Understanding Internet Speed and Bandwidth
On paper, our needs for the internet are simple: It needs to be fast, reliable, and wireless. While the general idea is simple, internet speed is a bit more complex.
Internet speed involves two distinct aspects: bandwidth and latency. Bandwidth describes the technology's capacity, while latency is about how quickly your internet responds. If we wanted to get deep, this blog article could turn into a book.
But if you're reading this, you probably aren’t interested in a whole book. Instead, this article goes through some basic definitions and some useful knowledge for understanding speed, latency, bandwidth, and the factors that affect these. To see if you're getting the best internet for you, make sure to visit our internet providers at your address search page.
What is Internet Speed?
Internet speed is the transfer rate of data between two systems. It’s an active measurement of current rates. In everyday life, these systems are our computers and the servers where we want to access information.
When we talk about the internet, there's a middle man involved: your internet service provider (ISP). This gets into another area: bandwidth, which you'll learn about in just a moment.
Your internet speed is measured based on what you're currently getting. Typically, this number is measured in megabytes per second (Mbps). This measurement is in two directions: uploads and downloads.
The Difference Between Upload and Download Speeds
Upload speed is how fast your system communicates with the external server. Meanwhile, download speed is how fast those communications reach you.
Download speeds will dictate how fast you receive files, the image quality of streaming services, and the speed at which your browser loads a web page. With anything you get from an external source, download speeds dictate how fast it gets there.
Upload speeds, in contrast, tell you how fast you send information. This is important during multiplayer gaming sessions or video conferencing. Since the other side is downloading what you’re sending, it’s no different from your streaming services needing to stop and buffer.
For most households, download speeds are more important than upload speeds. However, as more people work from home, the need for faster upload speeds is becoming more important. Many work-from-home positions require video conferencing.
How to Check Your Current Internet Speed
The easiest way to check your current internet speed is through online speed testing. You can do this by searching “how fast is my internet” on Google. Otherwise, here are some other options:
Your speed can be affected by different factors, which you can learn more about later in this article. For now, know that speed tests rarely match what shows up on your internet plan. This maximum speed brings us to an important aspect of how fast your internet can be.
What is Bandwidth?
While speed measures your current rate of transfer, bandwidth is your highest potential rate of transfer. Bandwidth is often split between multiple devices, which is part of why it can be slower. But other factors can impact bandwidth.
In a perfect world, your speed would match your bandwidth. But, as you'll read below, this is rarely the case.
How is Bandwidth Different from Internet Speed?
Bandwidth is always higher than internet speed. So, it isn't measured the same way you measure current internet speed. Instead, bandwidth is concerned with your speed's maximum potential.
Think about it like a nearby highway. Sure, you could go 75 mph if there were no other vehicles on the road. But rush hour traffic thwarts these efforts. To increase the potential speed (bandwidth) in this area, the city could add an additional road.
The cars on the road represent network congestion. In other words, the more devices you have, the slower your speed could become.
What is Latency?
Latency is the amount of time it takes for data packets to move between different locations. It’s specifically concerned with delay and the factors that can impact that. For example, having a very long wired cable increases your delay.
Latency is a round-trip measurement of data packets from point A to point B. Ideally, a 100 Mbps download bandwidth will download at that rate. But thanks to latency, the speed we actually get might be closer to 90 Mbps. Knowing factors that impact latency can be important during high-impact activities, such as gaming.
An older network might have high latency (more lag), while a faster network will have low latency. This limits your potential bandwidth, leading to drops in internet performance. You’ll learn about other factors beyond old internet infrastructure later.
Read more in our article about latency.
How To Check Your Bandwidth
If your infrastructure has fewer faults, you can check your bandwidth using the information in your internet plan. But since there's always something impacting latency, you can choose to check bandwidth using a hardwired connection.
A hardwired connection has the least chance of interruptions. Unlike wireless networks, it doesn't experience as much interference. Plenty of mobile and radio signals can interrupt wireless communications.
Even wired connections can differ, for example DSL lines are shared with your neighbors while cable internet connections go exclusively to you.
But wired communications aren't free from interference. Radio signals can sometimes penetrate the protective shielding of your wired connection. So, when testing, try using a newer, undamaged cable.
You'll also want to run the test with no other devices using your network. When testing your network's maximum potential, fewer interruptions lead to more accurate measurements.
