Your ISP plays an important role in determining the overall speed and stability of your internet connection. But have you ever tried to know or understand the speed of the internet? Have you ever noticed why internet service providers prominently advertise internet speed in their internet deals like CenturyLink Internet Deals? Curious? It must be because many of you have never thought that way.
The price you need to pay for an internet service every month and the internet speed you will get at your end are the two major elements that help you in deciding which internet plan or internet service provider to pick to meet your internet needs. But the question is what is internet speed and how can you examine the internet speed your ISP is offering you?
If you want to get answers to those questions you are in the right spot because here we are going to provide every single piece of information you need to know for having a thorough understanding of internet speed. Sounds interesting? Well, indeed.
So, without any further delay, let’s start unleashing the fundamental elements of internet speed!
What is Internet Speed?
Before jumping right into the topic, let us give you a quick overview of internet speed. Internet speed is the speed with which signals move from the provider’s end to the user’s end and data moves from the sender to the receiver’s end. It is broadly measured as Mbps (Megabits per second). Moreover, download and upload speeds are the two-speed categories that can affect by many factors.
Download Speed
It is the speed that determines how quickly data will travel through the internet network from the providers’ end to users’ home network and all devices connected to this network.
Why It Is Important To Check Download Speed?
Download speed is important for carrying out different activities including browsing a webpage on the internet, streaming music, updating the latest version of the software, downloading copies of documents, files, videos, and more. You can also download different photos from a cloud-based storage system to your device, stream video or other entertaining content from different streaming platforms such as Netflix, and check email and open attachments.
Upload Speed
Upload speed is the measure of speed through which data will travel from the senders’ network to the internet.
Why It Is Important to Check Upload Speed?
Upload speed is important to check in any internet plan for activities including attaching files to an email and sending it, uploading photos to your social media accounts, and more. It also helps in uploading files to a cloud-based storage system, starting a live video stream, and uploading a video to YouTube or other platforms.
That’s the reason we would like to suggest you always compare what download and upload speed different internet service providers are offering in your area before taking any final decision. Many internet service providers in the United States of America are offering incredible internet plans with amazing download and upload speed including CenturyLink Internet Plans. However, it is important to investigate whether or not the internet service provider is truly offering the said internet speed to its customers in your area.
Internet Speed Testers
Internet speed testers are designed to test the internet speed a customer is receiving at their home or office. These platforms have made it possible for users to identify whether or not they are receiving the advertised upload and download speed in an internet plan.
Plenty of online internet speed testers are in the market which you can utilize to test the upload and download speed of your internet connection within seconds. One such platform is Speedtest.net from the house of OOKLA. However, you can use other internet speed testers as well.
Some Major Factors that Affect Internet Speeds
Various factors have a direct impact on the speed of your internet connection. However, we have covered only three of those factors in this blog. So, let’s check them out!
· Method for Accessing the Internet
Major internet accessing methods include mobile hotspots, 3G, 5G, 4G, DSL, dial-up broadband, satellite, fiber-optic, and cable internet. Each of these has a distinct yet drastic impact on the internet speed you may receive on your home network. It has been found that fiber-optic internet connections deliver the highest internet speed compared to other internet access methods. Therefore we would like to advise you to pick any method for accessing internet service according to your needs.
· Your Internet Service Provider
The quality of internet service your chosen internet service provider is offering to you has the greatest influence on the internet speed you may receive at your end. That’s the reason you need to thoroughly evaluate download and upload speed and other important features an internet service provider is offering in any of its internet plans, packages, bundles, or offers before taking any decision.
· The location where you are Currently Living
Most of the time, the variation in advertised internet speed is due to the location you are living in. Many internet service providers can’t deliver the same internet speed throughout their network extended across the landscape of the country. That’s the reason all top-notch internet service providers in the United States advertise on their websites that internet speed is subject to location. So, make sure you check such statements while exploring the websites of different internet service providers.
What Is a Good Internet Speed?
It is important to understand what internet speed you need to smoothly carry out different online activities before picking any internet plan. To make it easier for you, we have added some common activities with the speed required for carrying out those activities. So, keep scrolling!
Activity and Required Internet Speed
- 1 Mbps is needed for normal web surfing, social media activities, and email.
- 3-4 Mbps is required for standard definition video streaming.
- 1-3 Mbps is good enough for online gaming activities.
- 1-4 Mbps is appropriate for video calls.
- 5-8 Mbps is enough for HD video streaming.
50 and above Mbps is required for regular downloads of large-size documents, files, and videos.
The Bottom-Line
Hopefully, we have presented you with enough information to have a better understanding of internet speed. However, you need to do a little more research to find the perfect match for your internet needs. Make sure you check on the uploading and downloading speed an internet service provider is offering in its internet plan, the number of smart devices you want to connect with your single internet connection, etc.
You should also make a list of activities you and your family are probably going to do using this internet connection and the total internet speed required for all those activities. It will help you to decide on the compatibility of an internet solution to meet your needs.
BuyTVInternetPhone is a platform that can assist you for quickly filtering out potential internet service providers and their internet service solutions that are capable of meeting your needs.