Learn About Internet Speeds

Wondering what your internet company is talking about when it comes to speeds and how they relate to your overall internet experience? See below to learn about speed.

Internet speed terms

What is a symmetrical connection?
Symmetrical connections are exactly what they sound like; a connection with equal download and upload speeds. For example, with a 100 Mbps by 100 Mbps internet connection you get 100 Mbps of download speed and an equal 100 Mbps of upload speed.

What is an Asymmetrical connection?
An asymmetrical connection does NOT have equal download and upload speeds. For example, a 100 Mbps by 10 Mbps means you are getting a 100 Mbps download speed and only 10 Mbps of upload speed. Asymmetrical speeds are usually provided by traditional internet providers, like cable TV and the telephone companies.

What is ping?
A ping is a test that figures out if a server is reachable. The ping is done by sending a data packet to the server to see if the data comes back. If so, the server is reachable.

What is ping time?
Ping time is the responsiveness of your connection, or how fast that data packet travels to the server and back. Ping time is measured in milliseconds. If your connection doesn’t register the data request for a couple of seconds, you may see a lag in your game, file upload, online submission or other activity.

What is latency?
Latency is how fast data transfers between a source and its destination – basically a delay of information communication. For instance, if you’re in the U.S. playing a game with a server in China, you will have a higher latency than someone playing the same game in China.

What is Mbps?
Mbps is how internet speeds are gauged and means “megabits per second”. It measures the bandwidth of an internet connection – how much data can be transferred each second. It is the maximum speed at which you can download or upload data from the internet to your computer or mobile device.

What is the difference between download and upload speeds?
Download speed is how fast your internet connection can transfer data from a server to you. Download speeds are important for downloading files, loading a website, streaming a video or streaming music. Upload speed is how fast your internet connection can transfer your data to a server. Upload speeds are important for sending emails, sending files to other people, live video chats and gaming.

No matter what you use the internet for at home, we recommend getting slightly faster speeds than Netflix, Skype, online shopping or any other activity requires. Internet speeds often perform slower at home than advertised. Having multiple devices at home will eat up bandwidth, and a variety of technical factors can also slow down your connection.

SymmetricAL Upload & Download Speeds

One of the major benefits of symmetrical vs asymmetrical internet is that bandwidth downloads and uploads are always consistent with symmetrical speeds. This makes applications run smoothly and eliminates the chances of slowdowns that can affect entire business operations. Large file uploads are a common problem many people face, dedicated internet addresses this issue with a high upload speed and low latency. Also, applications like VoIP and video require consistent upload performance as well. Processes that have deadlines to complete are another reason people choose dedicated symmetrical internet vs broadband. Only dedicated internet connections provide the consistency and reliability many businesses and people working from home need.