When you purchase an internet connection, the speed of the Internet is probably one of the most critical factors to consider. It is also one of the most confusing factors in the whole buying process. For example, the perfect Internet speed for one person may not be ideal for another. So, how do you determine which Internet speed meets your needs? It all comes down to usage.
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By usage, we mean the number of active Internet users in your household, the number of devices connected to the network at the same time, the level of your online activity, and the state of broadband in your area. So on and so forth. Each of these metrics varies from person to person. That’s why it’s essential to assess your unique Internet requirements before you enter the market.
Just like the colors in the rainbow, Internet speeds come in a variety of flavors called tiers. Internet service providers strategically design these tiers to complement the different Internet consumption habits of different customers. Some Internet speed tiers offer lower download and upload speeds for light Internet users, while others offer higher download and upload speeds for high-intensity Internet users. All you have to do is pick a suitable Internet speed class for your home.
If you’re considering a 100 Mbps Internet speed class, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will cover all the questions you may have in mind, such as: Is 100 Mbps fast? Will it support your connected devices? Will it be able to power your online activities? And, which providers offer 100 Mbps Internet? So, hold on to your seats and keep reading.
What is Internet speed?
Let’s start with the basics. What is Internet speed? Internet speed is how your Internet connection can download and upload data on the World Wide Web. It is the speed at which data is transferred, measured in “bits/second,” where a bit is the smallest data unit.
Since Internet technology has advanced to a great extent, an average network can transmit hundreds of thousands of bits per second. This gives us Kbps, Mbps, and Gbps. Kbps has about 1,000 bits/second, Mbps has 1,000,000 bits/second and Gbps has 1,000,000,000 bits/second. Nowadays, Internet speed is mainly expressed in Mbps or “megabits per second.”
Internet speed is further divided into “download speed” and “upload speed.” Download speed is how fast your Internet connection receives data from the network, while upload speed is how fast your Internet connection sends data from your device to the network. Download speed is essential for streaming Netflix, listening to Spotify playlists, scrolling through social media, or downloading files. Conversely, upload speeds are vital for video conferencing, uploading data to the cloud, or sending emails. In most cases, higher download speeds are preferable to higher upload speeds because, in general, we download more data than we upload.
What is a standard Internet speed?
Now that we know what Internet speeds are, it’s time to look at how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates Internet speeds for consumers in the United States. According to the FCC, a standard broadband Internet connection has a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 3 Mbps. Anything below this speed level can be considered “slow Internet,” while anything above this speed level can be regarded as “fast Internet. In summary, the FCC’s definition of standard broadband can be used to gauge the strength and speed of any Internet speed offer you may encounter.
What is a fast Internet speed?
A regular Internet speed gives you enough bandwidth to do every day things online, such as browsing, emailing, instant messaging, video calling, and streaming YouTube videos. It can support one or two light Internet users and one or two of their connected devices. However, if you like intensive gaming, HD streaming, or lots of downloads, you will need a fast internet connection and fast internet speeds.
So, if 25 Mbps is a standard Internet speed necessary for a broadband connection, which Internet speed tier can be classified as fast Internet? The answer is 100 Mbps or higher!
Is 100 Mbps fast?
Technically speaking, a 100 Mbps Internet connection can transfer approximately 100,000,000 bits of data per second. On the surface, this is a fast Internet speed.
However, “fast” is a relative term. For some people, 100 Mbps is plenty fast enough for their online needs, while for others, it may just not be enough. It all depends on your unique network environment.
For example, if you have three to four carnival watchers in your home, then you’ll find that 100 Mbps is perfect for your collective use. On the other hand, if you belong to a large family of online gamers, remote workers, 4K streamers, and savvy home users, you will have a tug of war with different users taking up 100 Mbps speeds and data other times.
So, for the sake of convenience, we’ll stick to a general rule of thumb in this post to show you whether 100 Mbps is fast enough for major online activities based on the individual speed requirements. You can choose the online activities you are most likely to perform and see what 100 Mbps can do for you.
Is 100 Mbps fast enough for general browsing?
General web browsing means looking up a new recipe on Google, reading a how-to blog post, checking the weather updates in your area, and accessing readable information in the online archives, among other things. We go online almost every day when we have a question on our mind or when we’re just bored and have nothing else to do. For general web browsing, your Internet connection pulls data from the network. Therefore, the internet speed required for web surfing is 0.1 to 1 Mbps.
