When you’re choosing internet service, one of the most important factors to consider is the speed of the plan you’re considering. For many people, the speed descriptions can be confusing, which can cause them to choose a plan that is either more costly than they need or that doesn’t deliver the speed that they want. As you weigh up your options, here is what you need to know about how internet speed works.

Upload and Download Speeds
Internet speeds are usually stated with both upload and download speeds. Upload speeds refer to the amount of time it takes for you to transfer data from your computer to the internet, while download speeds are the amount of time it takes for you to transfer data from the internet to your computer. Upload speeds are the slower of the two speeds stated in internet package advertisements. Speeds are stated as Mbps—megabits per second. This means that if a download speed is advertised as 75Mbps, the service will download up to 75 megabits of data from the internet per second.

Stated Speeds vs. Actual Speeds
The speed that is advertised for internet service doesn’t mean that the service will also provide that speed. Instead, that speed is the peak speed you will experience. Many factors will impact the actual speed of service you receive at any given moment, from the number of devices in your house using the internet at any given time to the time of day you’re using the internet. If you think you are experiencing chronically decreased speeds, an online speed test can help you test your connection.

Choosing a Speed Package
The amount of speed you need depends on how you use the internet. If you only serve the net to read sites and check your email, you don’t need a lot of power. If you frequently watch movies online, you will want the fastest speed you can get, so you don’t experience video buffering.

For the best internet speeds at the best prices in southeastern Arizona and southwest Nevada, choose Valley Telecom Group. To contact the Clifton, AZ-based provider, call (800) 421-5711.

Since 1962, Valley TeleCom Group. has built high quality communications networks and delivers quality service to over 20 rural communities. Valley offers an array of services including landline telephone, High-Speed Internet and business systems. Valley also continues to work on extensive network projects and utilizes state-of-the-art technology to deliver only the best service to our customers. More about Valley TeleCom Group.
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