Your 30 Mbps should be good enough for playing games on all the popular cloud gaming services in 720p. Different Connection Types Deliver Different Speeds and Different Overall Performance. Lets start with those 30 Mbps. Before we start with our analysis of this speed, we need to give you some definitions and create a theoretical framework. Compared to other developed countries (both in Europe and Asia), the US has one of the, highest average internet prices in the world. Music streaming is not a demanding activity and doesnt eat up too much bandwidth. You may think that you cant stream Netflix videos on multiple devices at the same time with 30 Mbps, but the video below shows that you can stream in 4K on one device and have three additional 1080p streams on three additional devices. A: Yes, 30 Mbps is more than enough for Netflix. A: Yes, 30 Mbps is good enough for 4K content. HBO streaming services only offer their content in HD and require 5 Mbps. ISPs with the most consistent speeds are Xfinity, Spectrum, and Verizon. The other problem with 30 Mbps is download time. Read this article, and you will learn about all the online activities you can do with 30 Mbps. If you just want to see speed recommendations for different activities and find out what activities you can or cant do with 30 Mbps, you can skip the next few chapters. Its one of the highest when you consider the price of a broadband connection (25/3 Mbps) and when you consider the price per Mbps. In other words, it is the measure of latency or ping. One of the most bandwidth-demanding online activities is definitely movie streaming. Fixed wireless and satellite connections are often affected by weather conditions and deliver higher latency than all the previous connection types. This may surprise you, but its not speed its your internet connection bandwidth. With 30 Mbps, you can run 6 separate HBO streams in 1080p. On the web, you can find a lot of, criticism directed towards the FCCs decision to keep broadband benchmark speeds at this level. Speed Recommendations What Kind of Speed is Required/Recommended for Online Streaming, Gaming, Music Streaming, Conference Calls, etc. Jitter tells you how stable (or unstable) your latency is. Competition (or rather lack of it) plays a big role when it comes to internet prices. The development of fiber network, improved cable internet coverage, and a significant change in our lifestyles, had a huge effect on average speeds in the US (and all over the world). And the speeds are still going up. Even though we have so many people without access to broadband internet and millions are still using the internet at speeds lower than 25/3 Mbps, the average speeds are increasing every year. By those standards, 30 Mbps is Advanced Service.

Once again, you should have in mind that all the data that we are dealing with here is from before the pandemic. But if you want to use your internet connection for 4K streaming and 4K gaming, then you probably need a better plan (. Also, you probably cant have your child playing games on Stadia in 1080p and watch a Netflix movie in 4K in your living room at the same time. In everyday conversation, we all use the terms bandwidth and internet speed interchangeably when talking about internet connection capacity. It may not seem a lot to you, but thats actually more than 14 million citizens. In terms of internet connection, speed is the measurement of your connection responsiveness. While you may think that broadband speeds are too low and that everybody in the US already has access to broadband speeds, the situation is not so great. While bandwidth measures theoretical maximum capacity, throughput measures the actual capacity of your internet connection. . They just dont have content in SD. If theres just one ISP in your area, that ISP doesnt feel the market pressure to offer more competitive prices or better speeds. In fact, millions of people dont have access to broadband speeds. Q: Is 30 Mbps over satellite the same as 30 Mbps over fiber? The game is, in this case, rendered on a game server, and the video is then streamed to you. The quality of your connection will, again, depend on the quality of the infrastructure in your area. It may not seem a lot to you, but thats actually more than 14 million citizens. It also recommends different internet plans based on the number of connected devices and use scenarios. A: 