At ImOn we talk about Internet speed using download and upload speeds. Download speed is the speed data is transferred from one place to another. When you download a movie or a song, get email, or search and save from the web, you are using your download speed. On the other hand, upload speed refers to the speed data is transferred from your computer to the Internet.
Your online activities will help dictate the Internet speed you need to have in your home. For example, if you upload a lot of files and videos, or live stream video games you will want to look for a higher upload speed. On the other hand, if you download a lot of movies and music, play online games, or are a frequent Internet surfer, you will want to look for higher download speeds. The chart below shows the minimum recommended Internet speeds needed to use some of the typical online streaming platforms.
The Federal Communications Commission’s website also has a list of recommended minimum Internet speeds for various online activities. Just keep in mind that these speeds are based on one person doing one of these activities at a time. In your house, you likely have several people doing many of these activities at the same time.
ImOn has also created the ImOn Speed Analyzer, which is an easy tool to help you calculate how much Internet speed your home needs based on your internet usage and devices.
One thing to keep in mind is that price should not be the only factor determining the Internet speed you get. While it may cost more, higher Internet speed is worth the investment, especially if you have multiple people using the Internet at the same time. Not only will your Internet pages load faster, you will be able to have multiple pages open at the same time, your videos will buffer less, and files will download faster. This will guarantee an overall better experience and alleviate many of the frustrations slow Internet may cause.