Choosing the right broadband package depends on two crucial questions: what speed can I get and how much does it cost?
Higher speeds usually mean higher costs, but do you actually need faster internet? Depending on how many people are in your household, what you use the internet for and how often you use it, you could be paying for more data than you need.
At the other end of the spectrum, you could have a package that doesn’t currently meet your needs. If you’re looking to upgrade or you just want to check you’re not overpaying for internet, here’s how to decide what internet speed you need.
What is fast internet?
Let’s start with the basics. Download and upload speeds are measured in megabits per second, which is often shortened to Mbps, Mb/s or Mbit/s. So what counts as fast internet?
Anything less than 10Mbps is considered a poor connection speed these days. Between 10 and 30Mbps is standard. Once you go past 30Mbps, you’re in superfast broadband territory.
TV adverts often give the impression that superfast and fibre optic are interchangeable terms, but this is misleading. Superfast broadband refers purely to the connection speed and any set-up that meets the required threshold can call itself superfast. Fibre optic usually falls into this category but so do many other connection types.
Should I get superfast internet?
Whether or not you should get superfast internet depends on a few different factors. First of all, if you’re happy with your current broadband package, then there’s no need to change it. Not everyone requires superfast speeds for how they use the internet.
But if you’re having issues currently, it might be time to look into your options. Multiple person households often find that their broadband package isn’t meeting the combined needs of all the occupants. Otherwise, you could potentially benefit from upgrading to superfast internet if you regularly:
- Video call
- Stream from multiple devices
- Play online games
- Upload large files
- Download large files
Rural broadband users in particular often struggle to get adequate download speeds, although the gap is starting to narrow thanks to an influx of new technologies. Read our full guide to understand why WiFi is so slow in rural areas and what you can do about it.
What internet speed do I need for different activities?
Most activities requiring the internet can be done with relatively low speeds. The problem is how long it takes to complete them and the disruption they cause by draining the bandwidth. Therefore, faster speeds make for more seamless interactions with the internet.
Some of the speeds listed below might not seem that high but remember, they’re just one source of drain on the bandwidth. Even if you live alone, it’s rare that there is only one device on the WiFi at any one time. For example, you might think you’re just watching Netflix but, in the background, your phone will be backing up its storage via the WiFi.
What speed do I need for gaming?
Online gaming requires a reliable internet connection, as any disruption can cause you to lose the game. 10Mbps is enough for those just starting out but if you are a serious gamer, you’ll want speeds of at least 30Mbps.
What speed do I need for downloading films?
To stream a 4K film on Netflix without any issues, you’ll want a download speed of at least 25Mbps. If you want to download a film to your device to watch offline later, it will take about 15 minutes to download a high-quality feature-length film at the same speed.
What speed do I need for streaming TV shows?
You should be able to successfully stream a TV show with a 10Mbps speed but for a frictionless experience, 15-20Mbps is preferable.
What speed do I need for browsing?
Whether you’re lost in a Wikipedia spiral or scrolling social media, browsing is one of the least data-intensive internet activities. 5Mbps is more than fine in most browsing instances.
What speed do I need for live streaming?
For a good quality live stream, you need upload speeds of around 10Mbps.
What speed do I need for video calling?
Video calling requires large amounts of data to be uploaded and downloaded at the same time, so good internet speed is crucial. For a mostly uninterrupted video call conversation, you’ll need a download speed of around 10Mbps.
What speed do I need for uploading files?
The speed you need for uploading files depends on the file size. Uploading 100 photos to an online storage system will take around 4 minutes with 15Mbps speed, or 2 minutes with superfast speeds of 30Mbps.
But if you’re uploading video, where the file size tends to be larger, things will take a bit longer. Uploading a 30-minute video to YouTube will take around 10 minutes at 30Mbps.
What speed do I need for emailing?
Emails use such little data that you should be able to send and receive them with even the ropiest of connections. That being said, emails can sometimes include attachments which do require a bit more bandwidth. For these instances, a 5Mbps connection should still easily suffice.
What internet speed have I got currently?
To check your existing internet speed, there are a few different tools you can use. Simply searching ‘Check broadband speed’ on Google will get you quick results. Our guide to checking your broadband speed explains how to check your speed and the possible issues faced when running these tests.
Do I need to switch broadband providers?
It might be time to switch broadband providers if:
- You don’t think your speeds match what your provider says they are
- You don’t think your provider is good value for money
- You’re unhappy with other elements of your provider’s service
But even if you don’t have issues with your current broadband provider, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for other offers to ensure you’re getting the best deal. If you spot a cheaper package elsewhere that seems to better meet your needs, get in touch with your existing provider to see what they can do.
If they’re not able to offer you an upgrade free of charge, then you will have to pay for more bandwidth. At this point, it could be worth switching to a different provider if it’s going to save you money. Make sure you fully understand your internet usage habits so that you can confidently pick which package to go for.
For those living in rural areas, it might not be as simple as switching from one cable broadband provider to another. Speed issues are often more to do with cable infrastructure, therefore an alternative internet solution could be the key to getting faster rural WiFi.
Fast rural internet with Wave Internet
At Wave Internet, we specialise in providing internet to hard-to-reach areas through a range of alternative solutions. For customers living in rural locations, we have tiered home broadband packages that bring you fast speeds at standard prices.
If you’re looking for rural broadband, whether for your home, business or event, get in touch to find out how our new technology can help.
