Finding Harmony in Your Broadband Speeds

May 28, 2015
In today’s world we want our internet connections to give us the fastest speed so that we can do the things we love, whether it’s to catch up with friends and family on Facebook or watch the newest episode of the hottest TV show on Netflix. Just as similarly businesses want their internet connections to be fast enough to transmit data just as fast as they’re receiving it. It’s also rare that anyone is only doing one thing at a time, whether at home or at work. And of course, it’s equally as rare that we only have one device running. Most families and businesses have computers, smartphones, tablets and even smart TVs that are all competing for internet bandwidth.

But how fast does your broadband really need to be?
Better download speeds mean you can get photos, music, and video from the internet faster than if you’re using a slow connection. Upload speeds determine how quickly you can send emails, post photos on Facebook or upload large videos to sites like YouTube.

You might be surprise to learn that internet providers advertise speeds that you’re actually not receiving. It’s like we’re all going to the bank and handing the teller a one hundred dollar bill and only receiving $5 back in change. Additionally, typical home broadband customer’s upload speeds are considerably slower than download speeds. Internet providers give ‘downstream’ data priority as most of us are more concerned with how quickly we can download stuff than how long it takes us to upload files.

While download speed is the most important factor in broadband service, it’s not the only factor. You may want to pay attention to upload speed. It’s especially important for video conferencing, sharing larger files online, interactive learning, medical applications that use HD imaging, and two-way online gaming –that involves ongoing communication between your computer and the web. Ideally, all of these applications would work best if upload speed were as high as download speed, but internet providers generally don’t offer that option.

At Micrologic, our advanced technologies mean we can offer your home or business a balance of down and up speeds to make sure you’re getting the speed you need, whether it’s for gaming or video conferencing. Make sure you do your homework and weighed your options before signing your next contract with an internet provider.