30 Mbps is hardly enough for an average family, especially if youre all using the internet at once and if youre all doing some bandwidth-demanding activities. Both Mbps and MBps (or MB/s) measure data rate. One of the most popular speed test apps Ookla Speedtest, claims that the US has, fastest average internet speed in the world, The Median internet speed in the US, according to Ookla, is 131.16 Mbps (6, in the world). Why Rural Areas in the US Dont Have Access to Broadband Internet Access. I worked for several internet providers in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle over the past 21 years. I mean, NETFLIX is smart and will reduce your resolution if more bandwidth is needed for some other activity, but that means no more 4K streaming. This usually doesnt cause confusion because we also have terms like ping and latency. Why Does Mac Keep Disconnecting From Wi-Fi? In this case, your PCs render the game, and you only send your commands, location, and other personal info to the game server. Apparently, youre not supposed to talk or laugh while fishing it scares the fishes. ), How Many Google Nest Wi-Fi Points Do I Need? You can even do all these things at the same time. Yes, 30 Mbps is more than you need for Zoom. It requires just 16 Mbps 4K streaming. With such a huge number of devices, even if they are all doing some simple tasks that dont require a lot of bandwidth, you definitely need more than 25 Mbps. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a6c721fd5c2d17eb88440eef1746f50d" );document.getElementById("i00b10a782").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Jeremy Clifford and David Rigg are the guys behind RouterCtrl. shows that the number of connected devices in an average household was significantly increased during the pandemic it went up to 25. Cloud gaming is definitely more demanding than traditional gaming since you dont need to have the game installed on your PC. When we say low, we mean anything under 60ms (ideally under 30ms). (Recommendations for Different Home Sizes), How to Access My Router from the Internet? A growing number of experts and politicians advocate an increase in benchmark speeds. (Resolving Limited or No Wi-Fi Connection Issue). We are assuming that the situation has at least slightly improved over the past two or three years. With 30 Mbps, you can make online calls, listen to online radio, stream videos. This may seem irrelevant, but we think its crucial if you are trying to get a full understanding of internet speeds in general. A growing number of experts and politicians advocate an increase in benchmark speeds. Depending on the service you choose and on the quality of video youre looking for, you will need different speeds.

And not just subjectively, from our point of view. FCC doesnt just define benchmark speeds for broadband internet. There are so many areas where 30 Mbps is the max speed you can get. An average household has much more than that. For example, you cant all stream videos in 4K at the same time. Considering the average number of people per household and the average number of connected devices per household, you will ideally have at least 100 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. Yes, assuming that you have at least 1 or 2 Mbps upload, low latency, and low jitter, 30 Mbps is fast enough for online gaming. This may seem irrelevant, but we think its crucial if you are trying to get a full understanding of internet speeds in general. Downloading a large file may take a little bit longer, but not too long. Depending on the service, you will need 15-25 Mbps for 4K streaming. Yes, 30 Mbps is good enough for 4K content. Gaming doesnt just depend on your download and upload speeds. The majority of US citizens have access to broadband internet, but not everyone. Its one of the highest when you consider the price of a broadband connection (25/3 Mbps) and when you consider the price per Mbps. Is 30 Mbps Fast? It goes without saying that you will also need low latency and low jitter. shows that the number of people who use the internet at speeds lower than benchmark speeds for broadband internet, is much higher than 14 million (which is, according to the FCC, the number of people without broadband internet access). So, in case you have only one device in your home, 30 Mbps might be enough for you. In some areas, people cant get more than 10 Mbps.

