ISPs, or Internet service providers, are what connect you to the world wide web (WWW). These businesses utilize a global network of fiber optic cables to allow you to access the Internet, have your own IP address, and access content from all throughout the world, from funny cat videos on YouTube to political commentary on a selection of news websites, mainstream or otherwise.
All content on the Internet requires an Internet connection to view – whether through a router’s wireless connection (WiFi) or the direct Internet connection you get through a LAN cable – and your ISP controls your download speed, upload speed, bandwidth, and the amount of content you can view in a day before significantly losing out on these parameters.
When choosing from an array of cable broadband internet packages from providers like Safelink Internet, for example, it’s important to understand what all these things mean.
What is Download and Upload Speed?
Whenever you access or stream content online, you need to download the data in order to view it – either temporarily through streaming, or entirely, as when you save a video or audio file from the Internet. Your download speed determines the top speed at which data can be downloaded onto your computer per second. Take a plan of about 6 mbps – this translates to a top speed of six megabits per second.
Similarly, upload speeds determine how quickly you get to upload files and your own data to the Internet.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth relates to how much data can be downloaded/uploaded at a time, as per TechTarget. This is different from speed, which relates to how quickly data can be transferred. You may have a speed of 10 mbps, but a bandwidth of 5 mbps.
Now that you know what you need to know, it’s up to you to determine where your priorities lie when getting an ISP for your home. Price? Reputation? Speed? Bandwidth? Their promotions and cost savings? Every household has its own needs – only you will know how to meet them. To see their business reviews visit Yelp page.