With an Internet speed of 100 Mbps, you can do general web browsing on 100 devices simultaneously. Therefore, 100 Mbps is fast enough for surfing the web, reading email or scrolling through social media news, etc.
Is 100 Mbps fast for remote work?
Working from home has become a trend since COVID-19 last year called for social distancing and closing public spaces. Employees can collaborate on projects, take group calls, access company reserves, and do more from the comfort of their home office, as long as they have a fast work network connection. Activities involved in remote work often include video conferencing, sending emails, and uploading data to the cloud.
For video conferencing with Zoom or Skype, the minimum internet speed requirement is 3 Mbps. With a 100 Mbps internet connection, you can easily make video calls from about 30 devices at once. So, yes, 100 Mbps is fast enough for remote workers.
Is 100 Mbps fast for streaming?
The Internet has brought countless benefits to modern users, and one of those benefits is online streaming. Today, you can listen to music or even watch your favorite movie or TV show on the World Wide Web without having to tune in to an old-fashioned radio or wait for the next episode to air on cable. With online streaming, you can consume any content anytime, anywhere, as long as you have a viable Internet connection. Here are the internet speed requirements for online streaming.
So, with an Internet speed of 100 Mbps, you can listen to music on 100 devices simultaneously, play Netflix in SD on about 25 machines, watch HD video on 20 devices, and stream 4K on four devices simultaneously. We’d say those are pretty good numbers for an average home.
Is 100 Mbps good for gaming?
Whether you’re playing video games for leisure or professionally, you can’t outmaneuver your enemies, plan team strategies, find hidden loot or win without the full support of a high-speed Internet connection. Yes, in the realm of online gaming, network speed is paramount. A slight delay in the data transfer speed can take away your entire game enjoyment. Therefore, getting an internet speed with a minimum ping rate of about 100 ms or less and consistent download/upload performance is crucial for online gamers.
Can you play online games seamlessly with 100Mbps internet speed? Of course, you can! Because online gaming, on average, requires a download speed of at least 3Mbps, and you can play installed PC/console games on 30 devices simultaneously. And if you get into cloud gaming (not 4K), then the speed requirements go up to 10 Mbps, supporting ten(10) devices at a time on a 100 Mbps speed connection.
Is 100 Mbps fast for downloading large files?
We download data, files, and media from the Internet every day. This is the core activity behind our Internet consumption. To download large-sized files, you need a fast network speed to reduce wait times. How much data can you download from the Internet at what time with a 100 Mbps Internet speed? Let’s take a look.
Therefore, an Internet speed of 100 Mbps is fast enough for downloading large-size files. Here is an estimate for your future calculations. Since 100 Mbps has 100 megabits, and eight megabits equal 1 megabyte, a 100 megabyte (MB) file can be downloaded in just 8 seconds on a 100 Mbps Internet connection.
What else can you do with 100 Mbps Internet speed?
With 100 Mbps Internet speeds, you can experience the digital future in the form of smart home connectivity. Yes, you can set up and control three to five smart home devices such as smart thermostats, smart locks, bright lights, smart speakers, outdoor cameras, and more on 100 Mbps Internet speeds. Monitor your residence for possible intrusions, remotely lock your front door with one click, and manage thermostat settings to lower your electric bill.
What is the best 100 Mbps Internet provider?
In today’s telecom market, a significant number of Internet service providers offer 100 Mbps Internet speed tiers as part of their plans and packages. Here are the unlimited wireless Internet services in this area.
With cable-based speeds up to 200 Mbps, Spectrum Internet costs $49.99/month for 12 months.AT&T Internet, DSL speeds up to 100 Mbps for $45/month for 12 months.
Cox Internet, cable speeds up to 150 Mbps, costs $59.99/month for 12 months.
Suddenlink Internet, with cable-based speeds up to 200Mbps, costs $30/month for 12 months.
WOW! Internet, cable-based speeds up to 100 Mbps, costs $44.99/month.
CenturyLink Internet, DSL speeds up to 100 Mbps, costs $50/month.
Compare 100 Mbps Internet options in your area and choose the service that strikes a significant balance between speed and price.
The Bottom Line
A 100 Mbps Internet speed tier is fast enough for three to four Internet users who enjoy general web browsing, HD streaming, online gaming, remote work, and downloading large files on the go. Again, it all depends on your unique situation and bandwidth requirements. So, evaluate your Internet needs against the 100 Mbps Internet speed offer and see if it works best for you. Let this guide help you make the most informed decision!
