Does Your Internet Upload Speed Measure Up?

_{Originally published in The Gazette on Sunday, July 21st.} 

Internet speeds are straightforward – faster is better.  

What most people refer to as their ‘Internet speed,’ however, is their download speed. It’s important, but it’s only half the picture.  

This article explores the other half of the equation – your upload speed – and why it’s just as critical for everyday Internet use as your download speed. 

What are upload speeds? 

Every type of Internet – fiber, cable, satellite, 5G – uses both download and upload speeds. 

Think of your Internet as a two-lane data highway. One lane – download speed – is used to bring data from the Internet to your device. The other lane – upload speed – goes the opposite direction, sending data from your device to the Internet. 

Streaming videos, listening to music, visiting a website, scrolling on social media – all these activities involve pulling information from the Internet to your device using the ‘download lane.’ 

Actions such as sending emails, posting photos to social media, or uploading a document to the cloud use the ‘upload lane’ to send information to the Internet. 

Some activities require you to use both ‘lanes’ simultaneously. During FaceTime calls, Zoom meetings, and video games, you are downloading audio and video data to be displayed on your device. At the same time, you’re uploading your own audio and video data to the Internet, which is then displayed on the screens of the others. 

What are the signs of a slow upload speed? 

While a large portion of Internet usage relies on download speeds, slow upload speeds can noticeably disrupt your day-to-day life. 

One of the most common signs of an inadequate upload speed is glitchy video calls, like virtual meetings and FaceTimes.  

If your video tends to freeze or lag or your audio gets distorted – but the video and audio of others on the call seems unaffected – then your upload speed is the culprit.  

Many remote workers find these issues get worse when trying to share their screen. This means your upload speed cannot handle transmitting both your audio-visual data and your screen data simultaneously.  

When it comes to gaming, slow upload speeds cause high latency. Latency is the time between your input action – like pressing a button – and the corresponding action on screen.  

Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms), but even a 100ms latency means a noticeable lag in gameplay – and potentially the difference between victory and defeat.  

Another sign of slow upload speeds is, well, slow uploads. Posting a video to social media, uploading photos to the cloud for backup, submitting an assignment online, or attaching a document to an email – the lower your upload speed, the longer these actions will take.  

What is a good upload speed? 

Most Internet providers don’t advertise their upload speeds, because most providers have asymmetric speeds. This means their available upload speeds are much slower than their download speeds.  

For example, cable Internet can usually provide download speeds from 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 1,000 Mbps, otherwise known as 1 Gig. The average upload speed for cable, though, is just 5 – 50 Mbps. 

The same is true of 5G home Internet and satellite Internet.  

According to T-Mobile, their average 5G home Internet download speed is 72 – 245 Mbps, while their average upload speed is 15 – 31 Mbps. According to Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite Internet company, users typically receive download speeds of 25 – 200 Mbps and upload speeds of 5 – 20 Mbps.  

Only fiber is capable of providing symmetrical Internet, with upload speeds that are just as fast as download speeds.  

For example, at ImOn Communications, fiber Internet customers with 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) download speeds also receive 1 Gbps upload speeds.  

These equal speeds result in seamless video calls, lag-free gaming, and ultra-fast uploads, even for large files like 4K videos, high-def photos, and lengthy presentations.  

Why don’t all types of Internet have fast upload speeds?

Because not all Internet technology is the same. 

The coaxial wires used by cable Internet and the mixed-frequency airwaves used by 5G and satellite Internet were designed to prioritize download speeds, because downloading was considered the primary function of the Internet. 

However, in today’s world of remote working, videoconferencing, online learning, advanced gaming, and staying connected with friends and family around the globe, we rely on upload speeds far more than we ever have.  

This is where fiber optic technology has an advantage. It uses glass strands that transmit data with pulses of light, which has a much larger capacity for data. This enables fiber to handle the same amount of data on both ‘lanes’ of the Internet highway – and it’s one of the reasons fiber is considered the Internet of the future.  

So, what is a good upload speed? It depends. For cable, 5G, or satellite Internet, 50 Mbps is considered exceptional. For fiber, it’s anywhere from 100 Mbps – 1 Gig!  

To see if fiber Internet is available at your home, reach out to ImOn at 319-200-6300 or visit ImOn.net. We are happy to help you get the upload and download speed you need for a smooth online experience.