How to test internet latency (and why it’s important)

In a world of video calls, high quality video/music streaming, and other bandwidth-hungry online activities, a fast and reliable internet connection is crucial. Thanks to our powerful fiber internet, Ting is known for supporting your household’s most demanding needs on multiple devices simultaneously. Naturally, our gigabit speeds are a big part of this ability. However, there’s another reason why our internet is superior— and that’s its low latency. The great news is you don’t have to take an internet providers word for it. You can actually test internet latency yourself.

Huh? What is latency?

Glad you asked! Internet latency refers to the time it takes for data to be transferred from its source to its destination. That means that low latency (less time) is preferable. It’s crucial for activities that depend on real-time responses, such as online gaming, video conferencing, and live streaming. With Ting’s fiber internet, customers experience significantly lower latency compared to traditional broadband and even other fiber services, enhancing the performance and usability of your connection.

Why should I test latency? Isn’t it just an “it is what it is” situation?

Not at all. Testing internet latency helps you understand how your internet connection performs under different conditions. For example, testing your internet’s speed and latency at different types of day could help diagnose how your connection deals with network traffic. Cable connections can suffer from poor performance when more people are online in your home or neighborhood. Testing at busy times could confirm this.

Also, you could find yourself with a connection that has decent speed performance but its latency specifically is poor or fluctuates often. This saves you from dealing with repeated “well you’re getting the speed we promised!” replies in the face of poor performance—and lets you know you may want to switch to a more reliable connection.

Importantly, in certain situations there are simple things you can do at home to reduce latency. We’ll talk more about that below!

Makes sense. But how do I test my latency?

Ting provides an incredibly easy-to-use online speed test that also tests internet latency. Just head over to the Ting Internet speedtest page and hit the “Go” button—in seconds you’ll have an accurate report of your internet’s performance. You’ll easily be able to see:

Ping: This is your latency measurement in milliseconds (ms). Specifically, it measures how long it takes for a data packet to go from your device to the server and back. 

Jitter: This measures the variation in ping, also in milliseconds.

Download and upload speeds: You know this one. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

What are the best ways to reduce latency?

Here are a few tricks to get latency as low as possible:

• Optimize router placement: Ensure the router is centrally located and away from obstructions and sources of electrical interference. Try to get your device as close to the router as possible.
• Use a wired connection: Using Ethernet cables rather than Wi-Fi can significantly reduce latency. This type of connection is the go-to for activities that require near real-time data transfer like advanced gaming.
• Limit background applications: Close all unnecessary applications. Even if you’re not actively using them, they can increase latency times.
• Restart your router: There’s no getting around it—sometimes a good old reboot is just what the doctor ordered. 

Ting is lightning-fast, low latency internet

The best way to be assured of everyday great internet performance is, of course, choosing a great internet connection. Ting offers download and upload speeds of a gigabit or more, alongside the reliability of fiber internet. Our 100% fiber connection doesn’t suffer from potential slowdowns or reliability issues of other fiber providers that use copper wiring to connect to the home. And, now that you know its importance, you’ll be glad to hear that you can count on low latency numbers as well. 

Ready for an upgrade to next generation internet? Check your address today and see if Ting is available in your neighborhood!