You might notice that there are a lot of internet service providers out there advertising insanely fast speeds. It’s not uncommon to have them claim speeds of 1 gigabit per second, 2 gigabits per second, or even more. There are a few problems though, the first being that these same companies can’t always be trusted. Let’s dig into the issue of how much speed you’re likely to get, and how much you’re likely to need.
The real facts about home internet speed
You can go out there and test your internet speed, and you might get something close to what they claim you’re getting. It’s common for these speed test apps to report that you’re getting about 90% of the speed you’re paying for. In other words, if you’re paying for 1Gbps, the speed test will probably report that you’re able to download at 900Mbps. Of course, if someone else in your home is using the internet, that number might be lower. But not to worry, because it truly doesn’t matter.
Here’s the way that most cable companies operate. Your local neighborhood might have a single 10Gbps line running to it. That’s pretty common in 2022. That’s perfectly fine as long as you don’t have 11 people running speed tests at the same time. In fact they count on that not happening. The cable company counts on you not needing as much speed as you think. Like airlines, they deliberately oversell their capacity because they think most people will never notice.
What really happens though is that if everyone wants to stream the same thing at the same time, say for example Stranger Things, the whole thing can come toppling down. Most of the time it doesn’t, you just get a little slower speed than advertised.
The undeniable fact of the internet
With the exception of speed test sites, you will very rarely find any web site that serves you information faster than about 30Mbps. That’s right, 30. That’s about what it takes for you to feel like you’re getting a snappy experience from a regular web page or social media site. That’s why that single 10Gbps line works, because if everyone is browsing, it’s likely that 300 people could be using that line and still feel like they’re getting good speed.
Here are the facts, 2022-style
Keep in mind, things change over time. It’s also true that not every situation is the same. Still, this little guide should help you figure out how much speed you need for your home.
Add up each of these that you need…
| For each person that does this at the same time…. | you need… |
|---|---|
| browses the internet on regular pages | 10Mbps |
| goes to social sites that show video | 30Mbps |
| uses Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, or other video meeting app | 10Mbps |
| streams HD video | 8Mbps |
| streams 4K video | 25Mbps |
| does hardcore online gaming | 100Mbps |
So, just think about it. Let’s say one parent shops, the other goes on social. There are three kids. One is a gamer, but the other two just watch TV. During the day, everyone is on some sort of video meeting app. The absolute maximum you’re likely to need is…
10+30+25+25+100… 190Mbps. If you’re paying for more than that, I wouldn’t say you’re wasting your money, though. The deals are pretty good. After all, even if they say you’re capable of getting 1Gbps you probably wouldn’t get it anyway.
Think you need better internet?
Don’t just rely on the hard-sell folks from the cable company. Learn more about residential internet from Signal Connect. We’ll help you find the best provider at the best price, and our customer service is free. Just click here to get started!
