Choosing a Plan.
Many Internet Providers Build Packages To A Budget. While a plan may include Unlimited Data the speed (bandwidth) may be sacrificed. Bandwidth is kind of like the road, the more lanes or Upload/Download there are the faster the internet is, but how do you know what you need?
​
Choosing the best plan means understanding how you use your internet.
different activities use data differently, the mixture of your activities will help determine the best connection for you.
​
a breakdown of uses:
​
-
Video conferencing: Video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Skype require a good internet connection to work properly. For a high-quality video conference, you'll need at least 5 Mbps (megabits per second) upload and download speed. However, if there are multiple participants or if you want to share your screen, you may need more bandwidth.
-
Email and web browsing: Email and web browsing don't require a lot of bandwidth. Typically, 1-2 Mbps is enough for these tasks.
-
File sharing and cloud storage: If you regularly share large files or use cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive, you'll need a decent upload speed. Uploading large files can take up a lot of bandwidth, so you'll want to make sure you have at least 5 Mbps upload speed.
-
Online gaming: Online gaming can be very bandwidth-intensive, especially if you're playing fast-paced games with high-quality graphics. For a smooth gaming experience, you'll need at least 3-5 Mbps upload and download speed. Gaming is also very sensitive to network latency or Ping, commonly referred to as Lag.
-
Streaming video: Streaming video services like Netflix or YouTube require a lot of bandwidth. For standard definition (SD) video, you'll need at least 3 Mbps, while high-definition (HD) video requires at least 5 Mbps. If you want to stream 4K video, you'll need a much faster connection, ideally 25 Mbps or more.
-
VoIP calls: If you use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services like Skype or Google Voice for phone calls, you'll need a decent internet connection. For a good quality call, you'll need at least 0.1 Mbps upload and download speed.
​
​
All connections may form part of a larger group (pool) whose total usage may be restricted. There are premium and standard pools which is kind of like a Freeway on peak hour (Telstra) vs a Freeway off-peak hour (Vonex).
​
Please note that these bandwidth requirements are approximate and can vary depending on the specific Hardware, application, the number of users, and the quality of service you require. It's always a good idea to check with your internet service provider (ISP) to ensure you have enough bandwidth for your specific needs.