December 17 is National Device Appreciation Day, and here at Great Plains Communications (GPC), we know your devices help you communicate with loved ones, work from home and watch the shows and movies you love.
We rely on our smartphones, smart TVs, smart thermometers, gaming consoles, laptops, tablets and more devices to get through the days not realizing the key to successful connections is reliable bandwidth.
Each device consumes bandwidth differently and when multiple devices share a network, performance may be affected without proper planning. Streaming a video or movie requires a substantial amount of bandwidth over your network. Imagine this: some people in your house are gaming, you’re downloading large files from your laptop while your smart thermostat runs and security devices protect your home —how much bandwidth is needed to ensure each device works as intended.
Appreciating the devices that connect, inspire and help us every day means looking at how they connect to our home network.
The difference between bandwidth and speed
Internet service providers (ISPs) often mention internet speed and bandwidth to mean the same thing when there are key differences between the two.
Speed is about how fast data travels. It can be measured by the response time for loading a page or starting a video. It’s measured in latency (milliseconds) and affects how quickly individual actions happen.
Bandwidth is the capacity of your connection or the maximum amount of data that can flow at once, measured in Mbps or Gbps. It determines how well multiple devices or heavy tasks (like streaming 4K on several screens) can run simultaneously.
High bandwidth doesn’t always mean faster speed. Home networks require both for a smooth online experience.
Calculating bandwidth needs
Most ISPs provide a range of bandwidth options, 100 Mbps to 2 Gig capabilities, for your home network. Your bandwidth depends on the number of devices your home holds and the intended use.
From the range of speeds available and number of devices connected, 500 Mbps bandwidth is generally enough for streaming, browsing, and light gaming. This speed supports multiple devices but can start to feel limited when several people are gaming, streaming in 4K, working remotely, and attending online classes at the same time. That’s where 1 Gig becomes valuable. It provides the extra capacity to handle heavy, concurrent usage without buffering or lag, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone in the household.
Upgrade your internet speed
This National Device Day, appreciate your devices by giving them the speed and bandwidth they need to operate at full capacity. Prepare your internet for the holiday gifts by future-proofing your speeds. Think of your smart ovens, kindles, iPads, smart watches and more plentiful gifts in store that require a connection. Check your speeds with Great Plains Communications by clicking here.
Get your home ready for the holidays with no more buffering, dropped connections or slow speeds. Upgrading to fiber with Great Plains Communications is easy and ensures every new device works seamlessly.
Check availability for your area here and contact us via phone 855.316.0350 or via email at [email protected].
Celebrate the season with the bandwidth your devices deserve.