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What Is A Good Internet Speed? | Requirements for Gaming, Download, Streaming and Surfing

The key to getting decent internet speeds is to have a reliable, trusted internet service provider (ISP).  An internet connection  with super fast internet speeds (see also 'What is considered fast internet?') is essential to improving productivity for personal and business work.

Slow internet speeds means slow productivity.  Here at VSS monitoring we value trusted internet providers that provide a reliable internet connection to their customers at blazingly fast upload and download speeds. You can look into our detailed side-by-side Spectrum or ATT internet providers review.

What is a good internet speed? When using the internet on your computer, many people face the dreaded messages of WiFi connectivity problems or internet speed fluctuation when downloading large files that are left incomplete.  It is necessary to check how fast your internet speed is and see if there is a better internet plan for that can improve your slow internet download speeds on content like movies, games, or other large files. Your internet speed also depends on whether or not you are using a quality ethernet cable wired connectionFor example, for online gaming you should have the best ethernet PS4 cable you can get, or a top ethernet cable for gaming on your PC, as well. Also, check out our 'What is a good upload speed for gaming?' and ''How many Mbps is good for gaming?'' posts.

What is a Good Download Speed?

Usually a good download speed is one that is reliable and ranges from 6-10 Mbps, where "Mbps" stands for megabits per second).  If you are running multiple devices or playing online gaming, then it might be useful to have a higher internet connection speed such as 10 mbps or higher.

The bottom line is if you should take an internet speed test and check out a list of internet providers that may help increase to the internet speed you need. Look into our ATT review for one such provider. If you use the internet for such online activities such as online gaming, streaming music, or streaming HD video, then consider upgrading to a 25 Mbps option for higher bandwidth.

If you are working with cloud services, an slower internet speed wont work, it requires faster internet speed to use high Mbps upload speeds for many devices, then I suggest you use a higher-tiered plan that has an Mbps speed range of 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps for intensive use (see also 'How to Improve Upload Speed' article).

What does “Mbps” stand for?

"Mbps" is an abbreviation for "megabits per second.  It is the standard for describe internet speeds for both download speed and upload speed.

Megabits are a measurement of data transfer.  On the technical level, it means that data, or information, is transferred and moved from your local computer to the internet, which is a network of interconnected computers, or vice versa.

What does “upload” and “download” mean?

Upload means that data is being sent from your computer to the Internet.  Some examples include uploading a YouTube video to be shared with friends, posting a photo on a social media website like Facebook, or sending an email to your colleagues.

Download means that data is being received from the Internet to your local computer.  Each time you open a webpage, receive an email, listen to music files, or watch online videos is an example of a download from the Internet.

differences

What is a good download speed and upload speed?

Having a good upload and download internet speeds is essential when you use the internet.  In general, a  decent upload speed to aim for is 5 Mbps.  When choosing an internet  provider, it is important to understand the different internet plans and which tiers of download speeds and upload speeds that are available.

Slow internet can be annoying and disruptive to your productivity.  Once you have selected from a list of reputable internet providers, make sure to take an internet speed test right away to see if you have fast internet with the appropriate upload speed and download speed. If your internet speed is low ask yourself - Is my internet being throttled?

Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) usually has an internet speed of up to 1.5 megabytes per second (Mbps).  Another option is cable internet, which can have speeds from 10 Mbps to 1 000 Mbps fast. 

If you do video calls or streaming video often, then it might be valuable to upgrade to cable internet with average upload Mbps range of 5 to 50 Mbps.  Some internet providers have  minimum speeds of 3 mbps for its customers. 

For higher speeds, a business or enterprise plan over 100 mbps download speed may be necessary (see 'Is a 100 Mbps Fast Internet?' post). Check with your local ISP and enter your zip code to see if cable internet is available in your area.

How Much Speed Do I Need?

In order to answer this question, you need to know is how much data you use and how many devices you are using in your home or office and what type of computer activities you will be using on the internet. 

For basic web browsing and simple internet usage, a plan of speeds of 1 mbps to 3 mbps or a minimum download speed of 5 mbps may be sufficient.  Internet speed of 1 mbps may be at the bare minimum download and minimum upload speed to begin.

Things like ultra HD video, streaming music, online games video calls, or other online activities may require a faster internet speed such as fiber optic to give the best upload and download speeds over Wi Fi.

In general, internet speeds range from 1 to 1000 Mbps or more speed.  For multiple users, the 100-200 Mbps range may be enough to share the local network for collaborative work.  Speeds that are above 200 Mbps can be considered more "Enterprise" level for a company or organization with five or more users (see our 'Is 200 Mbps Fast?' post).

