With over 4 million users globally, the internet has become ingrained in our daily lives. Nobody likes it when their internet connection is sluggish and takes an inordinate amount of time to load. As a result, there is always a need for high-speed internet. The globe has seen the evolution of network generations such as 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, all in the pursuit of faster and more reliable internet connections.
Many people wonder, “What is a good internet speed?” This essay will address that topic, but first, how do we assess internet speed?
How is internet speed determined?
Internet speed is measured in bits per second (bps), and it refers to the quantity of data that your network can upload or download. As a result, it is classified into two categories: upload speed and download speed. The download speed is critical since it is the speed at which you surf the internet, check social media, and stream movies. Upload speeds are only relevant when a file is being uploaded to the web, such as a video, audio, or picture file.
Both speeds are often linked; if you have a high download speed, you almost certainly have a fast upload speed as well. On the internet, thousands of bits are exchanged each second. As a result, internet speed—expressed in bits per second—is expressed in metric units: the kilo (k), mega (M), and giga (G) (G). It is succinctly expressed as:
- Kbps – Kilobits per second (1,000 bits transferred per second)
- Mbps – Megabits per second (1,000,000 bits transferred per second)
- Gbps – Gigabits per second (1,000,000,000 bits transferred per second)
Mbps is the most typical internet speed that you will encounter, since that is what the majority of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide. Kbps speeds are uncommon because of their slowness, but Gbps speeds are very fast and are uncommon among ISPs. We shall examine the Mbps internet speed measurement.
What constitutes a reasonable internet speed?
The optimal internet speed varies according to your online activities. The speed required to stream a 4K movie is not the same as the speed required to check your e-mails. The following table summarizes the optimal internet speeds for different online activities:
2-4 megabits per second
Internet speeds in this range are perfect for casually browsing the web. This involves checking email, reading internet news, articles, and blog entries, among other things. Additionally, it may be used to broadcast audio and conduct chat sessions through social networking sites.
4-6 megabits per second
This is considered a modest internet speed range. It supports streaming up to 720p internet videos in high resolution and video calls through Skype, WhatsApp, and similar services. Videos may also be downloaded. However, it may take some time.
6-10 megabits per second
If your internet speed is between 6 and 10 Mbps, you may consider yourself to have a fast internet connection. It is capable of doing a variety of internet tasks, including streaming high-definition videos up to 1080p in resolution. Additionally, downloads will load quicker.
10-20 megabits per second
This is the optimal internet speed range for an enjoyable surfing experience. At this range, everything you do online will be lightning quick. The majority of 4G LTE networks operate within this band.
Above 20 megabits per second
Any internet speed greater than 20 Mbps is considered ultra-fast. Typically, most ISPs cap internet speeds at 20 Mbps, making such a variation in internet speeds uncommon.
Any internet speed up to 6 Mbps is regarded as an excellent internet speed since it is capable of handling almost all online activities. The majority of what individuals do online is web browsing, media streaming, gaming, and downloading; a 6 Mbps internet connection can handle all of these activities.
However, for optimal surfing performance, a download connection of at least 10 Mbps is suggested. They would work optimally, even more so if the internet connection is shared by many people. Internet speeds of 20 Mbps and above are considered fast.
A speed of at least 2 Mbps is sufficient for uploading. However, if you’re uploading really huge files – up to 500 MB in size – faster upload rates of up to 10 Mbps are preferable.
If your internet speed is less than 6 Mbps, it is considered sluggish in comparison to how sophisticated the internet has become. At these speeds, you may suffer a slowdown while streaming movies or playing online games, which is particularly problematic when the network is shared.
How can you increase the speed of your internet connection?
If your internet connection is sluggish, the following tips will help you speed it up:
- Alternate Internet Service Providers
Your internet service provider has a significant impact on the speed of your internet connection. If your internet connection is slow, you may wish to switch to an ISP that has the greatest coverage in your area.
- Inspect your browsing apparatuses
If your surfing gadgets are malfunctioning, your internet speed may be delayed. This could be the result of a malware infection on your computer or mobile device, or a malfunctioning modem or network. To guarantee quick surfing, verify that your browsing gadgets are error-free.
- Verify your web browser’s functionality.
Certain browsers perform very poorly in comparison to others. These low-performance browsers might significantly slow down your internet connection. A browser that is clogged with cookies, caches, temporary files, and superfluous browsing history may cause the internet to slow down.
Utilize a VPN
The safest method of securing your internet connection is to utilize a high-quality VPN service such as NordVPN. With its plethora of servers, you may visit several websites exceptionally quickly. Not to mention, this VPN service provider enables you to access blocked websites, geo-restricted content, and anonymizes your online behavior.
Conclusion
A fast internet connection is critical if you want a flawless surfing experience. As previously indicated, the required speed varies according to your online activity. If you just use the internet for trivial purposes, you do not need very high connections.
To ensure your online safety and privacy, utilize a reputable internet service provider and a reputable VPN service provider, such as NordVPN.