To fully understand what we’re paying for and getting from our internet service providers (ISP), we need to understand terms like speed, latency and jitter. These terms also come up in your speed test and with their confusing face value, people often overlook them, often to their ISP’s benefit.
Here’s a crash course in some of the most commonly misunderstood internet terms:
Download speed: How fast you can receive data from the internet.
Upload speed: How fast you can send data to the internet.
Latency: The time delay between sending a request and getting a response.
Ping: Measures the round-trip time for data to travel between your device and a server.
Jitter: The variation in latency.
Internet speed is measured in Mbps (Megabits per second) or Gbps (Gigabits per second). Higher numbers mean faster performance.
When we look for internet providers, download speeds overshadow almost every metric. That’s not to say it’s unearned—download speeds enable streaming, receiving communications, loading web pages and more. From a wider lens, it's how fast you can receive data to your device.
But download speeds aren’t everything. A common ISP trick is to highlight their impressive download speeds. The trick here is you end up ignoring their upload speeds, which are just as important but commonly overlooked. Cable internet providers love to flash their 25 Mbps download speed, while only offering 3 Mbps in upload speeds (the bare minimum required by the FCC to qualify as "high-speed" broadband).
But hey, you’re not doomed to slow uploads. Alternatives like Ting’s fiber optic internet offers up to 2000 Mbps download and upload speeds, that don’t get throttled.
The way I think about it is when you consume internet content, it’s typically using download speeds, whereas when you contribute it’s typically upload. For example, posting to social media or sharing your video in a call requires upload speed.
With strong upload speeds, your online experience can dramatically improve. Whether you want to stream HD buffer-free, crystal-clear video calls or game lag-free; better upload speeds are likely your fix.
How much speed do you really need? It depends on what you want to do with it. Not every internet user needs the same speeds. Here’s anoverview of regular internet users and the speeds they need to operate headache-free.
If you work remotely, you probably are familiar with the frustration of lagging and frozen video calls. Upload speeds are essential to prevent this.
Here’s why: every time you’re on a video call, your internet connection is constantly sending data (your voice and video) out to others while simultaneously receiving data (your coworkers’ voices and videos) in. If your upload speed is sluggish, that data bottlenecks, causing glitches, frozen screens and a whole lot of “Can you hear me now?” moments.
Streaming requires a steady download speed to deliver the high-quality video you expect. While non-HD streaming might scrape by with 3 Mbps, stepping up to HD content requires at least 10 Mbps, and 4K Ultra HD demands a hefty 30 Mbps. If your connection can’t maintain these speeds, you’re left with buffering, reduced quality or, worse… being forced to watch in standard definition.
Online gaming doesn’t demand massive sustained download or upload speeds. Most games can run smoothly with a steady connection of 3-6 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. However, gaming performance hinges on two key metrics: ping and jitter.
Take our internet speed test and find out if your connection can keep up.
Jitter is the inconsistency in latency—basically, how unevenly your data packets arrive at their destination. While it might sound harmless, jitter can wreak havoc on your experience. Think: stuttering in gaming, choppy audio during that critical video call or annoying delays that make even simple tasks feel like pulling teeth.
Here are some quick fixes to keep your connection steady:
Ping measures how quickly a signal travels from your device to a server and back—essentially, it’s the internet’s reaction time. Measured in milliseconds (ms), a low ping means faster response times and smoother online experiences. A high ping? That’s when things start to lag, leaving gamers frustrated, streamers buffering and remote workers awkwardly frozen on video calls.
Why Ping matters
How to improve your Ping
Here are some quick tips to lower your ping and stay in sync:
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Think of it as your internet’s reflexes—the lower the latency, the quicker and smoother your experience. High latency? That’s when things get laggy and frustrating.
Gaming: Quick reflexes and low latency go hand in hand. For a seamless experience, aim for under 50ms—any higher and you might lose before you even see your opponent.
Video calls: Ever experienced that awkward pause where everyone’s unsure who’s supposed to talk? High latency is often to blame, turning simple conversations into frustrating delays.
Streaming: While speed gets all the attention, high latency can sneak in and cause buffering or out-of-sync audio during your favorite shows.
Here are a few pro tips to keep your connection responsive:
Whether you’re gaming for glory, streaming your favorite shows or tackling remote work, understanding latency, jitter and speed gives you the power to optimize your internet experience. A strong, consistent connection isn’t just a convenience—it’s a game-changer for how we live, work and play online.
The internet shouldn’t feel like a puzzle. With Ting, you can enjoy smooth gaming, crystal-clear video calls and streaming without interruptions. Looking to fine-tune your setup? Bring your own router or try Ting Whole Home Wi-Fi for a seamless experience.
Visit ting.com and check your address to see if we’re available in your area.