Do I need 100 Mbps internet? (and what is it good for?)

Knowing the differences between speeds is essential if you’re considering internet plans. In this article, we’ll outline what 100 Mbps is and whether or not it will be fast enough for your household.

100 Mbps is an internet connection that transfers 100 megabits of data per second. This is an adequate speed if you only have one or two users with a few devices and are looking for the most affordable internet speed possible.

With a 100 Mbps connection, one or two users will be able to:

• Browse the internet.
• Stream videos.
• Play some online games.
• Download files.
• Participate in video conferences or virtual meetings.
• Work and learn remotely.

Your actual speed experience depends on the number of users and devices connected, the type of activities, any possible network congestion and the type of WiFi connection.

Most online games demand internet speeds ranging from 5 Mbps to 20 Mbps. With 100 Mbps, users can play some multiplayer games across devices.

A 100 Mbps connection will offer:

• Gaming sessions on one or two devices.
• Downloads of game files and updates.

Other factors influencing gaming performance include internet bandwidth, network congestion and distance from game servers.

Consider higher speed plans if you’re a competitive player or stream 4K and 8K gaming content to audiences. Higher speeds provide more bandwidth, improving the online experience for you and your audience.

You’ll also want to consider a higher speed plan if you have more than one person in your household playing simultaneously.

If you already have a high-speed connection but want to get the most out of your internet, look into our dedicated gaming router to optimize your internet speeds.

A 100 Mbps speed will work for streaming HD and 4K content. Streaming platforms like Netflix require 5 Mbps for HD videos and 15 Mbps for 4K videos.

A 100 Mbps internet connection will allow you and another person in your home to stream:

• HD and 4K video content.
• High-quality audio from music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
• Social media content.
• Gaming content from platforms like Twitch or YouTube.

Keep in mind that the quality of your streams will depend on the number of people and devices connected to your home network. Consider higher tiers if you’re concerned about your internet bandwidth.

Unsure about the speed your household needs? Find your speed here.

100 Mbps is adequate for video conferencing, file transfers and accessing cloud services.

With 100 Mbps at home, one or two users will be able to:

• • Connect to video calls and virtual meetings via Zoom, Teams, or Slack.
  • Manage email and access the internet across multiple devices.
  • Download multimedia content from cloud-based services.
  • Access cloud-based applications, like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
  • Juggle online tasks like file downloading or streaming across multiple devices.

With a 100 Mbps connection, however, multiple users and devices can strain your speeds. If you’re unsure if 100 Mbps is right for you, consider our 300 Mbps, 600 Mbps, or 1500 Mbps higher speed plans.

100 Mbps can facilitate remote learning activities for one or two students in your household. Accessing online learning platforms like Canvas requires a minimum speed of 512 kbps.
 
With 100 Mbps, a couple of students in your home can:

• Participate in real-time lectures and online discussions.
• Engage in multiple online learning activities.
• Access and download learning materials.
• Upload and submit text- or multimedia-based assignments.
• Access interactive learning features, like online labs.

 
Remember that other users working from home or engaging in online activities may stress your bandwidth, compromising your internet quality. Check out our higher-speed plans to accommodate your requirements.

100 Mbps is enough to host a small event with a small number of attendees, like sports-watching parties, webinars or virtual workshops.
 
With a 100 Mbps connection for small events, you’ll be able to:

• Stream virtual event platforms like Zoom, Hopin or Twitch.
• Stream on sports or other VOD apps like NBA TV, NFL TV or MLB TV.

 
When deciding to host an in-person or online event, determine how many concurrent users, platforms and types of events you might host using your home network.
 
Are you concerned about bandwidth for your online or in-person events? Look into higher-speed internet options from your ISP.

Smart home and IoT devices require a minimum internet speed of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. If you have more than two smart devices, you’ll reach your bandwidth ceiling.

Smart devices, unlike personal devices, are always on and accessing your bandwidth. If you have multiple smart and personal devices connected, consider them when choosing your internet speed. Each additional smart home or IoT device may need up to 10 Mbps.

If you find you are exceeding your Mbps, look into a higher speed to keep your devices online.

Determining whether an internet speed of 50 Mbps is enough for living in an apartment depends on a few factors: the number of individuals in the apartment, their internet habits and the number of devices.

In most settings, apartments tend to be smaller, with fewer occupants and fewer connected devices.

50 Mbps will provide upload speed and download speed for two people. However, if your household engages in extensive online gaming, 4K content streaming or data-intensive tasks, you will want to consider a higher speed plan.
Learn more: How to set up your internet and WiFi in a new apartment

Larger homes typically house more people, each with individual devices. A home may also have connected smart devices.

A 50 Mbps internet connection can provide connection to a household, but overlapping online activities, such as gaming, streaming, or video conferencing, may cause bandwidth issues.

Additionally, smart devices, heavy-bandwidth activities or other unanticipated users—such as visitors or guests—may strain your internet speeds. If so, you may want to consider higher speeds like 600 Mbps or 1500 Mbps.