The overall performance and reliability of cable connection depend on the quality of infrastructure. Latency over satellite internet is significantly higher than over other connections (it often goes over 600ms), which makes satellite internet absolutely unusable for online gaming and other activities that require low latency. Generally speaking, the cable connection is fairly stable, but still not on par with fiber. With 30 Mbps, you can make online calls, listen to online radio, stream videos. A week ago, weve crossed the line that separates non-broadband and broadband speeds with two articles about 25 Mbps (about 25 Mbps in general and about 25 Mbps for gaming). You can even do all these things at the same time. However, the biggest problem is that you cant do multiple bandwidth-demanding activities at once. Compared to those plans, your 30 Mbps plan is lightning fast. YouTube is the oldest and most popular streaming service in the US and in the world. In case youre stuck with 30 Mbps, whether because you cant get a better plan or because you cant afford it, here are some recommended speeds for different activities issued by streaming services. Hulu is another popular service, but not as demanding as Netflix. Otherwise, you wont have internet access. Also, you probably cant have your child playing games on Stadia in 1080p and watch a Netflix movie in 4K in your living room at the same time. Depending on the service, you will need 15-25 Mbps for 4K streaming. 30 Mbps is perfect. Does Having Two Routers Slow Down the Internet? Compared to other developed countries (both in Europe and Asia), the US has one of the highest average internet prices in the world. If you are using your internet connection just to check your mail, visit social networks, and use services like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, etc. You can easily have conference calls in 1080p, and therell be lots of bandwidth left for other activities. In laymans terms, bandwidth is the max capacity of the internet connection it measures the max amount of data that your connection can handle, in theory, per unit of time (in this case, per second). All the internet speeds that were going to discuss in the future are broadband speeds. , we went from 18.7 Mbps in 2017 to almost 100 Mbps (99.3 Mbps) in 2021. Now you know what throughput and bandwidth are, but you have probably noticed that we havent mentioned internet speed at all. Deloitte survey from 2021 shows that the number of connected devices in an average household was significantly increased during the pandemic it went up to 25. As explained in this article, with 30 Mbps, you can have one 4K stream and three simultaneous 1080p streams.

The good thing is that the average speeds in every US state, individually, are higher than 25 Mbps. Our mission is simple we want to help regular internet users with every network and network equipment issue they may have. As explained in this article, with 30 Mbps, you can have one 4K stream and three simultaneous 1080p streams. It deals with all kinds of aspects of our online experience. Before we start with our analysis of this speed, we need to give you some definitions and create a theoretical framework. According to highspeedinternet.com, we went from 18.7 Mbps in 2017 to almost 100 Mbps (99.3 Mbps) in 2021. In fact, that ISP can offer whatever price it finds suitable. With 30 Mbps, you can do basically any everyday activity, including 4K streaming and online gaming (both traditional and cloud gaming in 720/1080p). For example, if you are already watching a 4K movie on your PC, you shouldnt be downloading some large file at the same time. This service offers video content in various resolutions (from 144p to 4K and even 8K). It deals with all kinds of aspects of our online experience. Among other things, FCC, gives some general guidelines when it comes to minimum speeds needed for different activities, recommends different internet plans based on the number of connected devices and use scenarios. in the US. The situation has probably improved over the course of 2 years, especially considering the fact that demand for high internet speeds has increased significantly. So, youre not receiving any video, and thats the reason why you need such low speeds for gaming. If you are currently using Zoom or Skype, its probably smarter not to do anything else, just to be safe. Based on the Netflix-recommended speeds, 30 Mbps is good enough for two simultaneous streams one in 4K and one in 1080p (or six streams in 1080p). The leaves us more than 4% of people without broadband access. In real life, you can do even more. People living in rural areas of the US pay the highest price per Mbps. If you are using your internet connection just to check your mail, visit social networks, and use services like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, etc. The only problem you may experience with 30 Mbps are long download times. You can only get HD (1080p) and 4K. Theoretically, it should work in 1080p, too. We all say that the connection is faster if the number of Mbps is higher. While data from the FCC report seem optimistic, and while it looks like were almost there, one Google report from 2019 shows that the number of people who use the internet at speeds lower than benchmark speeds for broadband internet, is much higher than 14 million (which is, according to the FCC, the number of people without broadband internet access). While data from the FCC report seem optimistic, and while it looks like were almost there, one. A: Yes, 30 Mbps is more than you need for Zoom. ISPs with the most consistent speeds are. We will discuss all everyday online activities, including movie/music streaming, live streaming, and online gaming. Read the next few chapters to learn the difference between speed and bandwidth and get all the info about internet coverage, prices, and average speeds in the US.

To make some profit, they have to raise the price of the internet.

