Let’s Talk Speed
Mbps. What does it mean? It stands for Mega (1 million) bits per second. One bit is a one or a zero, and a single megabit is 1,000,000 ones and zeros. Everything we download and upload, from monthly bank statements to viral TikTok videos, gets converted to millions of bits of data.
How fast that transfer happens is measured in how many millions of bits move inbound (download) and outbound (upload) every second.
When the internet was younger and becoming a thing that we cared about in the late 1990s, we could get modems to process 56k (56,000 bits of data). You may have heard of a T1 line, which transmitted data at 1.5 Mpbs (1,544,000 bits compared to 56,000). Today’s providers are considered high speed; otherwise known as broadband, by the federal government with an asymmetrical 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. (Asymmetrical means the upload speeds do not match the download speeds). This is still a tremendous jump from the T1 or 56k days.
If you’re using streaming platforms, gaming online, or working from home, that 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload thresholds will hardly seem “high speed” and will be insufficient to meet the demands of your family, or even more so, your business.
Today, internet service providers are offering download speeds of 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps, 500 Mbps, or even 1,000 Mbps (1 Gigabit = 1 billion bits of data per second). A fiber-optic connection enables homes and businesses to access even higher speeds of two gigabit (2 Gb) or more. This is a long, long way from those 56k modems whose tell-tale handshake sound many of us remember well. Fiber-optic internet can enable symmetrical speeds, meaning your upload speeds match those blazing fast download speeds. If you have 500 Mbps download speeds, you will also have 500 Mbps upload speeds. This difference will really shine when you upload things like videos to Facebook or YouTube, or if you enjoy online gaming.
When you’re thinking of your internet, here are some things to consider when evaluating your internet service provider:
- Does your provider offer fiber-optic internet service? Does your provider offer symmetrical speeds?
- Does your provider deliver fiber directly to your home or business (versus older types of cable)?
- Does your provider offer easy-to-use WiFi?
- Does your provider offer easy-to-manage phone solutions?
- Does your provider offer local account support?
- Does your provider maintain local technical support? Does your provider maintain US-based call center support?
- When is the last time you called your provider to find out what you’re getting versus what you’re paying for?
Reliable internet access is such an important part of our everyday lives. Take a “bit” to consider these questions about your internet service provider.
Article contributed by Metronet Business
