Since the era of dial-up, a lot has changed. Now, you have access to internet connections that are faster than standard high-speed fiber broadband. In the majority of areas, gigabit services are available for less than $100 on average. But who really requires a gigabit connection?
What do those speeds mean, though? And will it drastically change your online experience? In this article, we’ll discuss whether you need gigabit internet, or you can actually survive without it.
On a side note, there’s a possibility that the advertised speeds won’t even be what you receive.
Is the Gigabit Internet Really That Fast?
To be precise, the name implies one gigabit per second speed. An ordinary HD movie can be downloaded at those speeds in under a minute, and anything much larger, like a 4K movie, can be downloaded at those speeds in under five minutes.
The download speed — the rate at which your modem receives data — is often the connection speed that is advertised. Although, the overall speed at which your modem sends data out, or the upload speed, can be much slower.
This may not be a problem because most individuals download significantly more data than they upload, but it is something to take into account when utilizing a plan.
Gigabit is also excessive when it comes to streaming. While HD streams need eight megabits per second, and UHD streams can require up to 25 Mbps/s, standard definition streams only need about four.
If no one else is trying to stream more UHD movies than your bandwidth can handle, all of this can be done easily with a fiber connection.
Not Every Gigabit Internet Connection is the Same
The fine print must be thoroughly reviewed in this case. The term “up to” does a lot of work, just like those online job ads that claim to pay up to $1000 each day.
Some service providers offer “gigabit” services, which essentially means that your internet will only go as fast as 1 GB/s. Average speeds may be considerably slower. Although not all providers are like this, it is still wise to exercise caution given the associated costs.
If you choose gigabit internet, read the contract carefully, confirm that any trial or cancellation periods are explained by the provider, and keep an eye on your service during that time to ensure that you are receiving the speeds you have paid for.
How Many Simultaneous Devices/Users Are Connected?
If you live alone, you might not have more than two devices connected to the internet at once. However, if you live with roommates or a family, you probably connect at least three devices simultaneously at least once per day.
As you put more strain on your bandwidth when you bog down your connection with a bunch of people, you probably see those speeds significantly slow down.
For this reason, homes with several internet users may require a gigabit connection, such as Xfinity Internet, more frequently than homes with a single user of the internet. Check out the availability of Xfinity Internet plans in your area.
Do You Homeschool or Work From Home?
Due to remote jobs and remote education, there is a greater demand for lightning-fast and reliable internet. There’s a high possibility for you to encounter a sluggish internet speed if it’s used for your work calls, FaceTime, or downloading a heavy online movie.
Your home internet could have been acceptable for casual use, but you might discover that it isn’t appropriate for distant work, especially if the entire family needs to be online.
Due to the high download and upload bandwidth requirements of video calls and conferences, they can particularly drain your network.
Do You Like to Play Online Games?
When your character’s survival in a fantastical online world depends on a steady connection, slow internet speeds can be particularly aggravating.
This is why for ardent gamers who are now dissatisfied with their connections, gigabit speeds could prove to be advantageous.
For the majority of gamers, speeds of 15 to 20 Mbps should be more than enough, but if you also frequently work from home, stream movies or music, or if you share your home with other gamers, you may want to look into a faster speed.
All in All
Well, there you go! If you’re debating whether or not you genuinely require a 1 GB connection, the likelihood is that you do not.
However, it’s worth looking into if you’ve read through this list and realized that you fit a few of the descriptions. It’s extremely important to consider if you actually require that much bandwidth before signing up for a gigabit connection because the cost can be rather high.
You don’t want to spend a good amount of your salary on a connection you never needed in the first place. This list should give you a better idea of whether a gigabit connection might be worthwhile to you.