Why upload speeds are important to your online experience
We explain why upload speeds are important, why they may be slow and how you can improve them.
When browsing for broadband deals or running a speed test on your home WiFi, you’re likely to encounter high download speeds emblazoned across each sales page. Internet service providers (ISPs) proudly advertise their double-digit download speeds, bragging about reliable, lightning-fast services for a low price.
Although download speeds are critical for daily internet usage, they are only half of the equation. Upload speeds, the smaller of the two numbers, rarely earn mentions in advertising. Even so, there’s no denying the importance of the often-forgotten number for fast, stable service.
To help you choose the most suitable nbn™ plan for your home, we’ll:
- walk you through the ins and outs of upload speeds
- what “Mbps” means, and
- the NodeOne nbn™ plans that provide all the upload and download capacity you need to stay connected.
Read on to learn more about nbn™ upload speeds.
What does “Mbps” mean?
First thing’s first: let’s talk “Mbps.” Mbps, or “megabits per second,” is the universal measure of data speed through a wireless network.
Higher Mbps numbers result in faster service, whilst lower Mbps numbers yield a slower connection.
Your service plan’s Mbps determines the capabilities and capacity of your home internet. From connecting with co-workers via video conference to streaming games, watching your favourite television programme, or listening to music, every online activity requires a certain amount of your internet bandwidth.
Choosing a plan with higher Mbps allows you to do more at once, such as creating or editing large files whilst your family works online, streams music or videos, or surfs the web at the same time.
For example, an average internet speed is typically anything above 25 Mbps. That is, 25 megabits per second.
What are upload and download speeds?
Upload and download speeds are two parts of the integral internet service puzzle. The average home requires far more download speed than upload speed since casual internet users typically “consume,” or download, large amounts of data through videos, music, or online shopping.
Simply put, download speeds measure how quickly the users in your home will be able to view online data.
Upload speeds, on the other hand, determine how quickly you can transmit (or upload) data.
When you upload photos to social media, send an email, or collaborate with coworkers on a video conference, you make use of your wireless plan’s upload capacity by sending data from your computer to another device.
A fast internet download speed is typically seen as 200Mbps. A fast upload speed is typically 25Mbps upload or higher.
Find out more about choosing the right internet speed for your house here.
Why does upload speed matter?
Whether you enjoy weekly video chats with long-distance friends or find yourself working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, your wireless plan’s upload speed significantly impacts your experience. Additionally, sharing upload capacity with family members or roommates places an even more significant strain on your internet service.
Like our nbn™ Home Casual, basic household plans provide enough upload speed to manage ordinary internet usage, gaming, and email for one or two users at a time. However, when competing with family members for a stable connection, you will undoubtedly notice lagging as more users attempt to send data simultaneously.
If you’re struggling to complete minor tasks like responding to an email or if you feel embarrassed due to lagging WiFi during a company video conference, it may be time to consider upgrading to one of our higher-capacity NodeOne nbn™ plans.
Which upload speed should I choose?
Choosing a plan with enough upload speed relies entirely on your needs.
If you live on your own and use your internet service plan solely for casual use, we recommend a budget-friendly plan like the nbn™ Home Casual 25/5 Mbps or the nbn™ Home Everyday 50/20 Mbps for small families.
However, suppose your daily workflow requires you to participate in video conferences, upload and edit in Cloud-based apps, or deal with large files whilst sharing internet connection with family members. In that case, you might want a plan with higher upload speeds.
Our upgraded nbn™ Home Fast+ 100/40 Mbps plan provides all the capacity an active home needs to stay connected and productive while essentially cutting the time it takes to upload or share files in half.
NodeOne nbn™ plans
At NodeOne, we offer a variety of nbn™ plans to satisfy our customers’ needs, including:
- nbn™ Home Casual 25/5 Mbps
- nbn™ Home Everyday 50/20 Mbps
- nbn™ Home Fast 100/20 Mbps
- nbn™ Home Fast+ 100/40 Mbps
- nbn™ Home Superfast 250/25 Mbps
- nbn™ Home Ultrafast 1000/50 Mbps
The nbn™ Home Ultrafast 1000/50 Mpbs provides consumers with the highest upload and download speeds in Western Australia, available only through select ISPs like NodeOne.
We also offer Enterprise Ethernet business fibre internet to businesses. These super fast plans are what’s known as symmetrical internet – where upload speeds are the same as download speeds. This type of internet can support cloud based computing, video conferencing and heavy usage across your whole business with ease.
Enterprise Ethernet business fibre internet plans include:
- N1 BF 100 100/100 Mbps
- N1 BF 250/250 Mbps
- N1 BF 500/500 Mbps
- N1 BF 1000/1000 Mbps
These plans are available in certain WA Business Fibre Zones.
Find out more about Enterprise Ethernet business fibre internet here.
Get faster nbn™ upload speeds
If you’re interested in experiencing impressively fast upload and download speeds or desire further assistance to choose a service plan that works for you, give our local Western Australia NodeOne team a call at 1300 166 331 or send us a message through the contact form below.
