Video streaming and gaming are some of the most indulged-in activities on the world wide web. It comes as no surprise that the right internet speed is essential to enjoy both of these experiences. Constant lag and poor streaming quality are only going to rob you of the graphics and interactive experience video streaming offers. Before you opt for the most expensive internet connection in a bid to get the fastest internet speed, here’s a little you need to know about internet speeds and all the things that influence it.
What Is Internet Speed and How Is it Measured?
Ever wondered what the terms ‘bandwidth’ and ‘Mbps’ mean? Simply put, bandwidth signifies how quickly you can download or upload content on the internet. It is measured in megabits per second, which is commonly known as Mbps. Your internet connection’s bandwidth is used a lot more in streaming and gaming activities than for casual browsing.
Additionally, the more devices that are attuned to a particular internet connection, the less of the bandwidth each device enjoys. If you are trying to ascertain your internet speed requirements for video streaming and gaming, you first need to count up the number of devices that will be connected in addition to the device you are using for streaming.
What Factors Affect Your Internet Speed?
Besides the number of devices tuned in to a particular connection, there are a number of factors that influence the internet speed you can enjoy.
Internet Plan: First things first, check your internet plan to see the bandwidth you have subscribed for. An internet connection that has an average of six devices connected at any given time, as is the American statistic according to the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Speed Guide, you will need a minimum of 6 Mbps speed. That is, given that each device is used only for basic browsing and surfing. For gaming and video streaming, we would recommend a more speed that’s subjective to your usage.
Internet Service Provider: Let’s say you already have a plan that is offering the aforementioned internet speed. What then, could possibly be the cause of recurrent streaming lags? It is likely the internet service provider is not suited to the nature of your usage. There are a host of options in the market today ranging from cable, DSL and Fiber Optics. Choose the appropriate type of internet service provider to suit your type of usage needs.
Equipment: Often times, a user’s internet plan and service provider is fairly on point, but it is their equipment that causes a hindrance in optimal internet speeds. Your modem or router could be the reason for that persistent lag that’s taking the fun out of your live gaming experience. Your service provider could help by swaping out your existing equipment with something that syncs with their networks and is a lot more contemporary.
Connection Traffic: Do you find streaming lags peaking during a certain time of the day every day? After-work hours offer the slowest internet speed, perhaps? Blame it on connection traffic. This is often a cause of concern with cable internet users who may share their connections with other users in the area. It is at internet “rush hours” that even the largest bandwidths may offer slower internet speeds.
Internet Throttle: Some service providers may deliberately reduce the speed of your internet connection due to a variety of reasons. The commonly used industry term for this condition speed dip is called throttling. It is a common measure when users have surpassed their monthly speed limit. So if you regularly face streaming issues towards the end of every month, either do away with monthly limits or extend it marginally to sail through till the end of the month comfortably without any speed glitches.
Testing Your Internet Speed
If you’ve shot down all of the above factors in arriving at the ideal internet speed you need, let’s finally talk about the numbers. Before you up the ante with your internet plan, you ought to determine how fast your connection really is. You may be surprised to know the advertised speeds on your current connection may not be the reality. Use a few of the online speed tests to arrive at an average range your internet plan currently offers you.
Make sure to run these tests at different times of the day to understand the mix of how devices connected and internet “rush hours” impact your internet speed. Remember to pause or stop any internet downloads or activities across all connected devices in order to not skew the results.
Conclusion
If you’re distressed with the poor streaming quality in your live streaming and gaming experience, know that there are a whole lot of factors to get around. Don’t burn a hole in your pocket by going for the biggest internet plan. Perhaps it is the service provider or the equipment that has been dragging down your internet speed.
Author:
Alok Rana founder of LoudTechie. A Digital Marketer & PR Outreach Expert. Like to share his blogging experience and resources with readers. He loves to talk about blogging, technology, SEO, Traffic Strategies and Marketing.
