Skip to main content

Upload speed and download speed explained

We all want fast internet, but sometimes we just don’t need the fastest service available. If your upload speeds are stalling your video conferences, find out the upload and download speed explained and what you can do about it.

What is the difference between upload and download speed

To understand the difference between download and upload speeds explained, you first have to take a look at how internet speed is measured. It's all about how fast data can transfer to or from your computer, which measures in megabits of data that can be transferred per second (Mbps).

The download speed refers to how fast the data can be transferred from the internet to your computer, while the upload speed refers to how fast the data can transfer from your computer to the internet. 

Also read | Internet Speeds Explained: Everything You Need to Know

Importance of upload speeds amid the pandemic

The pandemic brought about an unprecedented number of people learning and working from home, for better or worse. Along the way, our home office setups and equipment have evolved, but our internet connections remain the cornerstone of our ability to safely learn, work and connect with others. While download upload speed explained are still the champion of our internet service, upload speeds are increasingly important as we continue to adapt to what may be the new normal.

What are upload speeds used for?

Upload speed determines how fast you can send, or upload, data from your computer or device to the internet. This includes uploading files, such as pictures and videos to social media or homework assignments, but upload speeds are also essential to video conferencing, VOIP calling, and online gaming.

Similar to how download and upload speed explained affect picture and sound quality when streaming a show on your TV, your upload speeds affect how others see and hear you on the other end of your video conference or online game. Slow or unstable upload speeds are often the cause of awkward frozen screens and broken audio when using apps like Skype or Zoom.

How much upload speed do you need to avoid being the cause of interrupting meetings or class discussions? What's considered a good upload speed can vary depending on a number of factors, including how many users and connected devices you have in your home.

What do I really need in my home?

Let’s be honest: choosing the right internet speed for your home depends on your budget and your needs. Below are some tips on what you should aim for when purchasing your internet package or upgrading your current internet services.


Also read | What are good download and upload speeds

What’s a “fast” internet speed?

Any speeds that clock 200 Mbps or above are considered “fast.” Anything close to or at 1000 Mbps is considered a Gigabit speed or service. These are premium service packages and are often only available in certain areas where service providers have networks set up to sustain these speeds.

Most households don’t require this kind of speed, however. Usually, these speeds are reserved for businesses or high-traffic, high-demand networks like university campuses. The speed your household actually needs is likely less than you think.


It’s pretty standard for most of today’s households to need 25 Mbps of bandwidth speed. Of course, there are always other factors that play into your decision, and your individual needs should always be considered first.

Also read | What should be the upload and download speed

Gaming speeds

This can be the biggest factor in a household’s need for internet bandwidth. If you’re an avid gamer or have children who participate in online gaming matches, the minimum speed you should have is 4 - 8 Mbps. This is to keep gaming sessions free from lag, framerate drop, and crashing. We recommend anywhere from 10 - 25 Mbps if possible to ensure a smooth gaming experience that won’t affect other devices in the house trying to use the internet at the same time.

Streaming speeds

The most frustrating aspect when it comes to streaming is buffering. It can ruin movie night and lead to boredom during at-home quarantine. We recommend at least 3 to 4 Mbps for standard definition video streaming, 5 to 8 Mbps for high definition video streaming, and at least 25 Mbps for streaming Ultra HD 4K videos.

Also read | How to read upload and download speeds

Web browsing and social media speeds

Web browsing and social media scrolling don’t take much bandwidth on a network. We recommend anywhere from 1 to 10 Mbps for these activities at any point in time.

Working from home speeds

Working from home presents a new set of challenges for the home network. From video conference calls to streaming, WFH jobs demand more than standard usage--especially when a family has children and other high-bandwidth users hogging the internet at the same time.

We recommend at least 40 Mbps for working from home. The amount of bandwidth that’s used is a lot more for large file transfers, video conferencing, streaming, emailing, computer programs, and more.

If you still aren’t sure what you need, you can use this handy calculator by BroadbandNow to determine the minimum internet speed you should have for your household.

See more | upload and download speeds explained

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Fix Orbi Not Connecting to Internet? [6 Methods]

  A lot of users complain about the  Orbi not connecting to internet . Have you also come across the error? If you are still trying to fix the Orbi WiFi not working problem, this post of MiniTool is what you need.On This Page : The Orbi is a widely popular router developed by Netgear. Recently, many users posted the Orbi not connecting to internet issue on the Netgear forum. According to a survey, the issue is often related to the unavailable internet connection. In addition, outdated firmware, corrupt IP settings, and even a temporary glitch are responsible for the Orbi connection issues. Don’t worry. We provide corresponding solutions to the issue. Method 1. Check the Internet Connections The first thing you need to do is to check out the internet connection issues. Make sure you connect the router to your devices correctly. To get a fast and stable internet connection, we recommend you connect to the device through an ethernet cable. In addition, you should consul...
Post a Comment
Read more

Use a VPN To Lower Your Ping Rate for a Better Gaming Experience

  Last Updated by Ari Denial on July 25, 2021 Pings suck, right?  You might have a high performing personal computer, but every action you take will be quite slow because of high pings.  You’ll always lag behind while gaming, something that’s quite embarrassing plus it causes a lot of errors. In this guide, we will carefully explain what ping is; mention its significance and how you can lower it by using a  top VPN like  ExpressVPN  for an improved gaming experience. Enjoy super-fast gaming with ExpressVPN What is Ping Rate and What is Its Significance in Online Gaming? Before we knew exactly what ping was, we believed that an  active and fast internet connection  would be the best solution to combat this issue because of its  download and upload speeds. Today, we find this theory to be inapplicable. There are other factors which arise from having fast internet speeds, and ping is key among them. Now, what is it exactly?  It’s simply how...
Post a Comment
Read more

Does Cox throttle the internet? All you need to know

  If you are here, you are probably frustrated with the incredibly slow speed of your internet. Many people face a slow internet connection when it comes to increased levels of bandwidth consumption.  This is more evident when streaming HD quality content or playing sizeable games online. However, it is not just a matter of a lagging internet. In most cases, the slower speed is an intentional tactic your Internet service provider (ISP) uses to optimize their bandwidth capacity. This practice is commonly known as bandwidth throttling, where the user is only allowed a certain set of bandwidth per second.  While this might seem counterintuitive when you think from a customer experience perspective, it makes a lot of business sense to the internet service provider. Fortunately, there are ways to bypass this systematic practice without having to upgrade your internet services.  Why does Cox throttle the internet ? One possible reason Cox may throttle t...
Post a Comment
Read more