This standard was introduced 6 years ago and, even though we all know that things have changed a lot, the standard hasnt changed yet. It also depends on other aspects of your internet connection (latency and jitter). For example, you cant all stream videos in 4K at the same time. The most demanding platforms for Hi-Res audio streaming are TIDAL, Amazon Music, and Apple Music, but even if youre a hard-core audiophile, 30 Mbps is up to the task. Throughput is the measure of capacity, just like bandwidth, and is always related to bandwidth. It is objectively expensive. The average download speed went from 4.7 Mbps in 2011 to 18.75 Mbps in 2017. Plans that include download speeds of up to. ), Chromecast Not Compatible with Wi-Fi (Troubleshooting Chromecast Wi-Fi Connection), Why is Xfinity So Expensive? And much more people are not using internet at broadband speeds they may have access to broadband internet but are subscribed to speeds lower than 25/3. According to the FCC definition, broadband internet connection is any connection that can deliver at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. In the end, well try to give a verdict and tell you how fast 30 Mbps actually is. In some areas, they have to pay the same amount of money for 10 Mbps as someone in a big city pays for 100 Mbps. We are aware that so many people still cant have 25 Mbps, but calling anything higher than 25 Mbps Advanced Service doesnt seem right. But we can also agree that our internet is really expensive. It requires more bandwidth than other activities, especially 4K streaming, and consumes a lot of data, which is something you must think about if your plan comes with a data cap. 30 Mbps is the first such speed. Is it speed? So, cloud gaming is like a combination of traditional gaming and video streaming. The other problem is that FCC assumes that we only have up to 4 devices simultaneously connected to the network. So, three simultaneous streams at the same time. (How to See Who Is Connected to Your Wi-Fi on Mac? Compared to any other type of internet connection, satellite internet is much less responsive, less reliable, and the overall experience is worse. There are also other factors (like latency, jitter, and packet loss) that affect your experience. While you may think that broadband speeds are too low and that everybody in the US already has access to broadband speeds, the situation is not so great. Compared to any other type of internet connection, satellite internet is much less responsive, less reliable, and the overall experience is worse. For 1080p, you need 5 Mbps. We will list some official recommendations published by various institutions and streaming services, analyze some real-life situations, and try to figure out if 30 Mbps is a good download speed or not. The only problem is that its enough for just one device and for one process at a time. In rural America, 17.3% of people dont have access to broadband speeds (more than 11.2 million people). It has content in SD, HD, and 4K.

A: Yes, assuming that you have at least 1 or 2 Mbps upload, low latency, and low jitter, 30 Mbps is fast enough for online gaming. Based on the Netflix-recommended speeds, 30 Mbps is good enough for two simultaneous streams one in 4K and one in 1080p (or six streams in 1080p). Plans that include download speeds of up to 10 Mbps, 12 Mbps, or even 5 Mbps are not uncommon in rural America. I hold a bachelors degree in information systems, and Im a certified network specialist. So, to conclude, 30 Mbps is more than enough for any video streaming platform, even for 4K videos. Unlike in real life, a higher value means lower speed. The quality of your connection will, again, depend on the quality of the infrastructure in your area. Satellite internet has the highest latency. I want to liberate you from the fear that most users feel when they have to deal with modem and router settings. But you must remember that you dont have unlimited bandwidth. Broadband internet is not some generic term we use to describe any kind of internet connection or internet access. With such a huge number of devices, even if they are all doing some simple tasks that dont require a lot of bandwidth, you definitely need more than 25 Mbps. (Is There a Way to Negotiate a Lower Xfinity Bill? How to Connect Router to Modem Wirelessly? (A Step-By-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Device), How Long Do Routers Last? ), How to Fix Limited Wi-Fi? If you are currently using Zoom or Skype, its probably smarter not to do anything else, just to be safe. And much more people are not using internet at broadband speeds they may have access to broadband internet but are subscribed to speeds lower than 25/3. So, even though the recommended speeds are pretty high, Netflix doesnt consume that much data. (How to Access Home Router Remotely? Most plans that come with 30 Mbps download, come with at least 3 Mbps upload. The acceptable jitter level for gaming is 30ms. FCC doesnt say anything about upload, but you will need at least 1 Mbps upload. According to. It depends on your need and the way you use the internet. ), What Are the Most Common Router Problems? Q: Is 30 Mbps fast enough to work from home? The best way to prove this is to compare 30 Mbps over fiber and 30 Mbps over satellite. shows that an average household in the US had 10.4 connected devices. While often used interchangeably, these three terms are not just different names for the same thing. But if you want to use your internet connection for 4K streaming and 4K gaming, then you probably need a better plan (at least 50-100 Mbps). In the table below, you can find estimated download times for files of different types and sizes. 