6 Factors That Affect Internet Speeds
Now that you know that speed is your current, accurate measurement and bandwidth is your maximum potential internet speed, we can explore different factors that affect both.
1. Your Internet Provider
The bandwidth's maximum potential is dictated by the internet package you buy. If you purchase a 1,000 Mbps internet package, that's likely your maximum speed.
But different internet packages can include some limitations.
For example, if you have a data cap (a limit on usable monthly data), you might be throttled if you exceed it. Throttling is when an ISP slows you down, prioritizing other internet connections on its network.
Thankfully, not all ISPs have data caps, as you can purchase unlimited data to avoid this issue. Still, internet service providers might throttle your data for any number of reasons.
2. Your Router
Your router, which is often combined with your modem, is another factor that impacts your potential internet speed. If you have a cheaper or an older model router, you could see a drop in your connection speeds.
To find this out, check the owner's manual for information. The manual tells you the maximum potential internet speed and whether it can handle your bandwidth. Otherwise, you can look up the router's model, which can often be found on the underside of the device.
If relying on WiFi connections, the distance to your router can also affect your internet speed. Routers rely on two different network bands that differ based on distance and speed.
5 GHz bands are faster and have shorter distances, while 2.4 GHz bands cover wider distances and are slower. The bars on your devices will tell you about network strength, possibly hinting at the type of band in use. In some cases, you might have a multi-band connection that supports both under one Wireless network. Check your internet connection details to confirm your current band. read more about the differences between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi.
ISPs often offer the ability to rent your router directly from them. In this case, you can almost always guarantee your router meets your requirements. However, renting these routers can add between $5 and $10 to your monthly internet bill. This bill often comes with regular upgrades to new routers.
3. Your Computer or Device
Computers connect to the Internet via network cards, which come in wired and wireless forms. Older or damaged network cards will impact internet performance. Of course, your computer isn’t just hardware.
If your slowdowns are limited to one device, check in on the number of internet-dependent applications on your computer. If you have multiple cloud backup systems, remote PC tools, torrenting software, and online gaming platforms, you might be putting too much strain on your network card.
A slow computer can also tell you that you're running too many browser extensions or applications simultaneously. Check your task manager for more details.
4. Network Congestion
When there are a large number of devices on your network using bandwidth, that's considered network congestion. Too many devices, especially if they're all engaging in high-demand activities, can slow down your internet speed.
Congestion isn't just a symptom of your local network. It can also be an issue with your ISP. During internet peak hours, like when people are getting off work, your ISP can throttle data across the region to prevent overtaxing servers. Some ISPs offer priority services, excluding some from congestion-related throttling.
5. Viruses and Malware
Much like having too many applications on your computer can slow you down, having unwanted applications does the same. Viruses and malware can slow down your computer and impact your internet connection. Removing them keeps your computers fast and secure.
To prevent virus-related slowdowns, regularly scan your computer, keep your real-time protection active, and keep your software up to date. Many antivirus platforms, like Norton, Bitdefender, and ESET, will update automatically. You can also schedule regular scans through these and other platforms.
6. Wireless Network Quality
Your wireless network is prone to potential interference. This interference can come from your distance to the router, obstacles in the way, the type of wireless network, and the location of wireless connections.
If you live in a larger home, consider purchasing wireless extenders to provide more access points. These extenders can be incredibly helpful when spreading the faster 5 GHz connection type we mentioned earlier.
You might also invest in a mesh wireless router, which helps users manage larger networks. Otherwise, keeping your router in an open area away from other wireless devices can help avoid interference.
What Do You Do If Your Speed is Lower Than What You Pay For?
If your speed is lower than what you pay for, you aren't alone. Many customers call in every day to share their frustrations about paying for slow internet.
While you can explain this to ISPs and ask for a refund, many are protected with the “up to” section of their internet plan page. This means that as long as the speed is serviceable (according to them, not you), they don't have to take action. However, if you experience a total internet outage, you might be entitled to a bill credit.
If it's a consistent issue, request your ISP send a technician to your location. After a professional review, they might identify something that we, as regular folks, would need help finding.
Also, check if your internet speed is up to the task of what you demand of it. A 25 Mbps DSL connection probably won't be able to handle seven 4k televisions streaming simultaneously. If you use a lot of internet and experience regular slowdowns, consider an upgrade to your plan.
If all else fails, it's time to shop for another ISP. You can do this easily by checking out high-speed internet providers near you. Using our tool, you can enter your zip code and find ISPs that meet your needs.