Internet speed is the major aspect of any home network. Everyone needs fast internet speed, right? It is frustrating to wait for a website to load, conduct low-quality Zoom meetings, or experience buffering while watching your favorite movie online. Such issues arise when the internet is not up to the mark, and to understand the science behind that, you don’t have to be a tech wizard.
It may not be necessary for you to have the fastest internet speed because you might not need it. Unless you live with a big family and everyone indulges in heavy online activities, you must look at the fastest internet speeds to make things work. On the other hand, if you need the internet for checking your emails, find dinner recipes, or listening to music, moderate internet speed will be enough to help you out.
Having enough bandwidth will help you carry out online tasks with ease. What’s bandwidth? It is the amount of data that a network can accommodate and allow the transfer of. People often confuse it with internet speed, but the two things are quite different. Speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps) and indicates the speed at which a specific volume of data is shared over a connection in a specific time frame. Internet speed, on the other hand, ensures that information is sent and received at a quick pace.
What Is Internet Speed?
The internet speed is responsible for the time that information takes to be transferred from your device to the server and vice versa. Any activity you indulge in online, such as streaming Netflix, conducting a Zoom meeting, or posting on Instagram, requires your device to upload and download the data packets. The rate at which it’s done depends on the bandwidth of your internet connection.
On any home Wi-Fi network, the speed is determined by the internet service providers (ISPs). It depends on the ISP, how much speed you get, and how improved the connection quality is. Opting for higher internet speed will make you pay more, as a fast internet connection comes with significantly higher bills.
Before subscribing to any particular internet service provider, such as Clearwave internet, you must ensure it is available in your state. If it is available, you must go for the plan that will be able to entertain your online needs. Subscribing to the internet plan offering speed more than you need is not smart as it will only pull out more money from your pockets. Knowing what internet speed you need is so important.
Why is Internet Speed Important?
The internet speed sets a specific barrier to limit your online activities. Internet service providers offer various internet plans with different speed ranges. The range can be anywhere between 1 Mbps (lowest) to 5000 Mbps (fastest), but choosing the internet plan that fulfills your internet needs is what you should focus on.
Most Americans are happy with a 100 Mbps internet connection as it helps them perform high bandwidth activities easily, like downloading heavy files and streaming online in 4K. Not dealing with loading times, buffering, and delay is what an average internet user wants.
However, if you feel that a 100 Mbps internet connection is not enough to help you, then aiming for a higher speed is always an option. Let us assume that you live in a big house with more than six family members that own more than one device to use the internet on. In this case, going for a much higher internet speed becomes essential.
Some benefits of high-speed internet are fast downloads, smooth Zoom calls, quicker load times, zero to no buffering or dropped connections, the same internet speed for multiple users using the internet simultaneously, and so on.
You can consider a fast internet plan as a pickup truck instead of a motorbike while shifting to a new apartment. This means that with a bigger vehicle, you will be able to move your stuff to the new place on fewer trips, subsequently saving more energy and time. Always contact the customer support of an ISP, such as Clearwave fiber customer service, and ask for their recommendation regarding what internet plan will suit you the best.
What Internet Speed Do You Need?
So now you know that subscribing to an internet plan offering speeds and less or more than you need is no good. However, what bugs more people is how they can know what internet speed they actually want. We are here to make it simple for you.
Below, we have shared a table stating how much speed you need to carry out various online tasks.
| Internet Speed | What activities can you do |
| 0 – 5 Mbps | Sending and receiving emailsSearching the web for basic queriesStreaming SD content on a single device |
| 5 – 40 Mbps | HD streaming on a few devicesPlaying Online GamesUsing 1-2 devices simultaneously |
| 40 – 100 Mbps | Stream online content in HD on up to 4 devicesOnline gaming with multiple playersDownloading huge filesUsing the internet on up to 5 devices simultaneously |
| 100 – 500 Mbps | 4K online streaming on 5+ devicesDownloading extensive files online quicklyUsing the Internet on 5+ devices |
| 500 – 1000+ Mbps | Seamlessly streaming in 4K on 10+ devicesDownloading and uploading GB files with top-notch speedsRunning more than ten smart devices with no drop in the internet |
The majority of people are happy with the minimum speed of 25 Mbps, and if it’s an average-sized US household, then a 100 Mbps connection will be enough. It is strong enough to allow 4-5 people to play online games, attend Zoom calls with no slowdowns, and stream in HD, and so on.
