Introduction

It's worth knowing how much internet speed you actually need and whether you're paying for the right speeds. If you feel unsure about any of it, you're not alone.

Fortunately, we’re here to break down the mysteries of internet speeds for you. You’ll get to know all about internet jargon like ping and jitter, the difference between speed and bandwidth, and how your internet speed affects your streaming experience. This guide will help you optimize your internet speeds for you to enjoy a faster, smoother online experience.

An internet speed glossary

Before we get into internet speeds and what’s the right speed for you, let’s understand what some of the terminology actually means.

Download speed: This determines how fast you can receive data, which includes viewing websites and streaming music. When you’re downloading that new app or game, a higher download speed means you’ll get it onto your device faster. Faster speeds also allow you to stream high-quality media with fewer interruptions.

Upload speed: This is how fast you can send data, like photos or documents. Sending those work files, posting videos online and transmitting your side of a FaceTime call each benefit from fast upload speeds.

Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over an internet connection in a given time, bandwidth is typically measured in bits per second (bps). A higher bandwidth means that more data can be transmitted at once, resulting in a smoother online experience.

Mbps: This stands for megabits per second, and 1 megabit is 1 million bits of information. This is a standard measure of internet speed—not to be confused with megabytes (MB) which is a measure of size rather than bandwidth.

Ping: Measured in milliseconds (ms), ping refers to how long it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to the provider's server and receive a response. High ping can result in lag and is usually caused by network congestion at the service provider level.

Jitter: Jitter refers to the variability in your high and low ping and is best kept low to avoid lag. Jitter is not really noticeable when reading text, but a high jitter can result in buffering and other interruptions during gaming or streaming.

Speed vs. bandwidth

Bandwidth is how much data can travel through your internet provider's infrastructure within a certain amount of time. This is usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps), and it's what people are typically thinking about when the topic of internet speed comes up.

Speed is how fast data is coming into and out of your device. So while you may have 400 Mbps' worth of bandwidth from your internet provider, your actual speed on a single device may very well be something like 50 Mbps or even less for uploading purposes.

A regular cable internet connection is limited by the kind of wire your data travels over, and both speed and bandwidth are impacted. However, fiber internet like Ting has unlimited bandwidth and speeds that are lightning fast, which means unlimited capacity and no slow cars on the highway.

Check your internet speed

Our speed test measures your internet’s ping (how quickly a data signal travels from one device to another one) as well as your download and upload speeds.

For the download speed, your computer will attempt to download a file from our test server. As the download completes, the speed of that task will be measured. With upload speed, the same thing happens in reverse: your computer will try to upload a file to the test server.

Check the speed of your connection by taking our internet speed test.

Understanding your speed test results

The “correct” number will depend on your plan. If your ISP promises up to 40 Mbps and you're seeing numbers around 35 Mbps consistently, that's within a good range. But if your ISP promises 100 Mbps and you're getting 35 Mbps, you might want to contact your ISP to see what's going on.

Finally, the lower your ping number on these results, the better. Lower ping means less lag and latency, giving you a better video call and gaming experience.

How speed affects streaming

We've all been there: trying to enjoy a new movie from the comfort of your home, and as the hero looks like they can't possibly make their way out of a jam, the movie pauses, and the dreaded loading circle appears right in the middle of the screen—it’s buffering.

Think of streaming like laying a railroad track in front of a train while the train is moving forward. When playing a video or audio stream, your internet connection is always fetching the next several seconds, ready to play. When it works as it should, you don’t notice it. Buffering happens when your internet connection can't keep up; playback pauses to give your internet connection a chance to catch up.

What is a good internet speed? Consider that, as more video starts streaming in 4K, you'll need more bandwidth to keep up with the sheer volume of data required for that level of visual quality. A minute of full 4K video is 375 MB. That translates to about 25 megabits per second (Mbps). With 25 connected devices in the average American household, though, we're not just watching a single 4K video.

This is where fiber internet comes in handy, offering ample bandwidth and high speeds that allow for seamless browsing and streaming. Cable internet has its limitations with limited bandwidth and is prone to interruptions, which can result in unreliable speeds.

Small business and speed

This allows for fast file sharing, seamless use of cloud-based technologies and improved productivity. Fiber internet also offers consistent bandwidth, making it a more reliable choice for businesses. With fiber, data is transmitted at the speed of light, enabling faster online collaboration and communication.

Don't let an unreliable internet connection drag your entire business down. Upgrade to Ting fiber for lightning-fast business internet and improved operations.

How infrastructure impacts speed

Most houses in the United States with internet access have had the option of a gigabit internet plan through their internet service provider from as early as 2019. In fact, 88% of homes in 40 states in both urban and rural communities with internet access can opt for gigabit internet speeds, which means fast and reliable internet access has never been more widespread than it is now.

With fiber’s gigabit speeds, 4K streaming and online gaming are a breeze. Plus it's a must-have for businesses looking to thrive and compete in the global economy. And while not everyone may need gigabit speeds today, it's critical to stay on par or even ahead of innovation. Fiber is one of the few (if not the only) technologies considered “future proof” due to its massive untapped potential.

Gigabit internet infrastructure is the future. At Ting, we’re dedicated to bringing fiber networks to more communities. We also work with HOAs, builders, developers and rental property services to deliver bulk services that provide lower costs for residents, homeowners and property managers. With ongoing efforts to expand our coverage, we’re continuing to work toward providing reliable light-speed fiber internet to more neighborhoods and communities across the United States.