{"id":484148,"date":"2022-08-13T16:00:32","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T13:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-08-13T16:00:32","modified_gmt":"2022-08-13T13:00:32","slug":"do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#Do You Actually Need Gigabit Internet? \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a300e25eac62\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a300e25eac62\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/#%E2%80%9CDo_You_Actually_Need_Gigabit_Internet_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Do You Actually Need Gigabit Internet? \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/#Just_How_Fast_Is_Gigabit_Internet\" >Just How Fast Is Gigabit Internet?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/#Why_Might_You_Need_It\" >Why Might You Need It?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/#What_are_the_Downsides\" >What are the Downsides?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/#Not_all_Gigabit_Internet_is_Created_Equally\" >Not all Gigabit Internet is Created Equally<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet-review-geek\/#Should_You_Make_the_Upgrade\" >Should You Make the Upgrade?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CDo_You_Actually_Need_Gigabit_Internet_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Do You Actually Need Gigabit Internet? \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-125154 size-full\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/d7925a43.jpg?width=1200\" alt=\"A laptop in front of fast speed streaks CGI\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/network-cable-closeup-fiber-optical-background-1077696617\" data-credittext=\"asharkyu\/Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/network-cable-closeup-fiber-optical-background-1077696617\">asharkyu\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We\u2019ve come a long way since the days of dial-up. Now you can connect to the internet at speeds that make regular high-speed fiber broadband look sluggish. Gigabit services are available in most areas, and the average cost is under $100. But does anyone actually need a gigabit connection?<\/p>\n<p>But what do those speeds actually mean? And will it make a noticeable difference to your online experience? Here we\u2019ll take an in-depth look at what ultra-fast internet will offer you, if you need it, and if it\u2019s even available. There are also some downsides to consider, and there\u2019s also a chance the speeds you were promised aren\u2019t even the speeds you\u2019re actually going to get.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Just_How_Fast_Is_Gigabit_Internet\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_0\">Just How Fast Is Gigabit Internet?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you want to be pedantic, the name suggests speeds of one gigabyte per second. To put that in relatable terms, you can download an average HD movie in under a minute at those speeds, and something far larger, like a Blu-Ray or 4K movie, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.frontier.com%2F2021%2F04%2Fwhy-gigabit-internet-matters-for-streaming-movies-and-tv-shows%2F&amp;cuid=xid:{xid}&amp;___trxnet=vg\">can be downloaded in under five minutes.<\/a>\u00a0The connection speed advertised usually refers to the download speed \u2014 the speed at which your modem receives information. Upload speeds, or the speed at which your modem can send data out, can be significantly lower. As most people download far more than they upload, this may not be an issue, but it is something to consider when using a plan.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of streaming, gigabit is also overkill. Standard definition streams only require a connection speed of 4 MB\/s or so, while HD streams require eight, and UHD streams can require up to 25 MB\/s. All of this can be achieved comfortably with a fiber connection, provided more people aren\u2019t attempting to stream UHD movies than your bandwidth allows.<\/p>\n<p>The average internet speed in the US <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allconnect.com\/blog\/us-internet-speeds-globally\">is around 204 MB\/s<\/a>, and a gigabit connection offers around five times that. So a gigabit connection could also be pretty future-proof if you want to take advantage of new internet services as they emerge.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Might_You_Need_It\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_1\">Why Might You Need It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-125155 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/78a98b6b.jpg\" alt=\"A gaming computer running a game\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/professional-headphones-microphone-video-games-cyber-1801015117\" data-credittext=\"Parilov\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/professional-headphones-microphone-video-games-cyber-1801015117\">Parilov\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The main reason people choose something like gigabit over standard high-speed fiber is the increased bandwidth. Your 100 MB\/s connection is likely going to be fast enough if you live alone and only use it with your laptop and cellphone. The more household members and devices you add, the smaller slice of the bandwidth pie everyone will get.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in a four-person household, and each member of that household is streaming or playing online games every evening, you\u2019re probably going to need a better internet package to cope with the increased usage. Smart home users might also feel the sting, as all of those smart devices connect to the Wi-Fi network. Some, like Google Home or Alexa, may also need to use a bit of your internet bandwidth. Even smaller households can require a lot of bandwidth. I live in a small apartment with my wife, but we have two laptops, a desktop, a projector, multiple cellphones, smart bulbs, plugs, three Alexas, a television, a few tablets, plus whatever gadgets I\u2019m testing for work draining our Wi-Fi like a pack of electric vampires.<\/p>\n<p>Remote work and remote schooling have also increased the necessity for fast and reliable internet. Multiple people engaging in video calls, accessing office computers remotely, and downloading and uploading files can put a lot of strain on a network. While your home internet may have been fine for recreational use, you may find it isn\u2019t suited to remote work \u2014 especially when the whole family needs to be online. Video calls and conferences can put a particular strain on your network because of the amount of download and upload bandwidth they require.