What are Good Upload and Download Speeds?
Wondering what are good upload and download speeds for an average person? In this article, we are going to talk about all of the internet speeds and which one is the one for you.
Why Download and Upload Speeds Should be Good?
The importance of upload speeds is more than most people realize. They are distinct from downloads in that they are the only factors that affect how quickly or slowly you may transfer or upload material like files, photos, graphics, and movies. They also determine the performance speeds for VoIP calls, multiplayer online gaming, and video conferencing (think Zoom or Skype). Over video conferencing or gaming platforms, your upload speed will have an impact on how other people see and hear you. Your video appearance and spoken phrases may seem distorted or mixed if your upload speed is below average.
There are numerous plans available from almost every internet service provider (ISP), each with a different download and upload speed. Which internet provider should you select if you're looking to switch? Do you always choose the quickest option that is affordable?
Since residential internet speeds have risen significantly in recent years, many consumers find that top-tier internet services provide more speed than they could ever need. But what download and upload speeds are ideal for you? We'll go down the specifics so you can choose the plan that's best for you since you don't want to choose one that's faster than what you require. 25 Mbps is the definition of broadband internet, yet various people have varied ideas of what constitutes a good internet speed.
So, what are good upload and download speeds?
A good internet speed is defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as being at or above 25 Mbps. Light online activities like streaming, online gaming, web surfing, and music downloads will be supported with these speeds.
However, since these guidelines were established in 2015, the COVID-19 epidemic has shown that they are insufficient for homes where people are working or studying from home. In a home, two to three people can share 25 Mbps, but only one at a time can utilize it for anything more demanding, such as playing games or HD streaming anything. A strong internet connection requires far more speed than 25 Mbps, and the FCC suggested that 100 Mbps be the minimum standard for broadband. Let’s dissect the question of what are good upload and download speeds.
What are Good Uploads Speeds?
If you frequently stream video or use your home network for work or education, ADSL's slow upload rates will be an issue. Finding a cable provider with upload speeds on the high end, between 25Mbps and 50Mbps, is the bare minimum that you should look for.
If fiber is accessible where you live, it would be an even better option for individuals who rely on uploading. In fiber-optic networks, upload speeds are symmetrical, therefore if you have a 1Gbps (1,000Mbps) connection, both the upload and download speeds are 1Gbps. The most dependable connection is fiber, which makes it considerably less likely that there will be problems with your live stream—even if you stream during periods of high traffic.
What are Good Download Speeds?
10Mbps per person is a decent guideline for how much internet download speed you require. Of course, your online activities and the number of devices connected to your home network will greatly influence what a good download speed is for you. 10Mbps is sufficient to provide a flawless internet experience for basic web browsing or email.
On the other hand, using video streaming services like Netflix and Hulu is among the activities that consume the most bandwidth. If you want to avoid the wrath that buffering brings, you'll need a download speed that can handle some heavy lifting if you have many TVs streaming movies in addition to iPads streaming YouTube.
The average internet speed in the United States is 109 Mbps download and 40 Mbps upload, according to a 2022 Allconnect report. This represents a growth of 18% year over year as opposed to an 11% increase between 2020 and 2021. As a general guideline, allocate 20 Mbps to each device that will be concurrently using the internet. A 100 Mbps internet connection should be adequate if four people are using smartphones, one TV is streaming Netflix, and another person is playing online games. (Add 5 Mbps for each additional 10 smart home devices.)
Before we conclude our take on the question of “what are good upload and download speeds”, we can also state that the majority of speed recommendations are for a single device, yet practically every home now has many connected devices that are using bandwidth concurrently. For example, if you have two devices using a 100 Mbps connection simultaneously, the bandwidth will be distributed equally among them, with each receiving rate of up to 50 Mbps