In this day and age, having an internet connection is quite common for most of the people living in cities across the globe. People use the internet for multiple purposes like streaming online content, working from home, video calls. Voice calls, online gaming etc. The list goes on and on. All of these services require a certain amount of internet speed to function smoothly. You might be wondering about what is a good upload and download speed? How can you make sure your internet connection is fulfilling your requirements? Let’s explore!
It basically means how quickly the data is transferred to your device via the internet. It is crucial for services like streaming videos, web browsing, downloading of various files etc. Higher downloading speeds means that one can enjoy all these activities without any lag. There will be minimal buffering on videos, large files could be downloaded within a short while and your web browsing experience will be smooth.
On the other hand, upload speed refers to how fast the data is being sent to the internet from your device. This is important for performing tasks such as making video calls, uploading content of multiple types like photos and videos, as well as online gaming etc. Just as the download speed, having a higher upload speed will ensure lag-free calls, less time uploading stuff and a smooth and seamless gaming experience.
To answer this question we will divide it into multiple categories as there is no one size fits all for this matter. We have mentioned below a number of activities along with how much speed you are likely to be required so that you can have a rough guess and make your decision of purchasing your internet connection accordindly.
If you are casually surfing the internet and checking the emails, you can do that easily with slower internet speeds. Usually download speeds of up to 10 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 2 Mbps are sufficient for these activities.
Streaming videos requires some decent amount of internet speeds. Although you can watch videos at slower speeds, you will be annoyed by the low quality and constant buffering of the videos. For a standard quality streaming you will require around 5 Mbps of speed whereas for streaming HD content you will need about 10 Mbps of speeds. If your monitor/TV supports 4K content then you can stream it with a minimum speed of at least 25 Mbps to avoid any buffering and drop in quality.
The upload speeds are not that relevant for streaming videos, but it is recommended to have at least 3 Mbps for smoothing operations.
Video conferencing is widely used for the purpose of meetings and work from home setups. You need about 2 Mbps of speed for conducting any video calls of standard quality and more than that for any HD video calls.
As the gaming industry is advancing, it is being heavily dependent on the internet services. Therefore you need to have fast internet speeds if you are a gamer in this era. You need 15 – 20 Mbps of download and 3+ Mbps of upload speeds to avoid any connection loss during your gaming activities.
If you are living in a house with your family, then a single internet connection with an average speed will definitely cause a problem. Thererfore, it is recommended to install an internet connection with download speeds of atleast 50 Mbps and upload speed of 10-20 Mbps. This will ensure everyone performs their tasks online smoothly.
Now let’s explore in detail and find out potential ways to increase upload speed and download speeds in order to achieve a smooth online experience.
Make sure your internet plan being used suits your monthly usage activities. If you happened to just surf online casually then you will be happy with a normal connection. However if you have multiple people living under one roof or you happen to be a gamer/content creator/vlogger etc. then you will need at least 50 to 100 Mbps of download and upload speeds. Therefore choose your data plan accordingly with your internet service provider to avoid any inconvenience.
Having a fast internet plan isn’t the only thing to do. You have to make sure your router supports those speeds as well. Consider upgrading to a good quality router that supports the speed your service provider is giving you.
Fiber optics cables are the way to go for internet users. These cables are the reason we have high speed internet at our homes. If you don’t have fiber optics connection installed at your place, then a high speed data plan won’t be of any use as oldschool internet cables do not have the technology to support those speeds.It is one sure way by which you can increase upload speed as well as download speeds by a significant margin.
Instead of relying on your WiFi signals, you may consider plugging the internet cable directly onto your system to ensure you receive full speed without any interference
It is a good practice to keep in check the amount of speed that you are receiving. This can be done for free using online internet speed test services that give you a comprehensive result about the quality of your internet connection. It provides details like your current download and upload speeds, Ping, Jitter etc. All of which show how efficient your internet connection is performing.
Knowing what is a good upload and download speed is essential for all internet users as it helps them to choose the right data plans for themselves hence using their money efficiently. In case you notice some unusual slow speeds or lags, you can immediately report to the service provider for help in that case. We hope you have an enjoyable and smooth internet experience!
I'm incredibly satisfied with WaveNet. Their connection has been consistently reliable, with excellent speeds, and their customer support team has been prompt and helpful whenever I've needed assistance. I highly recommend their service