Internet speed is important for a homeowner, but so are reliability and coverage. If you’re worried about dead zones or an unreliable connection, consider introducing a mesh WiFi router into your home.

Mesh WiFi expands home WiFi coverage, reduces signal interference and optimizes the performance of your wireless devices. Moreover, mesh WiFi routers are flexible, modular and moveable. If you want more coverage throughout your home, it’s as simple as placing a new device where you want a connection.

Learn more: How to set up your internet in a new home

A 100 Mbps broadband connection is a traditional fiber or cable-wired connection that offers comprehensive coverage and reliability.

Wired connections like fiber provide consistent performance because they are less vulnerable to signal interference than wireless connections.
 
The cost and value of 100 Mbps can vary depending on your ISP, but most services usually bundle internet, mobile plans and TV.
 
5G home internet is a wireless service that uses 5G technology. 5G signals are airwaves, which introduce latency. As such, data transmission rates are slower than wired connections.

Latency affects all internet activities, like online gaming, streaming and video calling.

5G is also affected by factors such as:

• Long distances between devices and 5G cell towers.
• Physical obstacles between devices and cell towers.
• User congestion.
• Unfavorable weather events.
• Limitations in rural areas.

 
In addition, while wired connection infrastructure exists throughout most of the country, 5G service zones are generally limited to areas where the infrastructure has been built—mainly urban cities.

50 Mbps is ideal for households with less than two individuals simultaneously accessing the internet. It’s great for one user and one device, as long as that user isn’t using excessive bandwidth.

With a 50 Mbps internet connection, you’ll be able to:

• Browse the internet.
• Stream videos.
• Play some video games online.
• Participate in online learning.
• Work from home.
• Upload content to social media.

When should you consider upgrading to a faster internet speed? It may be time to upgrade to a faster internet speed if you experience any of these issues:

• Network congestion.
• An increase in users in your household.
• An increase in devices in your home.
• Frequent buffering.
• Long loading times.
• Latency or lag while gaming online.
• Slow upload or download speeds.
• Video connectivity issues when streaming.
• Poor video or audio call quality.

 
Before deciding to upgrade, evaluate your internet requirements. It might be a good idea to do regular speed tests to determine whether the current provider delivers their advertised speeds, as well as check your minimum download speed and minimum upload speed.
 
Also, try optimizing your WiFi to access the highest speeds available. By optimizing your WiFi, you’ll improve your network’s performance, minimize channel interference and rebalance your device load.

To determine your internet speed connection needs, ask yourself the following questions to understand your usage patterns:

• How many people in my household will use the internet simultaneously? Consider how many people will be using the internet. Each user adds to the demand for bandwidth.
• What are the online access needs for my household? Identify the primary online activities people in your home typically perform, such as streaming, gaming, video conferencing, browsing and uploading photos and videos to social media.
• Which devices will be connected? Determine the number and types of devices like smartphones, laptops, smart TVs and gaming consoles that will be in use.
• Will anyone be working remotely or learning online? If anyone in your household works from home or takes classes online, consider the bandwidth required for video conferencing, file sharing and any other work-related tasks.
• Will anyone stream HD or 4K videos? If you frequently stream high-quality videos, a faster internet connection is essential to ensure smooth playback without buffering.
• Is gaming a priority for anyone? Gamers may require faster speeds for better gaming performance, with more immediate download and upload speeds and reduced latency.
• Does the house have smart home devices? IoT devices, like smart thermostats or security systems, will impact your accessible bandwidth.
• Are large files frequently downloaded or uploaded? Consider the need for faster download and upload speeds if you work with large files or use cloud services.
• Am I satisfied with my current internet speeds? Identify any pain points or limitations you may have.
• What are my future internet needs? Do you anticipate potential changes in your internet use? Will you be adding more devices or engaging in more data-intensive activities?
• What internet plans are available to me now? Check with local internet service providers to see what plans and speeds are available at your location.

Balance performance, cost and usage to choose the best plan for your household.

You’ll need the following equipment to fully utilize the high-speed capabilities of a 50 Mbps connection:

• Fiber or DOCSIS compatible modem: A fiber or DOCSIS modem is required to convert optical signals from a fiber/COAX line into electrical signals so your router and devices can understand each other. Astound’s installation process includes a modem. But you can bring your own modem if it meets our compatibility requirements.
• A router: A high-quality router supporting high-speed connections is necessary to distribute the internet signal to your wired and wireless devices. Look for a router supporting Ethernet ports and modern WiFi standards like 802.11ac or 802.11ax (WiFi 6).

50 Mbps internet is available for eligible households starting at $9.95/mo and includes equipment, no credit check and no cancellation fee. See if you qualify.

Generally, 50 Mbps provides bandwidth to support two users engaging in non-simultaneous activities such as streaming, online gaming or video conferencing.

For individuals with high internet usage, such as extensive online gamers or households with many people and multiple devices, higher speeds, like 600 Mbps, are recommended.