Speed and bandwidth are often confused, so here’s how Verizon, one of the country’s largest cable and internet service providers (ISP) describes both terms using a bathtub faucet for an analogy:
The rate at which the water flows is the speed, but the amount of water that comes out is the bandwidth. If you have a wider faucet, more water will come out and fill the tub faster than if you had a more narrow faucet. You’ll need more water (bandwidth) to flow at the same speed if you’ve got more than one device connecting to the internet.
Think of a highway as another example of bandwidth. If there is only one vehicle (device) per lane, you can have more cars and trucks on the road at the same time if you have more lanes (bandwidth).
How Fast Does My Internet Need to Be?
In general, faster is better when it comes to internet speed. But it also depends on how many devices are being used and whether they are being used at the same time.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set the minimum standard for broadband internet as 25 Mbps for download and 3 Mbps for upload. Some lawmakers have called on the FCC to raise the minimum to 100 Mbps for both download and upload, since so many more people are now working and studying at home and could benefit from faster connection speeds.
The FCC defines internet usage in terms of light, moderate and high:
- Light use includes minimal functions such as email, web browsing, video streaming and internet radio.
- Moderate includes those basic functions plus one of the following high-demand utilities: HD video streaming, video conferencing, online gaming and other functions needed for a remote worker.
- High use includes basic functions plus more than one high-demand utility running at the same time.
The FCC defines internet service in terms of basic, medium and advanced service:
- Basic service is 3 to 8 Mbps; best for light use, one to two users or devices at a time
- Medium service is 12 to 15 Mbps, best for moderate use for two to three users or devices at a time
- Advanced service is 25+ Mbps, best for moderate or high use for four or more users or devices at a time
Keep in mind that these services refer to users or devices. If you have a smartphone, a tablet, a computer and a streaming or gaming service on your television, that’s already four devices for just one person. If you share a home with other people, you also share a home with their devices, which means you need to account for an internet connection that can handle numerous devices with numerous activities—anything from gaming to virtual meetings to social media—occurring at the same time.
Let’s take a look a variety of internet activities to see what your internet speed needs might be:
- Web browsing, social media and email: 1 Mbps
- File downloads: 10 Mbps
- Student: 25 Mbps
- Remote employee: 25 Mbps
- Video streaming: 3 to 4 Mbps for standard, 5 to 8 Mbps for HD, 5 to 8 Mbps for 4K
- HD video conferencing: 6 Mbps
- Gaming: 3 Mbps for console, 4 Mbps for online multiplayer
As a guideline, 100 Mbps is good for multiple users/devices, but it’ll get even better as you keep adding Mbps to your connection speed. When you get to the 500 to 1000 Mbps range, you could basically do anything on multiple devices with lightning fast speed, as many of the ISP commercials will promote.
Featured Partners
1
T-Mobile
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
27
2
Xfinity
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
36
3
AT&T Internet
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Number of States Covered
21
Why Is Internet Speed Important?
Since internet speed sets the parameters for what you can do online, it is essential that it is up to par to support your daily internet usage. Ranging from less than 1 Mbps (incredibly slow) to 5,000 Mbps (insanely fast), you can choose an internet plan that will suit your needs. However, it is recommended that a good download speed is at least 100 Mbps, while a good upload speed is at least 10 Mbps.
Is Faster Internet Always the Better Option?
Higher internet speeds results in faster download/uploads. You’ll likely notice that your internet searches bring up results faster and your movie and audio downloads take just seconds, and you’ll certainly notice any lag—this is known as latency—if too many devices or users are attempting to use the internet connection at the same time.
In fact, the only thing that faster internet isn’t good for is your wallet. Unless you have a bundle package with your service provider that allows you to wrap up other things like phone and cable TV into your bill at a discount, you are going to pay more—sometimes a lot more—for faster internet. However, many will consider it to be worth it for the convenience of having all their smart devices run smoothly and efficiently.
If you are curious to see what your internet speed is, you can always search an ISP online—they will likely have some type of device or router test that will determine how fast your internet speed is. With this information, you’ll be able to see if you need to increase your internet speed or use your household’s devices more strategically so that you can get the most out of your Wi-Fi connection.
Can You Complain to Your Provider About Internet Speeds?
Do you notice a constant lag in your internet speed and need help resolving the problem? In that case, you should contact your internet provider, especially if your internet speed is considerably slower than what you signed up for. Your internet service provider should try to troubleshoot, offer assistance and monitor the issue. If the problem continues, be persistent with your ISP. Please do not assume your router or modem is at fault or that it will improve with time. Contact your ISP and continue to escalate the issue if you need more support.