What is the average internet speed?

Typically, the WiFi speed at your home or office is often 25-40% below the maximum internet speed advertised and promoted by the ISP company.  This is because of such factors such as wireless interference, multiple users, multiple devices, and wireless network range - here are some tips on how to increase WiFi speed.

On average, most homes and offices in urban areas usually have speeds of around 100 Mbps.  For more remote or rural areas, it depends on the location and proximity to certain neighborhoods. Many rural locations rely on satellite coverage for the internet, so the maximum speed may be only 25 Mbps. Fixed wireless internet is a better choice than satellite internet in remote locations when it is available.

What is a good WIFI speed?

Generally, any internet connection that is above 25 Mbps is considered an acceptable WIFI speed.  It is considered the broadband standard according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) minimum recommendation.  If you are the only user in your home on the internet with primary online activities such as checking social media, watching Netflix, or online shopping, then this WiFi speed should be enough.  Internet connections with these speeds can support most online activity such as HD livestreaming, online gaming, and web browsing.

The average internet speed ranges from 12 Mbps to 25 Mbps.   Usually the "Basic" service of most internet service providers will go from 3 Mbps to 8 Mbps.   Other "Basic" plans from different companies may have a lower priced plan with a speed range of 1 Mbps to 5 Mbps that may be appealing to customers that do not need that much internet speed for their work.

You can check the internet speed of your internet providers by doing a simple Wi Fi speed test.  Some customers report that even some "Basic" service plans have a minimum internet speed of 5 Mbps for upload speed as well as the same 5 Mbps for download speed.  How much internet speed that a user needs is highly dependent on the usage type.   For those user's that perform much of their work for school or their job on the internet, a WiFi speed of 25 mbps or higher is suggested for doing video conference calls or watching video lectures online.

The next tiered plan is usually the "Advanced" service which normally exceeds 25 Mbps.  For "Enterprise"-level service, internet speeds  of over 50 to 100 Mbps can support most small businesses.

Conclusion

A fast and reliable Internet WiFI  connection is incredibly important in this modern age of technology.  Finding a trusted internet provider and appropriate hardware such as a router or modem is just as important.  At VSS Monitoring, we are dedicated at helping you find the tools you need.

Get updated on the latest products and services anytime by visiting our VSS Monitoring homepage. Connect with us to learn more about a useful service anytime, anywhere!

FAQs

1. Why is Internet speed important?

There are a variety of reasons why internet speed is important. Perhaps the most obvious reason is that faster internet speeds mean that we can access information more quickly. Whether we are looking up a fact for a paper, streaming a movie, or Skyping with a friend, faster speeds make our online lives easier and more enjoyable. Additionally, businesses increasingly rely on the internet for communication and commerce. A slow internet connection can mean lost money and opportunities.

2. What are the benefits of faster Internet speed?

The benefits of faster Internet speed are vast. For one, with a faster connection, you can more easily keep up with your online coursework. Additionally, you can stream videos and music more smoothly, without buffering. Moreover, you can stay connected with loved ones and colleagues more easily, through video chats and other online communication tools. Finally, a faster connection can help you complete tasks more quickly and efficiently.

3. Can I stream Netflix with 50 Mbps?

Yes, Netflix can be streamed with 50 Mbps. The 50 Mbps ensures that there is enough bandwidth for the video to be streamed without interruption or buffering. Additionally, a 50 Mbps connection is sufficient for streaming multiple HD videos simultaneously.

4. Is a 100 Mbps Fast Internet?

A 100 Mbps internet connection is a fast internet speed—but not exceptionally fast. It's somewhat faster than average for the majority of internet users, powerful enough to stream videos, play online games, and participate in video chat meetings on a device with minimum lag.

5. Is 15 Mbps fast?

It depends on what you're using it for. 15 Mbps is plenty fast for most activities like browsing the web, checking email, and streaming music. If you're doing more intensive activities like streaming video or gaming, you may need something with a higher bandwidth.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.

2 thoughts on “What Is A Good Internet Speed? | Requirements for Gaming, Download, Streaming and Surfing”

  1. Hello there,

    I want to buy a VPN for streaming and gaming. I have shortlisted these VPNs. What’s your opinion about these:
    – Pure VPN 88% off on 10 devices for 5 years.
    – Nord VPN 68% off for 2 years.
    – Express VPN 49% off for 1 year only.

    TIA

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