What Is the Average Internet Speed?

People using the internet often require high-speed connectivity no matter what the task. However, it’s good to wonder what is the average internet speed for any task.

Whether you’re streaming, watching movies, downloading stuff, file-sharing, or even gaming, there’s has to be a set limit – a minimum requirement.

Well, not to worry, because we’re here to give insights into that, so you can know what average internet speed is needed for each task.

But first, there are a few things we need to look into. So, let’s get started:

Getting an Internet Service

Before you assimilate what is the average internet speed needed for different users, you need to have an internet connection.

And not just any internet connection, you need a stable and disruption-free internet connection to carry out your tasks efficiently.

You can get that from a reputed internet service provider near you. In this regard, Spectrum Internet is one of the well-known internet providers in the US.

It offers some of the fastest internet speeds at the best rates and ensures that the customers get what they’ve bargained for.

So, if you’re opting for a, let’s say, 10 Mbps internet connection, your ISP will ensure that you get 10 Mbps internet connectivity. Remember, this figure is for downloading only.

Your uploading speed may vary and this speed may also be affected using wireless connectivity.

Is There A Good Internet Speed?

Well, that depends on what sort of tasks you’re carrying out. If you’re an average user who just needs to send emails, watch shows online, or scroll through social media, then an internet connection with 10 Mbps speed is good enough.

On the other hand, if you’re an avid gamer or handling some server-side stuff that requires real-time activity, having a 10 Mbps internet connection won’t be enough. You’d probably need at least 50 Mbps for that.

In addition to this, if you’re hosting a server, you’d need at least 100 Mbps internet speed, depending upon the type of hosting you’re offering. Furthermore, online games that are streamed live while multiple devices are being used require a stronger connection.

In other words, internet speed is “good” as long as it serves the purpose efficiently. At some point, you’ll eventually upgrade your package when you’ll want more work done simultaneously.

The Average Internet Speed

Alright, it’s time to dive into insights and see what the average internet speed is, based on user workability. We’ll be listing some of the primary tasks that are most commonly performed online:

Average Internet Speed For Surfing

The average internet speed, which is good for surfing and is most commonly chosen with an internet connection, is 6-10 Mbps.

This is an optimal speed for carrying out minimal internet usage tasks such as emailing, browsing, surfing, watching videos online, and somewhat gaming.

However, as we’ve highlighted earlier, your download and upload speeds vary with respect to the connection you’ve chosen.

You may have a 25 Mbps internet connection, but reach out to your internet provider to know how much upload speed you’re getting.

A 25 Mbps internet connection should have at least 3-5 Mbps upload speed to keep things streamlined. Again, this requirement is based on what you need the internet for.

If your activities are based on the ones we’ve mentioned earlier, then 5 Mbps will do.

Average Internet Speed For Gaming

Well, this is fun! There’s a lot of argument in the gaming community as to what the average internet speed for gaming is.

Again, this can only be narrowed down based on what sort of games you’re playing.

Most manufacturers recommend having 3 Mbps internet speed solely dedicated to your gaming session.

That means you’ll need at least a 5-10 Mbps internet connection to streamline stuff. In some cases, people often recommend having 100 Mbps internet speed.

Such an internet connection is needed when you’re playing high-end online games, streaming live in HD quality as well as participating in live chats around the globe.

Moreover, 100 Mbps speed would also be good enough to watch 4K movies easily alongside gaming on other devices connected simultaneously.

Average Internet Speed For No-Interruption Tasks

Some online activities require disruption-free internet connectivity. These tasks can include but aren’t limited to gigabyte file sharing, 4K streaming on multiple devices (broadcasting services), & server functionality, etc.

For this purpose, the users require a high-speed internet connection that comes with minimal latency and no disruption at all. Since such tasks are usually carried out at organizations, they have the budget to acquire such connectivity.

You’ll need at least a 40 Mbps connection for latency-free file sharing. However, critical tasks such as exchanging live information with a centralized database, exchanging information with a long-distance server, etc.

May need more than this, depending upon the server’s requirements. Mind you that Google servers work at 10 Gbps.

What Average Internet Speed Will Be Good For You?

We’ve looked at some of the common tasks and their average internet speed. But the question that remains is how much internet speed do you need?

Well, it depends on several factors such as:

• Your usage
• The number of users on the connection
• The type of connection you have
• The type of tasks you’re carrying out (in the future too)

You need to answer these questions before you choose your internet plan. We’ve already discussed usage above so we’re moving on to the next point; the number of users.

For instance, if you’re working from home with a family of 5, you’d probably think a 5-10 Mbps connection would do the job.

However, that is when others aren’t downloading anything or streaming high internet-consuming content. Therefore, you should have at least a 15-25 Mbps internet connection in this case.

Next, we have the type of internet connection. You can inquire about this from your internet provider. Usually, ISPs provide fiber optics, DSL internet, or cable internet. Fiber optic is the fastest whereas DSL is the slowest internet connection.

In addition, the area of your residence matters too. There’s a high chance an ISP isn’t offering any of these connection types. Instead, it’s offering fixed wireless internet that works using access points and receivers or satellite internet.

Therefore, knowing what type of connection you’re getting helps you decide the amount of speed you need to ensure seamlessness in connectivity.

You can enjoy 250-1,000 Mbps speed with fiber optics, dedicated and with minimal latency. However, you’ll need 5-35 Mbps with a DSL connection since it’s slower than fiber internet.

Lastly, plan what you want to do in the future. If you’re dedicated to projects that require fast internet, choosing an optimal plan beforehand is a good choice.

Instead of upgrading it later, you can simply get an optimized internet connection installed in the first place.

Closing Thoughts

Well, there you have it! Now you know what the average internet speed is for different tasks, which will help you choose your internet connection wisely. Make sure to consider the above factors before choosing your internet service.