Getting just the right amount of Wi-Fi speed and bandwidth for your needs without overpaying seems simple enough, but many households end up with the wrong plan. It’s relatively straightforward to choose the right speed, though; it just takes some knowledge and a little bit of planning. Check out a couple of smart considerations when establishing the best internet speed for your household.  

What Do You Do Online?

Before choosing an internet package, think of all the activities you normally engage in online. If you mainly stick to email, social media, and reading the news, you don’t need very much bandwidth: about one to two megabits per second (Mbps) should suffice. If you also do video conferencing/chatting, online gaming, or subscribe to standard-definition video streaming sites, you’ll need about four Mbps. High-definition streaming services generally load best with about eight Mbps. Higher bandwidths are necessary if you regularly download large files or have many devices.

How Many People Use Wi-Fi at Home?

If you live with other people, you might need more bandwidth than you think, especially if everyone tends to use the internet at the same times. Before choosing an internet plan, ask everyone what their bandwidth needs are. Don’t forget about their mobile devices, either: Every connected phone, tablet, laptop, or other device will increase your bandwidth requirements. Generally, households with two or three people are fine with about 10 to 25 Mbps. You may need 50 Mbps if someone does a lot of downloading or uploading—otherwise, they’ll end up “hogging” the network and slowing it down for everyone else.

For expert internet, cable, and phone services in South Carolina and Georgia, TruVista in Chester is the most reputable source. To browse their available plans and compare speeds, visit their website. For questions, don’t hesitate to give them a call at (803) 385-2191.