Internet speeds vary widely, ranging from basic broadband to high-speed fibre connections. The speed of an internet connection determines how quickly data can be sent and received, impacting everything from browsing websites to streaming videos and online gaming.
Whether you run your own business like me, or simply like to Netflix and chill at home, slow internet will just not do. Let’s discuss what ‘fast’ internet really means in this article.
Basic Broadband (Up to 25 Mbps)
An internet plan with 25 Mbps offers a download speed of 25 megabits per second. This speed would suit:
- small households
- basic tasks like browsing the internet
- emailing
- streaming content in standard definition
This is the minimum speed typically available in many areas. The downside of this plan is it may struggle in streaming high-definition content, especially if multiple devices are connected.
Standard Broadband (25-100 Mbps)
This range is common in many households. It’s sufficient for:
- streaming high-definition videos
- online gaming
- video conferencing
- connecting to multiple devices at the same time.
This speed is ideal for average family usage, where a few people might be streaming, browsing, and gaming simultaneously. Internet service providers offer plans ranging in speed from 25 Mbps, 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps.
The downside of these plans is that if your internet connection is an older style fibre to the node technology, your speed may be capped at 100 Mbps.
Additionally, should you want to run a home business, have multiple connected devices or smart home devices, or have more households members (6-8 people with devices), these speeds may suffer from congestion, especially during peak usage.
Fast Broadband (100-500 Mbps)
This tier is becoming more common, especially in urban areas with better infrastructure. Many internet plans offering these speeds are connected via fibre, such as fibre to the premises – a direct connection.
These speeds are excellent for:
- heavy streaming
- intensive online gaming
- high-bandwidth work tasks like large file transfers.
Fast broadband is suitable for smart homes with multiple connected devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, and home automation systems. These speeds are also great for larger households with multiple users.
The downside of these plans is that not everybody has access to fibre technology, meaning the max plan speed you can get may be capped at 100 Mbps, which is the fastest plan for a fibre to the node technology.
Very Fast Broadband (500 Mbps – 1 Gbps)
Speeds in this range are typically offered via fibre-optic internet services. They are ideal for ‘power users’ who engage in:
- bandwidth-intensive activities like 4K video streaming
- large-scale online gaming
- extensive downloading and uploading.
Homes with numerous internet-connected devices or small businesses with a high demand for consistent, fast internet will benefit greatly from these speeds.
Businesses are increasingly adopting very fast internet, with gigabit plans becoming common in workplaces.
According to The Australian Government’s Transparency Portal, approximately 90% of fixed-line homes and businesses in Australia can access what is termed as very fast internet, defined as wholesale download speeds ranging from 500 Mbps to nearly 1 Gbps.
Gigabit and Beyond (1 Gbps+)
With the advent of 1 Gbps speeds and beyond, the potential uses expand dramatically.
These speeds are perfect for ultra-high-definition streaming, sophisticated online gaming, and real-time data processing.
They are also crucial for businesses with significant cloud storage needs and for industries relying on real-time data analytics.
Gigabit internet is becoming more important with the rise of technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and the increasing number of IoT devices.
These speed tier are on the cutting edge of the technology horizon and are not yet readily available.
Use Cases for Different Internet Speeds
So, what do you use the internet for? Defining your needs helps to define the internet speed you need. Here are some common internet uses and associated speed tier for you to consider:
- Web browsing and email (1-5 Mbps): Adequate for basic browsing and email checking.
- Streaming standard definition video (3-10 Mbps): Basic broadband is sufficient for SD streaming.
- Streaming high-definition video (5-25 Mbps): Standard broadband can handle HD content streaming.
- Streaming 4K video (25-50 Mbps): Higher-speed connections are necessary for streaming 4K content without buffering.
- Online gaming (10-25 Mbps): Online gaming requires fast speeds for real-time interaction, with higher speeds providing a smoother gaming experience.
- Video conferencing (10-25 Mbps): For clear video calls without lag, especially in HD.
- Smart home devices (50-100 Mbps): Fast broadband to manage multiple smart home devices like thermostats, cameras, and smart speakers.
- Large file downloads and uploads (100 Mbps – 1 Gbps): Very fast to gigabit speeds are ideal for handling large files quickly.
- Business applications and cloud computing (100 Mbps – 1 Gbps+): Businesses rely on high-speed internet for cloud services, hosting servers, and handling large amounts of data.
- Advanced applications (1 Gbps+): For cutting-edge technologies like VR, AR, IoT, and AI-driven tasks that require massive data processing.
According to the NBN Co website “The average household now has 21 connected devices and that’s growing year on year, we encourage customers to check with their internet provider to see if their plan has enough speed and data inclusions.”
The general trend is for more data usage and faster plans. No doubt in the future, the demand for higher internet speeds will continue to grow. Technologies like 5G and further advancements in fibre optics are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, enabling faster, more reliable connections.
So from running your own business, to online gaming or netflixing and chilling, there is no doubt that fast connectivity is growing in importance.
Marshall Thurlow is Director and Founder of Orion Marketing Pty Ltd. He is a digital marketer with expertise in SEO, website design, content marketing and project management.
