


But some internet plans give you much faster uploads, and fiber connections can deliver gigabit upload speeds. What is a fast upload speed?Ī fast internet upload speed is at least 10Mbps. You likely don’t have any opportunity to use all that power unless you’re involved in some industrial-grade internet activity, like mining cryptocurrency with dozens of computers all on the same Wi-Fi. Having internet that fast is like owning a lifted 4WD work truck. There’s no reason to have an internet plan in the range of 2,000Mbps or faster right now.

But other activities take up more bandwidth and thus require much faster speeds.Īctivities that benefit from gigabit internet: It’s not necessary if you spend most of your online time doing things like checking email, streaming video in HD, and video conferencing over Zoom or Skype, since those activities require much less bandwidth. But it’s expensive and faster than most people need, so it’s not worth it for the average user. It’s also worth it if you share your Wi-Fi with a bunch of roommates or family members. These average download and upload speeds by connection type can help you quickly narrow down which connection type and internet provider will meet your needs.Gigabit internet is worth it if you use a large amount of bandwidth on a regular basis. Working from home and video conferencingĪverage Download and Upload Speeds by Connection Type.For this reason, 100 Mbps per person is a more realistic speed that accounts for slower WiFi connections.įaster download speeds will greatly benefit your general browsing experience and the following activities: Your wireless devices will have considerably slower connections than the advertised speeds. If there are four people in your house that use the internet connection at the same time, you will want a download speed of at least 100 Mbps.Īnd another thing to keep in mind is that the speed providers advertised is based on a wired connection. But it’s important to point out that this speed should be considered for each person in a household using a shared internet connection. The FCC’s minimum download speed assessment is a good starting point. This speed is sufficient to engage in most online activities with acceptable results, having just a bit more speed will improve the experience even more. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) identifies the minimum broadband internet download speeds to be 25 Mbps. A fast download speed will reduce buffering while streaming a video, decrease file download times, and provide a smoother experience during video conferencing. Most online activities involve getting data to our devices, such as streaming HD video or downloading files. Download speed really is the most important speed to consider, and is the primary speed internet providers advertise with their plans.
