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In the past few years, it seems like Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been offering faster and farther-reaching internet connections. They now offer amazingly fast internet connections that can support your online needs from movies to games, photo uploading or downloading, video streaming, social media usage, and everything in between. This is a good thing because we love our gadgets, apps, and services that need high-speed connections nowadays.
But is it really faster? How much better can the internet be when ISPs in the Philippines offer you 25 Mbps or even 100 Mbps, compared to lower speed offerings? Let’s dive into this topic, see how you can put these numbers into perspective, and know the internet speed you need.
What is Internet Speed?
The speed at which data or information flows from the World Wide Web to your home computer, tablet, or smartphone is referred to as Internet speed. Megabits per second, or Mbps, is the unit of measurement for data speed. 1,024 kilobits equals one megabit. This indicates that 1.0 megabits per second is 1,000 times quicker than 1.0 kilobits per second (Kbps).
How Do You Measure Internet Speed?
The amount of data a connection can download (download speeds) or upload (upload speeds) per second determines its internet speed. The speed is shown in bits per second in both situations (bps). We use the prefixes k, M, and G to illustrate how many thousands of bits we are talking about since an internet connection transfers thousands of bits every second. If you’re familiar with the metric system, you’ll recognize that “k” equals 1,000, “M” equals 1,000k (1,000,000), and “G” equals 1,000M. (1,000,000,000).
Which Type of Internet Connection Is Right for You?
The ideal internet connection for you is determined by your location and the internet speeds you require. Before you decide on the internet plan, kindly check on the different internet types:
Fiber internet
It is a type of technology that uses unique strands or fibers packed into huge protected optic cables. When it comes to sending messages across vast distances, fiber-optic cables are advantageous. They’re also more durable since they’re less susceptible to natural wear and tear.
When compared to other internet kinds, fiber internet is the best type of internet connection since it delivers a quicker and more stable connection. It’s ideal for more demanding internet activities because it’s a relatively new technology.
Cable internet
This is a form of broadband technology that offers internet access, which employs copper coaxial cable lines. These cable links provide better internet speeds than DSL. However, because the service is packaged with cable television, it will be more costly.
It’s also likely that you’ll share the connection with individuals in your neighborhood who have subscription services. As a result, you may notice slower internet speeds, especially during peak hours.
DSL internet
It is a type of internet that delivers digital data through a telephone connection. The internet signal is delivered via copper cable from normal landline phone systems. DSL, unlike dial-up, allows users to perform both web browsing and phone calls at the same time. Because the DSL technology divides telephone signals into three bands of frequencies, this is feasible. The lowest band allows you to make phone calls, while the other two bands are for downloading and uploading.
Satellite internet
As the name implies, satellite internet provides access to your home or workplace via communication satellites. It employs a satellite dish for two-way communication, eliminating the need for telephone lines or cables. This form of internet is rarely utilized since signal transmission might cause sluggish internet speeds.
It’s a wonderful option for people who live in rural or remote regions without access to cable, DSL, or fiber optic services. A satellite link, on the other hand, is less prone to encounter network disruptions than other internet kinds.
Your best choices for high internet speeds are cable internet and fiber-optic internet providers. Fiber-optic internet is also a good alternative for speed consistency because it is less prone to slower speeds during high usage times as compared to cable.
How much internet do you use?
With so many people working from home these days, many of us use the internet far more than we used to. That isn’t the case for everyone, so keep that in mind while looking for the internet speed you need in an internet plan.
If you work from home, stream a lot of high-definition films, or play games on the internet on a daily basis, you’ll need faster speeds than someone who only uses social media and receives their TV through a cable provider.
Varying activities need different levels of internet access. Here’s a quick guide to get you started:
INTERNET SPEED RECOMMENDATIONS (according to cnet.com)
| Activity | Usage | Recommended speed |
| 1. Email | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| 2. Web browsing | 3-5 Mbps | 5-10 Mbps |
| 3. Social media | 3-5 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 4. Video calls | 3-5 Mbps | 10-20 Mbps |
| 5. HD streaming | 5-10 Mbps | 10-20 Mbps |
| 6. Online gaming | 3-6 Mbps | 25-35 Mbps |
| 7. 4k streaming | 25 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
How many people are using the network?
Another thing to think about while looking for the best internet speed is how many people and devices are on your network at any given time. Your home may just have one or two individuals, but it may have ten to fifteen gadgets. If you use these devices frequently, you’ll want to be sure your internet connection has enough capacity to support them all.
The most common bandwidth eater is video, so choose an internet package that can handle your viewing habits. Consider instances when you’ve watched Netflix or received a video chat from your parents, then picture everything else that was going on your network at the same time, and use the chart above as a general reference.
What is a good internet speed?
A good internet connection has a speed of at least 25 Mbps. Most online activities, including as HD streaming, online gaming, web surfing, and music downloads, will be supported at these speeds.
Fast internet speeds, such as those of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), are frequently preferable, especially if you want your internet plan to accommodate numerous devices and users at the same time.
The connection must satisfy the demands of the household, which will vary depending on the number of devices connected and how many people use the connection at the same time.
