Operators: is it worth paying for more Internet speed?

Nowadays having fast Internet is really important. However this is not always as easy as it seems. When considering internet speed, there are two main metrics to take into account. Download and upload speeds, both measured in megabits per second or Mbps. But what internet speed do you need at home? Now that prices are going to increase, is it worth paying for more Internet speed?

Is it worth paying more to have ultra-fast Internet?

Download speed determines how quickly your device receives data from applications and is the metric that will affect the vast majority of tasks you will perform online.

Upload speed is most important for things like gaming, live streaming, or uploading videos, images, or music to sites like YouTube. When looking for a service, the most important metrics to consider are maximum download and upload speeds.

But after all, what speed do we need at home?

Generally speaking, Internet service that provides download speeds of 3-8 Mbps qualifies as “Basic Service”. Speeds above 25 Mbps qualify as “Advanced Service”. However, by today’s standards, 25 Mbps transfer speed is relatively slow, depending on where you live.

When considering what speeds to look for, take into account what you are doing on the internet and how many people are connected to the router. Suppose that two or more users use the Internet lightly, browsing websites and watching low-resolution videos. In this case, it is possible to use a download speed of 15 Mbps without delays or interruptions in the connection.

However, suppose several people use the same Internet and transmit a lot of data at the same time through HD video streaming, gaming, video uploading and streaming. In that case, there’s a good chance everything will load slower, videos will buffer, or downloads will take longer. In this case, it may be worth investing a little more in a faster connection.

What should be the Internet speed for HD video streaming

When trying to figure out which speeds are right for the tasks you want to perform, there’s no better place to look than the apps themselves. According to Netflix, users who wish to stream videos in high definition (HD) at 720p must have a transfer speed of at least 3 Mbps or higher. Minimum recommended speeds increase to 5 Mbps when talking about 1080p full-screen video resolution. The minimum speed required for a stable connection increases further for 4K streaming, to a recommended speed of 15 Mbps.

These speeds are based on streaming from a single device. Therefore, the minimum recommended speeds will increase depending on the number of devices simultaneously transmitting HD video. With multiple users using the same connection for high data tasks such as 4K video, it is possible for videos to be buffered or delayed depending on the number of additional connections made. For slower connections, Netflix recommends reducing the video quality.

The best to play

In terms of gaming, higher speeds are obviously recommended. Faster internet speeds reduce latency or the time it takes to reach the game servers. This improves your reaction time in the game. Although the minimum speed for most modern consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, is at least 5 Mbps, games may stutter or lag at this speed. Especially if the connection is made over a Wi-Fi network. To maintain a stable connection for gaming, users should look for an Internet service that provides at least 15-25 Mbps. These speeds are also necessary for other gaming activities, such as cloud gaming.

However, to get the best experience game – especially for reaction-based games – users should aim for a throughput of at least 50-100 Mbps. Furthermore, contrary to everything discussed so far, upload speed is also an important metric for determining latency in video games and can affect gameplay if the connection is not fast enough.

Regarding modern Internet choices, several options available on the market can provide transfer speeds well in excess of 100 Mbps.

Now you know the best internet speed to have at home. 100 or 200 Mbps if it’s cheaper, it’s enough for all needs. In other words, it’s not worth paying more for ultra-fast Internet that you won’t even be able to use.