It's important to choose the right internet speed for your needs, otherwise, you might be paying for more than you need! This guide is designed to help you choose the right speed for your household.

Many of us rely on our internet for a variety of tasks, spanning work, school, and entertainment. All of these tasks require the right internet speed, and a fast one at that. But how fast does your internet connection really need to be? It is important to know how much internet speed you need, based on what your household does online. This will ensure that you are not choosing a plan that delivers more speed than you need – why pay more than necessary?

The Basics of Internet Speed

Internet speed refers to how fast data travels to your device. For example, a Spotify song may need very little speed, such as just 1Mbps, but a 4K Netflix movie streamed at the highest quality would be as much as 24 Mbps. It is important to consider the types of activities you partake in online when deciding the internet speed you need. Do you just use the internet for basic web and social media browsing, text email, and streaming video? Or are you an avid gamer and streamer of 4K video? 

Consider How Many Devices You Have

You may have more devices than you realise – think laptops, TVs, smart speakers, video doorbells and gaming consoles. These devices will share the same bandwidth when they are connected to the internet, and can impact internet speeds. Bandwidth acts like a pipe, and only so much can fit in that space. Consider how many devices will be connected to the internet at the same time. For example, if you have two TVs streaming 4K movies, you’ll need a bandwidth of at least 50Mbps. 

Internet Speed Calculator - What speed do you need?

Consider Your Upload Speed Needs

Do you work from home and join video calls throughout the day? Having the right upload speed is just as important as how fast your Netflix show downloads and plays. You don’t want to encounter delays in your video uploading to platforms like Zoom when you are on a call. That will mean the people in your call will not receive your video or audio in real time, and you will have a slow and frustrating experience of interrupting one another and delays in conversation. If you are an avid TikToker or YouTuber, you’ll want fast upload speeds too to upload your video content. 

Which Plan Should I Choose?

It is important to do your homework when it comes to choosing the right broadband plan. Luckily, it is easy to do so with Broadband Compare. Our user-friendly platform makes it easy to compare broadband plans, within just MINUTES. Generally, 50/10 Mbps is enough for lots of New Zealand households, unless you have large data demands, such as a house full of gamers or people working from home, or simply a household with lots of kids. It’s important to consider your unique household internet needs and activities, and jump on Broadband Compare to find the broadband plan that delivers the right amount of speed, without charging you more than necessary.

Compare within minutes today and switch to a plan that unlocks savings!

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