The first thing to understand about Internet speeds is that certain minimum speeds are needed to enjoy different types of online activities. Video streaming is the best example of this. The better the video quality, the faster your Internet speed needs to be to enjoy it.
Streaming companies typically publish minimum speeds for the different levels of video quality: standard definition (SD), high definition (HD), and ultra-high-definition (4K). And these ratios are based on ONE stream at a time, with no other internet activity going on at the same time. Typically at least a 10 Mbps connection is needed to avoid frequent buffering or delivery failure.
With base speeds set for 1 stream at a time, 3 family members streaming in HD would require a 30 Mbps signal — minimum. Remember, these are the minimum speeds needed for video services to work at a basic level. Certain streaming services will match the video quality to your speed to reduce buffering and pausing. Even when you think you are getting HD, you probably aren’t at speeds below broadband.
Before you call customer or technical support, you need to do 2 things. First, make sure you’ve purchased an Internet package that’s fast enough to meet your needs for internet use and streaming, and when using multiple connected devices at the same time. Second, check to make sure that the device you’re using to connect to the Internet is capable of supporting the speeds provided.