The quality of internet connections is determined by various factors:
- What is the total number of devices connected and in use at any given time?
- How many individuals use Netflix, YouTube, or another video streaming service to watch movies?
- Do you compete in online gaming utilizing your home WiFi?
- Do you have to transmit big files to your coworkers on a regular basis?
- Do you watch 4K video on a daily basis, or do you prefer to perform simple internet tasks?
- Do you become easily annoyed when your game lags or a webpage takes a long time to load?
As you can see, excellent internet speed might mean various things to different people. For example, if you solely use your home WiFi for online surfing and email, you may believe you have good internet speed even when you only have 10 Mbps.
Download Speed and Upload Speed: Which is more important?
If you’re not too conscious of techy terms, the concepts ‘download’ and ‘upload’ may appear to be the same to you. The two terms, however, are not the same. Download speed refers to how quickly internet users can get data from a website or server to their devices, while upload speed refers to how quickly internet users can transfer data from their devices to the internet network.
Nobody wants to spend the entire day waiting for a download to finish on their laptops or mobile devices. For most families, a reasonable download speed for each user is 10 Mbps. On the one hand, a 5 Mbps upload speed is deemed enough.
Fast download speeds are critical for most homes. That’s what we use to accomplish things like watch TV, download music, and browse social media. Meanwhile, upload speeds are important for video conferencing and transferring big files to a server or the cloud.
What is a fast internet speed?
While working from home, 100Mbps can be considered high-speed internet and can likely manage all of your online activities, such as online gaming, HD streaming, and group video conference. Netflix’s suggested speed for single-person HD streaming is 5Mbps, and for Ultra HD, it’s 25Mbps. For Ultra HD on YouTube TV on desktops, you’ll need a connection speed of 25Mbps or greater.
Is 25 Mbps fast?
It is neither too quick nor excessively sluggish. You won’t experience irritating latency or pay for bandwidth that you don’t need if you have a small family of light internet users.
The following are some of the benefits of 25 Mbps:
- Without buffering, stream Netflix and YouTube in 1080p on one or two devices.
- Most internet games may be played without latency.
- Most webpages load in less than a second.
The internet speed of 25 Mbps is pretty fast for a small family that isn’t using a lot of streaming on many devices or high-resolution games.
The 25 Mbps may not be adequate for larger homes or internet users that want 4k quality. The number of devices in use at any given moment will be the most important aspect.
Almost every family can get by with 25 Mbps if the number of users or devices online at any given moment is kept to a bare minimum. With a 25 Mbps connection, three to four individuals could watch in HD, but everyone else attempting to go online would likely have a sluggish connection.
Best Internet Speed for Streaming
Streaming video in HD on Netflix or YouTube TV, for example, requires 3-5 Mbps. You’ll need a minimum of 25 Mbps if you wish to stream in 4k Ultra HD. However, even one 4K HD video may consume all of your allocated bandwidth.
As a result, if you like high-definition video and have many devices connected at the same time, a connection speed of 50 Mbps or more is right for you.
Assume you have a down connection speed of 25 Mbps. If your internet connection’s total capacity were a pie, each device on the network would get a “piece.”
All of the devices connected to the network share your complete potential speed. So, depending on how many devices are sharing a “slice,” a 25 Mbps package may only provide 10-15 Mbps to Netflix.
Best Internet Speed for Gaming
For a gamer, one of the few virtual activities that need a quick upload speed is online gaming. This is because your in-game actions are on a server and may be viewed and interacted with by other players.
If no one else in the home is eating up your bandwidth, the minimum internet speed needs for gaming are generally 4-8 Mbps. Slower internet plans, such as these, may not provide the gamer with the upload speed you require for a continuous excellent experience. A 25 Mbps internet package is the recommendation for good gaming if you are the only one at home.
However, speed isn’t the only factor to consider in gaming; ping and latency also play a part.
Ping and Latency
The amount of time it takes for data to be sent from one place to another is known as latency. Although the term “ping” is frequently used interchangeably to describe this, a “ping” is merely the process of hailing a specific receiver.
Latency, according to this definition, is a measure of how soon you can “ping” the server you’re attempting to contact.
Is 25 Mbps good enough?
If you don’t have time to look into the specifics, simply make sure you choose a plan with a download speed of at least 25 Mbps.
This is “good enough” for most individuals to find an amazing home internet speed. If you already have service but aren’t sure how fast it is, you may use this speed test tool to find out.
Get the Right Internet Package from the Best ISP
It is essential to select the proper internet service provider in order to get the best internet package that meets your lifestyle needs.
Great news! Streamtech, the newest wave in fiber internet in the Philippines, gives the best home fiber internet that will suit your own unique routines. It also provides an upgraded internet experience for residential subscribers to match your household needs.
With Streamtech, you can get fast, reliable, and unlimited internet plans that are also affordable. The internet service packages can also be bundled with cable TV services through Planet Cable.
Subscribe to Streamtech now and enjoy an upgraded internet experience and enhanced connectivity! Visit its website or Official FB Page for more details.