30 Mbps is hardly enough for an average family, especially if youre all using the internet at once and if youre all doing some bandwidth-demanding activities. While streaming music, you can also do a few other activities simultaneously, and you wont have any issues. A: No, it is not the same. 30 Mbps is perfect. Prime Video has even lower demands than Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. 30 Mbps is more than enough for any music streaming service and online radio you can think of. Rural areas with the lowest/highest average speeds in the US (source satelliteinternet.com). You can play some games with just 0.5 Mbps upload. All the other connection types (DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite) have much lower max speeds (or bandwidths). The first abbreviation stands for Megabits per second, while the second stands for Megabytes per second. With 30 Mbps, you can play any traditional online game. Cable is susceptible to traffic congestions and may deliver much lower speeds than those that youre paying for during peak hours. What Im good at is annoying David when we are fishing together. All these recommendations apply only to traditional gaming when you and all the other players have the game installed on your PCs. Megabyte is 8x greater than Megabit. In our reviews, you will find links that will redirect you to one of the Amazons websites. will not deliver the same kind of experience. I also enjoy fishing, although Im not good at it. And not just subjectively, from our point of view. Read the next few chapters to learn the difference between speed and bandwidth and get all the info about internet coverage, prices, and average. But that doesnt void the fact that you have rural areas with awful speeds and pathetic internet consistency. You can even try cloud gaming and it should work, at least in 720p. 4K streaming requires 25 Mbps but doesnt actually consume 25 Mbps. During my career in networking, Ive come across numerous modems, gateways, routers, and other networking hardware. Its not the most demanding on the market, but it can still consume a lot of bandwidth. The only thing that could possibly compete with 4K movie streaming is cloud gaming, but we will talk about that later. With 30 Mbps, you can easily stream YouTube videos in 4K, and you will have enough bandwidth for two additional streams in 1080p. Internet speeds (or bandwidth) are usually measured in Mbps (or kbps), while the actual transfer of data on our computers and phones is measured in MB/s (or kB/s). It is objectively expensive. And you will still have some bandwidth left for other activities or other connected devices. A: It depends on your need and the way you use the internet. List of Common Router Issues (with Fixes), How to Clean Your Router? Naturally, the coverage is better in cities. Ive installed network equipment, fixed it, designed and administrated networks, etc. Besides download/upload speeds and latency, you also need low jitter. Its not like other activities dont depend on these factors, but their effects are much more noticeable during gaming. If you ask ISPs, they will usually argue that rural areas require big infrastructure investments, bigger than cities and suburbs, while the number of people (potential customers) is much smaller than in cities. Downloading a large file may take a little bit longer, but not too long. The report shows that more than 150 million people dont have internet that can reach broadband speeds. Fixed wireless and satellite connections are often affected by weather conditions and deliver higher latency than all the previous connection types. The report shows that more than 150 million people dont have internet that can reach broadband speeds. My favorite free-time activities are gaming, movie-watching, and cooking. Yes, 30 Mbps is more than enough for Netflix. When you say that youre paying for a plan that includes 30 Mbps download, what is that? One of the most popular speed test apps Ookla Speedtest, claims that the US has the 13th fastest average internet speed in the world (200+ Mbps average download, 74 Mbps average upload). Whatever source you choose to believe, the increase in average (and median) download/upload speeds over the past few years is significant.

It doesnt seem much from todays perspective, even though that was just 4 years ago. Average speed increase in the US from 2011-2017 (Source Statista). You see, 30 Mbps, in todays era of Gigabit speeds, is not that much, and downloading large files may take some time.