These days it seems like no two households use the internet in the same way. So, if you're considering new internet service, or a possible actualización, you may well wonder what speed is best for you.
There are definitely some things to consider, such as the size of your household and what you like to do online. The good news is that for most people, any fiber internet speed plan-up to 500 Mbps or 940 Mbps-will provide enough bandwidth. Typically, the choice comes down to how many devices you plan to have connected at the same time. You can take our speed quiz to find out what your needs are, or keep reading below.
OK, let's talk about speed. Understanding the recommended bandwidth for common online activities is a great way to determine what you need.
Actividad en línea | Ancho de banda necesario para 1-2 usuarios | Ancho de banda necesario para 3-4 usuarios |
---|---|---|
Streaming de música |
1 Mbps |
2 Mbps |
Navegación web general, email, redes sociales |
1.5 Mbps |
3 Mbps |
HD (High Definition) personal video chat (FaceTime, Zoom, etc) |
3 Mbps |
6 Mbps |
Transmisión de videos en SD (definición estándar) |
4 Mbps |
8 Mbps |
4 Mbps |
8 Mbps |
|
HD video streaming |
5-8 Mbps |
10-16 Mbps |
Videoconferencia en HD |
6 Mbps |
12 Mbps |
Descarga de archivos grandes |
10 Mbps |
20 Mbps |
Transmisión de videos en ultra HD 4K |
25 Mbps |
45 Mbps |
Trabajo/educación a distancia |
25 Mbps |
45 Mbps |
Nota: The numbers shown are the minimum download bandwidth required. Los megabits por segundo (Mbps) son la medida estándar del ancho de banda y la velocidad del Internet.
So, what's the difference between "bandwidth" and "speed"? You may hear both of these words used as if they mean the same thing, but they are slightly different. Check out several speed-related articles on our blog (like Internet speeds explained) para más información.
To figure out the best total bandwidth for your household, add up the bandwidth you'll need for all your online activities happening at the same time on all your devices. Then count on a bit more to allow for any smart thermostats, smart alarm systems, or additional connected devices you may have that aren't included in the table.
To further put it into perspective, check out these real-world examples.
Household 1
Number of people |
2 |
Online activities |
Remote work; Streaming music |
Minimum bandwidth requirement |
50 Mbps |
Household 2
Number of people |
5 |
Online activities |
Streaming video; Online shopping; Gaming; Remote learning; Remote work |
Minimum bandwidth requirement |
500 Mbps |
As you can see, even our lowest speed plan of up to 500 Mbps is enough to do so much. Imagine what’s possible with speeds up to 940 Mbps, or those ultra-fast “gig speed” plans, like speeds up to 3 Gbps*? The sky’s truly the limit! Learn more about gig speed.
* Limited availability, service and speed in select locations only.
Different bandwidth needs of connected devices
Fuente: Datos de la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones, 2022
With fiber internet, not only do you get super-fast download speeds, but you can also achieve equally fast upload speeds. So what's the difference?
Download speed is the rate at which your connection (and your device) can send data from the internet to you. A higher download speed allows you to watch high-quality video with less buffering and download large files quickly.
Internet plans are usually given with the downstream bandwidth first and upstream bandwidth second. Por ejemplo, una conexión de 100/10 Mbps le daría un ancho de banda de descarga de 100 Mbps y un ancho de banda de carga de 10 Mbps.
La velocidad de carga se refiere a cuán rápido tu dispositivo puede enviar datos a otro dispositivo en Internet. Posting a photo or video on social media, for example, will make use of your upstream bandwidth.
Fiber internet makes it easier to get a "symmetrical" connection, meaning the downstream and upstream bandwidth are equally fast.
Internet bandwidth is the total volume of data that can be delivered over a particular amount of time. Bandwidth, like speed, is expressed in "Megabits per second" (Mbps).
Though bandwidth and speed aren't the same thing, they are closely related, and many people use the two terms interchangeably. The higher the bandwidth of service, the greater volume of information can pass through your connection, which also means you'll see faster speeds across your devices.
Now that you understand more about bandwidth and speed you should be able to decide what internet speed you need for your own household or business. You can explore fiber internet plans to see if you're getting the service that's right for you.
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