Getting to Know Broadband Internet Speeds
The advent of Internet clearly revolutionized the business world and the way people connect with one another. Internet usage rose alongside the development of modern technology and it enabled people to do so much more with the devices they’re utilizing. Although the internet users around the globe is increasing in number over the years, not everyone understands how broadband Internet connections work. In fact, many of the people who access information online, and download and upload files don’t even know what determines the speed of Internet connection.
So here are things certified fiber optic technicians want you to know about broadband internet speeds to give you a better understanding about the topic:
Internet Speed Determines Quality
As users surf the internet, it is almost impossible that they don’t encounter the throbber at least once. This animated circle signals the end-user when a program is working on a task. It is commonly seen when the video or song you are playing is buffering. The throbber is usually dreaded by internet users because of the delay it brings. When your internet connection can’t keep up with the speed the video or audio is being delivered to your monitor, they tend to buffer and decrease its quality. That being said, the lesser screen time for throbbers, the better the quality of your internet.
Difference Between Speed and Bandwidth
It is a common misconception these days that bandwidth and speed are the same. They are two different things. However, they still affect one another. Bandwidth refers to the size of the conduit or the pipe where data travels. On the other hand, speed pertains to the rate at which the said data is traveling. That being said, bandwidth and speed are not the same, but with a larger bandwidth you can increase the traveling rate of your data.
Reason Why Advertised Speeds Are in Ranges
When you look at how broadband providers advertise Internet speed, you can notice that it is given in ranges. That is because people have different demands and uses for their computer networks. Some people may demand more compared to the others, making it difficult to estimate how fast an Internet connection will be to everyone. And for this reason, it becomes impossible for broadband providers to maintain a certain speed always. But even so, these providers are aware that they can deliver a certain amount of bandwidth to handle a particular amount of data. That being said, they can only assure you that your connection speed will fall within the range that they listed.
Upload and Download Speed
Aside from the direction the data is heading towards, uploading and downloading data are the same in essence. When you upload files, you send data from your computer to the Internet. Meanwhile, when you download files, the Internet is the one that sends data to your computer. Both uploading and downloading entails transmitting data at a certain direction for a particular speed, and one way to enhance its speed is by utilizing fast Internet connection. Although they are equally important, people tend to download data more. And for that reason, broadband providers tend to provide faster download speeds to end-users.