<\/p>\n<p>This is also where upload speeds could be an issue. If you do nothing but browse, you only need to upload a tiny amount of data, so your speeds won\u2019t matter too much. However, if you need to send large files like videos and images regularly, a slow upload speed could mean hours of your time are wasted.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Downsides\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">What are the Downsides?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Significantly faster internet is a pretty big upside, so surely there\u2019s a catch, right? The two clearest downsides are access and price. Times are tough, everything is expensive, and it makes sense to scrutinize every bill before deciding if it\u2019s worth it for you.<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.org\/internet-service\/how-much-do-internet-and-wi-fi-cost\/#:~:text=If%20you're%20feeling%20the,it%20was%20in%20December%202020.\">average cost of gigabit internet is $73 a month<\/a>, or around $17 a month more than standard high-speed internet. But as anyone who has encountered a cable company with a monopoly on an area knows, average costs can be a distant dream when it comes to internet service. What is $73 a month in Brooklyn could be three times as much in upstate New York. Then there are equipment and installation costs to consider. You may get lucky and have gigabit available right off the bat, or you could be shelling out over a hundred dollars before the contract even starts and then see a \u201cmodem rental\u201d fee or something similar ramp that reasonable monthly bill up to the point where it becomes uncomfortable. The plethora of cable deals in the US are too numerous and area specific to list here, but you should definitely make some inquiries and do some math before switching to gigabit.<\/p>\n<p>Your home might not be ready for gigabit internet either. If your home network isn\u2019t capable of handling it, it\u2019s going to bottleneck your connection, and most of that extra speed you\u2019re paying for will be wasted.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a chance you don\u2019t live in an area where gigabit speeds are offered, though this is unlikely. According to the FCC, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncta.com\/industry-data\/88-of-us-homes-have-access-gigabit-internet-speeds#:~:text=88%25%2B%20Of%20U.S.%20homes,NCTA%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Internet%20%26%20Television%20Association\">88% of the United States<\/a> inhabits an area where gigabit internet is available. However, things are a little bit more complicated than that. The gigabit-ready area which you currently inhabit might not be the ideal internet location you think it is. Even if your zip code has gigabit on paper, there\u2019s no guarantee it will be available on your street or in your building. And if you do have access, the speeds advertised may not actually be what you get.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_all_Gigabit_Internet_is_Created_Equally\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_3\">Not all Gigabit Internet is Created Equally<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-125156 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/3e68025e.jpg\" alt=\"An iPad failing to load a video\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/loading-icon-rolling-on-video-online-728322229\" data-credittext=\"Tero Vesalainen\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/loading-icon-rolling-on-video-online-728322229\">Tero Vesalainen\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This is where you really have to read the fine print. Like those advertisements for online jobs that promise to pay up to $1000\u00a0 a day, the words \u201cup to\u201d are doing a lot of work. Some providers offer \u201cgigabit\u201d services that essentially mean 1 GB\/s is the fastest your internet will go. Average speeds could be much lower.<\/p>\n<p>Not all providers are like this, but given the costs involved, it is worth being vigilant. If you decide to go for gigabit internet, read the contract, make sure the provider is clear about any trial or cancelation periods, and monitor your service during that period to make sure you\u2019re getting the speeds you\u2019re paying for.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Make_the_Upgrade\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_4\">Should You Make the Upgrade?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/internet-cable-close-on-background-wifi-2043952697<\/p>\n<p>Confession time. Despite the range of devices in my house and my job being reliant on an internet connection, I just have regular high-speed broadband. It serves my needs, and I\u2019d rather spend the money I save on other trivial nonsense instead of giving it to Spectrum for extra bandwidth I\u2019m probably not going to use.<\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019m not you. You have to look at your own budget and circumstances before making a decision. If you live in a crowded household and arguments are regularly breaking out because of bandwidth usage, it\u2019s more than likely worth it. If you\u2019re content with your current connection but you\u2019re offered a great deal, it may be worth considering. However, if you\u2019re living alone and only have a few devices online, you may just be throwing money away if you opt for a faster connection than you actually need.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also the question of equipment. Sometimes, a router upgrade or a second look at how your home network is planned out can do more for your online experience than anything else.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script>\nsetTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('init', '1137093656460433');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/124397\/do-you-actually-need-gigabit-internet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Do You Actually Need Gigabit Internet? \u2013 Review Geek&#8221; asharkyu\/Shutterstock.com We\u2019ve come a long way since the days of dial-up. Now you can connect to the internet at speeds that make regular high-speed fiber broadband look sluggish. Gigabit services are available in most areas, and the average cost is under $100. But does anyone actually&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":484149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/d7925a43.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-484148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=484148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484148\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/484149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=484148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=484148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=484148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}