Everything You Need To Know About Internet Speeds
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If you're in the market for new internet service, you probably already know that internet service is all about its speeds. Without the proper internet speeds, you're going to be unhappy and not have a good time online. To ensure you're spending your money wisely, getting the internet service you need without added frustration or hassle, it's important to know everything there is about internet speeds. That's why we've created this handy guide so you can learn everything you need to know about internet speeds to make the very best informed choice and get the proper high speed internet for your home. Here is what you need to know:

How Are Internet Speeds Measured?

Internet speeds are measured in bits per second. However, most internet speeds are measured in megabits per second or Mbps. Here are some of the measurements you can find while looking at internet plans:

Kbps (kilobits per second) = 1,000 bits per second. Usually Kbps is used to describe dial-up internet speeds.

Mbps (megabits per second) = 1 million bits per second. Most internet speeds use Mbps as their measurement.

Gbps (gigabits per second) = 1 billion bits per second. Fiber internet providers will use Gbps as their fastest internet speed plans. You may also see gig internet or 1 Gbps written as 1000 Mbps instead.

What Is A Good Internet Speed?

This is a trick question because what a good internet speed is will be different for each household. It depends on how you plan on using your internet connection and how many devices will be using the connection simultaneously.

To figure out what is a good internet speed for you, you'll need to survey your household and ask yourself the following questions:

How does your family plan on using the internet? Streaming, online gaming, working from home, surfing the web, etc.

How many devices will be connected simultaneously throughout the day?

Recommended Internet Speeds For Basic Use

If you're expecting basic use of your new internet connection, you won't need super fast speeds. We recommend the FCC minimum requirement for high speed broadband internet; 25 Mbps. Whether you're web browsing, checking emails, looking at today's news or scrolling through your social media feed, 25 Mbps is a sufficient internet speed for you. It will provide a connection that's fast enough, but not so fast that you're overpaying for internet service.

Recommended Internet Speeds For Working Or Learning From Home

If you or someone in your household is working or learning from home, you need an internet connection you can reliably count on. This includes a speedy connection. We recommend internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps. These speeds will ensure you can get all your work done like checking emails, conference calls, using a VPN and more.

Recommended Internet Speeds For Streaming TV

Nearly everyone these days streams video. Whether it's YouTube, Netflix or another streaming service, you'll need faster internet and lower latency than average to have a good viewing experience. We recommend internet speeds of 50 Mbps for quality HD or 4K streaming live or prerecorded programming. Here are some favorite streaming services and their very basic requirements. These requirements have only one device in mind and no other internet activities going on while viewing:

Netflix: 3 Mbps for standard definition, 5 Mbps for high definition, and 25 Mbps for 4K or Ultra HD.

Hulu: 3 Mbps for Hulu's streaming library, 8 Mbps for live streaming, and 16 Mbps for 4K content.

Disney+: 5 Mbps for high definition, and 25 Mbps for 4K UHD.

Amazon Prime Video: 1 Mbps for standard definition, and 5 Mbps for high definition.

Sling TV: 3 Mbps for portable connected devices like smartphones and tablets, 5 Mbps for single stream connected devices like laptops or desktops and 25 Mbps or higher for households that have multiple internet enabled devices functioning on the same network connection.

HBO Max: 5 Mbps for high definition, and 50+ Mbps for 4K.

AT&T TV NOW: 8 Mbps or higher per stream.

Recommended Internet Speeds For Gaming

If you have a serious gamer in the household, a fast internet connection with a great ping rate and bandwidth is essential to a good experience. Internet providers offer their own recommendations of what is best and what isn't, however it also depends on the kind of gamer you are. If you're a casual gamer that doesn't game online, we recommend a minimum of 25 Mbps to download your games and update them as updates are released. If you're a serious online gamer of multiplayer games we recommend internet speeds of a bare minimum of 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps for the very best experience.

Factors That Affect Your Internet Speeds

There are several internal and external factors that can seriously affect what internet speeds you receive. Here are some of the most common factors you may experience:

Internet technology: What type of internet do you have? Cable, DSL, fiber, satellite, fixed wireless, mobile broadband, dial-up, etc. Each type has a cap of how fast they can deliver internet speeds. For example, fiber internet is the fastest internet you can receive today while dial-up is the slowest internet you can receive.

Where you live: If you live in an urban or suburban area, you are much more likely to have access to faster internet providers like cable and fiber. However, if you live in a more rural or remote area, your internet options quickly diminish and you are likely going to have to live with slower internet types like satellite or DSL internet.

Wi-Fi or hardwired: Are you connected via Wi-Fi or are you directly plugged in? Over Wi-Fi you do lose some of your speeds, which is why serious gamers like to be directly plugged in.

Time of day: This unfortunately matters. If you're online during primetime or right after the typical 9am to 5pm business hours, you may experience slower speeds due to network congestion. This happens when more people are online than usual. Conversely your internet may be faster if you're using your internet when fewer people are online like the wee hours of the morning or late at night while everyone is generally asleep.

Your equipment: How old is your modem and router or modem router combination? Can it handle the internet speeds your internet provider is trying to deliver to you? You'll need to ensure not only can your equipment handle the speeds being sent to you, but that they are in the best working order.

Your devices: Your internet enabled devices, whether they be a laptop(s), desktop(s), tablet(s), smartphone(s), or gaming system(s) need to meet the minimum system requirements advised by your internet service provider. These minimum requirements vary, but as a general rule, the older your devices are, the slower your internet connection will be. Your internet connection will only be as fast as your slowest device can handle.