Because her job is working with technology, Sandy Miller from Cox Communications often gets inquiries about the Internet. Here she helps readers with questions about Internet speed.
Miller is the store manager of the Cox Solutions Store in Oceanside.
What speed do I need for my Internet at home?
It really depends on what’s happening in your home. We know that the average American spends 11 hours a day using digital media, and the average household has more than six devices connected to the Internet.
With lots of tablets, smart phones, computers, gaming consoles, WiFi devices, and with an average-sized family, you place an enormous amount of demand on your network.
Which speed works for which activities?
Here is a basic rundown of speeds:
• 10 megabits per second (Mbps) is good for email, basic Web browsing, one standard-definition stream
• 100 Mbps is good for more advanced Web browsing, basic gaming sites, and two high-definition streams
• 300 Mbps is great for a household doing a mix of 10 and 100 Mbps activities
• 1,000 Mbps (1 Gigabit) is great for gaming, teleconferencing, ultra-high-definition streams, and a household of high end users
• Gigabit Internet speed is the next generation of broadband Internet service, delivering speed to power all your devices in the home at the same time, whether you’re using your mobile devices, video streaming, gaming or have a home office.
What can you do with gigabit Internet speed?
It offers speeds 100 times faster than the average speed in the U.S. today.
It delivers more speed, a powerful home network and rich broadband enabled services to customers.
With a gig, you can:
• Run ALL your devices at the same time
• Download an HD movie in less than 60 seconds
• Download 100 songs in three seconds
• Upload 1,000 photos in about a minute
Gigabit speed seems futuristic; is it really something people are using?
Businesses have already been using gigabit speed for years, and it’s now making its way into homes, especially those that have many devices connecting simultaneously to the Internet. Gigabit speed also opens to the door to innovation.
The San Diego region is home to more than 6,500 tech companies such as bio-medics, environmental and defense technology and bio-tech.
Technology can’t grow without high-speed Internet service.
How can I really be sure I’m getting the best deal for my needs?
You should consult an expert. At Cox.com, you can discover the Internet speed package that’s best for you with the Cox Speed AdvisorSM for free advice that could save you time, money and bandwidth. Or, you can call us at (760) 631-0559 or stop by a Cox Solutions Store to demo our products and services.
So if I work from home and have lots of wireless devices running, I could benefit from gigabit speed?
You might, depending on what you do and how many devices you have running all at one time. Gig speed offers a unique opportunity to dramatically increase productivity and workflow whether employees are working from home or the office.
It’s best to ask an expert and let them help you decide what‘s going to keep you up to speed, so to speak, as well as select the best available speed for you.
