Do I need 800 Mbps internet? (and what is it good for?)

An 800 Mbps connection can sufficiently support bandwidth-intensive activities and multiple devices, including smart home appliances.

How many users can 800 Mbps support? An 800 Mbps connection can handle simultaneous video and live streaming, competitive online gaming, remote work and large data file transfers for up to ten users in a household with minimal disruptions.

Let’s look at the following use cases and how 800 Mbps can handle them.

Online gaming demands high data transfer, low latency and stable internet speeds to deliver high-quality graphics with clear sound and real-time responsiveness. For a decent gaming experience, a gamer needs at least 25 to 100 Mbps download and 5 to 20 Mbps upload speeds. A good Mbps upload capacity ensures your actions, like button presses and character movements, transmit to the game server in real time to reduce input lag and keep gameplay responsive.

With an 800 Mbps speed internet plan, households with multiple gamers can enjoy minimal lag during gameplay, while still maintaining a stable internet access for others who are streaming or engaged in remote work at the same time.

With an 800 Mbps connection, you’ll be able to:

• Play and host gaming sessions on multiple devices.
• Download large game data files, updates and patches quickly from a game server.
• Stream 4K quality gameplay on Twitch or YouTube minimal lag.
• Access cloud gaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
• Engage in augmented reality and virtual reality gaming experiences.

If you’re looking for the best internet for online gaming, fiber and cable internet plans deliver the fastest internet speeds, ample bandwidth and low latency that a gamer needs. To maximize your gaming internet speeds, connect your console, gaming laptop or PC directly to the router with an Ethernet cable.

In addition, pairing a gaming router and modem offers the best WiFi for gamers with quality of service (QoS) settings that prioritize gaming traffic to reduce latency, limit packet loss and ensure a consistently smooth experience.

An 800 Mbps broadband connection provides sufficient internet speeds for streaming. Platforms like Hulu recommend at least 16 Mbps download for streaming in 4K resolution, which means 800 Mbps can support multiple streams at once with minimal compromise on the connection’s quality of service.

An 800 Mbps broadband connection enables you to:

• • Stream 4K and even 8K video on multiple devices at the same time.
  • Live stream ultra-high-definition content for online audiences.
  • Enjoy virtual reality and augmented reality video streams consistently.
  • Upload or share high-definition content quickly on social media.
  • Broadcast gameplay in HD or 4K to platforms like YouTube or Twitch.

Streaming is one of the most bandwidth-intensive online activities, especially in households where multiple devices are online at once. If your household’s internet access is being used for multiple simultaneous streams, upgrading to a 1 Gig fiber internet plan may give your wireless network more download and upload speeds and adequate bandwidth to reduce the risk of network congestion.

An 800 Mbps broadband connection provides adequate speeds to facilitate the demands of working from home efficiently. Most work-from-home activities include video conferencing and large data transfers, as well as access to cloud services, which depend on consistent internet access with fast download and upload speeds. For example, Zoom requires at least 3.8 Mbps for HD calls, meaning 800 Mbps provides more than enough bandwidth for multiple users working simultaneously with minimal network congestion.

With 800 Mbps you can:

• • Download and upload large data files quickly.
  • Access cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox with minimal latency.
  • Join high-quality video conferences with minimal buffering or delays.
  • Collaborate in real time on team project platforms like Slack, Asana or Microsoft Teams.

If you are concerned about your remote work tasks straining your bandwidth capacity, consider upgrading to higher speed plans, such as Astound’s 1.5 Gbps speed plan. You can also consult your internet provider to help you discover a plan that perfectly fits your needs.

Whether an 800 Mbps internet speed connection is worth it depends on your household’s specific needs, the number of connected devices and how you use your home internet. This internet speed plan delivers enough bandwidth and quality of service for households that demand faster internet access with minimal interruptions.

An 800 Mbps broadband connection can be worth it if your household:

• Browses the web on multiple devices
• Streams content in 4K resolution on several devices
• Plays online video games and VR/AR titles
• Hosts multiplayer gaming sessions or esports competitions across multiple devices
• Uploads and live streams high-definition content to online audiences
• Quickly downloads and uploads large data files
• Attends live classes or remote work video conferences with minimal lag and buffering
• Connects smart and IoT devices

Before you switch to a faster internet plan, assess your household’s internet needs to determine whether it is time to upgrade. You may want to upgrade to faster internet speeds like Astound’s Gigabit fiber internet plans when you experience some of these issues:

• Network congestion during peak hours
• An increase in users and devices slowing your internet speeds
• Higher latency and lag when gaming online
• Constant buffering when streaming videos in 4K resolution
• Difficult communication and integration between your home network and IoT devices
• Longer upload and download times for large data files

Perform regular speed tests to evaluate whether your current speeds match the speeds advertised in your internet plan. To improve your WiFi performance, implement WiFi optimization practices such as placing the router centrally or using Ethernet connections. These tips help improve coverage, lower latency and ensure you have a consistent connection.

Can all routers and modems support 800 Mbps? Not all devices are built to take full advantage of a high speed 800 Mbps broadband connection. Older devices with outdated software and hardware components may struggle to reach those Mbps speeds.

For your devices to handle such speeds, ensure your router’s firmware and device software are updated to support the latest WiFi standards. Upgrading to WiFi 6 or WiFi 7 wireless routers can improve your home network’s device capacity, reduce latency and provide wider coverage throughout your home.