Different US households need different internet speeds depending on what online activities they indulge in. A person living alone in a house will only need the internet for basic tasks, such as using social media, browsing the web, or even watching Netflix.
On the other hand, a family of 5 people will surely require a big internet plan that will enable it to conduct online activities without any buffering or other problems. The primary thing to keep in mind here is that you should always opt for the internet speed that can meet the daily online needs you may have.
Is Wi-Fi and Internet Speed the Same Thing?
There is not a massive difference, but knowing how internet speed and Wi-Fi differ can be helpful. Wi-Fi is used as the same term as the internet by many citizens, but it technically refers to a wireless internet connection that is sourced by a router or a mobile hotspot. The speeds of Wi-Fi are slightly slower in comparison with a wired internet connection that is connected directly from the modem.
If you live in a big house, you may notice that the Wi-Fi signals are not strong in every room, especially if they are at a distance from the router. An Ethernet cable connection, on the other hand, offers fast internet as it faces no resistance whatsoever. However, you must ensure that the cable wires are not torn or bent, as they can cause even the Ethernet cable internet connection to slow down.
What is The Difference Between Upload and Download Speed?
You may have come across the terms upload and download speeds while looking at various Internet plans. As complicated as they seem, there is no technicality involved.
Let us explain these terms to you so that the next time you read about them anywhere, you don’t feel left out.
Download speed can be described as the speed at which the data travels from multiple servers on the web to your internet-connected device. Upload speed, on the other hand, is the rate at which the data from your internet-connected device flows to the internet.
You will need a download bandwidth when you are streaming online videos, listening to high-quality music, scrolling your social media, downloading files, or reading a blog post or an article. However, if you are conducting a Zoom call, posting on social media, writing or posting a blog post, or hosting a live stream, you will need to upload bandwidth.
Most users download data more excessively than upload it, which is why the majority of internet service providers offer internet plans with more download speed and less upload speed. However, you should not feel that upload speeds are of any less importance, as they come in quite handy when you indulge in online activities, such as online gaming, sharing large files online, video conferencing, and scrolling social media.
Common Types of Internet Connections Available
There are various internet service providers available in the market today, and each type of connection plays a crucial role in the internet speeds you receive. Let us discuss the most common types of internet that you may already be familiar with.
Fiber Internet
Fiber internet is undoubtedly the fastest internet you can get. There are strands of bundled fiber optics that are covered in the reflective case and convey a vast amount of data using light signals. The majority of fiber internet plans provide 1000 Mbps speeds, and some can go over 2000 Mbps or even 6000 Mbps. In addition, with Fiber internet, you get the same upload and download speed, which takes things to a whole new level.
Cable Internet
Here, the coaxial cables that are used to convey cable TV services are used. Such internet connections can reach gigabit speeds, and they are also more easily available than fiber, which is the reason why most US residents consider it to have top-notch internet connections in their homes. Lastly, cable internet plans usually come with exciting bundle deals that enable you to pair your internet with various TV packages.
DSL
DSL, which is short for digital subscriber line, implies the same wiring that landline telephones network does. It is comparatively slow, as the maximum internet speed it can offer is 100 Mbps. On top of that, DSL connections are going out of trend lately as most DSL providers are also offering fiber connections to completely shift their areas of expertise.
5G Home Internet
This type of internet is relatively new to entering the market. The speed that it offers ranges between 30 to 1000 Mbps. The 5G network technology is still in the process, and this is why it’s yet not widely available. It works best in areas where the population is dense, which means it is more widely available in cities and towns, a least for now.
Wrapping Up!
There you go! We hope you found this article to be of great help. Moreover, now before subscribing to any internet plan, you will know so much more regarding the factors that come into play. You should know your internet usage, household members, house size, and coverage before you finally end up choosing the internet plan. Lastly, you must also consider some extra factors as well, such as cost, availability, customer reviews, and more, to get the best value for your money.