Internet Speed for Home | Selecting The Right Speed

Last Updated on March 11, 2022 by ScreenPush

Everyone these days is looking for a Good internet speed but have you ever wondered how faster a good speed actually is? In this article, we will answer this question for your home internet connection and will also let you know how you can select the right internet speed.

When you are buying internet service from a popular vendor like AT&T internet, you will find them mentioning a blazing fast speed as one of their specialties. According to FCC, broadband internet is the one that provides at least 25 Mbps of download speed and 3 Mbps for upload. This benchmark is set for an average family with a household of fewer than 3 people. A bigger family with more requirements should consider a speed between 100-200 Mbps.

To cut a long story short, a good internet speed for a home connection is considered to be between 100 and 200 Mbps. However, an ideal speed for anyone is the one that suits his needs and is under the budget.

There are different factors to consider while selecting an internet connection speed. The basic rule is to consider what are the common activities performed online- particularly if you are working from home. Moreover, you will also need to consider how many people will be connected to the internet and what activities are common among them.

Moreover, you also need to consider your location and Wifi network. This is because the average speed of Wifi at your home will be less than what is advertised due to the interferences that are generated and increased as you move further and further away from the router. Thus, you’d want to choose a speed slightly faster than your need to balance out the fading that occurs due to interference.

How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?

The answer to this question depends on your download and upload requirements. Here is a general table of Mbps requirements for different daily activities performed online

Sending/ Receiving Email	0.5Mbps without file attachment Up to 12Mbps with file attachments
Browsing on web	At least 1 Mbps per website
Streaming HD video content	At least 5 Mbps for one instant clip
Playing Online games	At least 40 Mbps
Streaming HD content, and downloading large files	More than 1 Gbps

The above-mentioned requirements are based on the usage by a single person. Thus the final speed requirement will be based on the number of devices connected simultaneously with the network.

Those using their home internet connection for web browsing or emailing might not feel the need for much higher speeds and might be content with even 10 Mbps. However, those streaming HD videos on different devices simultaneously, playing online games, and using smart IoT devices might need even more than 100 Mbps.

Users with higher speed requirements should opt for fiber connection options offered by different providers such as At&t internet, instead of conventional cable and DSL.

What is the Difference Between Download and Upload Speed?

Most of the advertisements for Internet services mention download speeds while upload speeds are hardly ever mentioned. Upload speed is the rate at which your internet connection can send data from your device to the internet.

Take an example of sending a document or uploading a youtube video. A high upload speed will send the data faster. On the other hand, download speed is the rate at which you can retrieve data from the internet to your device, for example, downloading videos, music, and documents.

It will depend on your preferred use to decide what speed to choose. However, if you want to save the fuss of calculating what speed you require for upload and download, you might want to consider buying fiber internet as it gives you a symmetrical upload and download speed.

What is the Difference Between Bandwidth and Connection Speed?

Many people confuse Bandwidth with Connection speed or vice versa. However, there is a difference between the two. Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted in a given amount of time while the connection speed refers to the rate at which the data can be transmitted and is, typically, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). The two functions, although distinct, are relatable as a lower bandwidth will eventually lower your speed when more and more devices get connected with your connection.

While choosing a suitable bandwidth for your connection, consider the number of devices you will be connecting and the activities you are mostly performing online. If you are a casual user with no more than two or three devices connected, you might not have to spend a lot on higher bandwidths. But if you regularly play games or stream videos online, you should consider a bundle with higher bandwidth.

In a Nutshell…

The answer to the question of choosing the right speed for your home internet depends on your need. So, before selecting a bundle, consider the following factors: