Why internet upload speeds are important
When it comes to assessing the value of an internet plan, it’s easy to fixate on the download speeds. After all, they dictate how fast you can get the content you want. It also doesn’t help that many providers celebrate their high download speeds and then try to detract from their often unremarkable upload speeds by writing them in a tiny font size or hiding them on a different webpage (as if they are ashamed of them).
The reality is that upload speeds are both really important. Your download speed is how quickly you can receive data while your upload speed is how quickly you can transmit content. Upload speeds are especially critical for things like video conferencing, gaming, or sharing files for work or school.
When your internet connection maxes out its upload capacity, it can cause everything you are doing to become sluggish and even impact the experience of the person on the receiving end — imagine freezing mid-sentence during an important pitch with a client or conversation with your boss!
Check out your speeds
If you don’t know your upload speed off the top of your head, it’s likely that you’re sitting somewhere around 5Mbps (maybe 10Mbps if you are lucky). Even with some of the fastest plans out there, some cable and DSL companies only provide upload speeds that are less than 1/10th their download speeds.
If you want to know what your actual upload speed is today, you can test your connection at speedtest.net.
You might be surprised at how many services use up a lot of upload bandwidth:
- Video chatting using Facetime, Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts
- Online gaming services like XBox Live, Playstation Plus, Steam, and Twitch
- WiFi-based security systems and cameras like Nest, SimpliSafe, and Ring
- Smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant
- VOIP phone services like Google Voice, Ooma, Vonage, and MagicJack
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common services and systems from this list.
Video Conferencing
With more of us working, learning and socializing from home, there’s been an explosion in the use of Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype, and other video conferencing services. Google recommends 3.2 Mbps and Zoom recommends 3.0 Mbps to run a video conference, and more casual services like Facebook livestream recommends you need a minimum upload speed of 5Mbps (ideally 10Mbps) for HD. So, if two people in your family are trying to do a video call for work or school simultaneously, it’s easy to see how you might quickly surpass your upload capacity.
File Sharing
You’re using upload when sharing important project files and documents for work or school using online file services like DropBox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive, or even with email attachments. Nothing can be more frustrating than trying to send an email just to find yourself sitting there while it takes its sweet time to complete. We’re also now taking more videos and photos than ever on our phones to share with friends or family, and backing them up or uploading them to social media can take a long time.
Online Gaming
Online gaming requires upload speeds to help you go FTW. For online gaming, most platforms recommend 1–3 Mbps for optimal performance and up to 6Mbps if you are also live streaming the game using a service like Twitch or Mixer.
Ready to Upgrade?
At Common, we believe that everyone should have fast, reliable internet and that doesn’t just mean fast downloads.
We’re one of the few internet providers offering the same download and upload speeds with any of our plans, even at the blazing fast speeds of our 300 Mbps plan! And, on top of that, we’re offering 2 free months of amazing internet if you sign up by April 30, 2020.
Click here to learn more about upgrading your uploads today!
