Is 5Mbps a good speed for internet?

Yes, 5mbps is good internet speed for 1 or 2 people, if any more devices connect to the network, the speeds will significantly slow down. And, while there are small businesses that could do with the 5mbps internet; we highly recommend it for household use, because the speeds will better handle the simple uploading and streaming tasks such as social media and music streaming, browsing the web, or checking email.

The download speeds of a 5mbps internet are set at 5megabits per second, and the upload speeds at 0.5megabits per second. Important to note is that the amount of bandwidth for any business or household greatly depends on the internet activities to be carried out and the number of devices that will be connected on the 5mbps network.

To effectively utilize your 5mbps, you must first understand what it is, most importantly is that the initial 5mbps does not in any way refer to how your internet works; rather, the 5mbps means that you will be able to receive up to 5megabits of data per second. 5mbps is good for gaming but if you will be downloading large files then, you must be sure of having at least 50mbps download speeds.

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       Factors that could affect your 5mbps data speeds and their solutions

Router location- 5mbps is good for browsing, playing online games, and streaming music, so they say but if your router is surrounded by obstacles or placed behind a huge wall or is obstructed by a metal wall, then it will not be able to offer the best wireless communication to the devices connected to its network.

Ideally, therefore, the router should be located in a central place during installation, and that is neither too high, nor too low on the ground. Your router should stand alone, books, flower pots among other objects should be positioned elsewhere. And in case you want to have more rooms in your home connected, then you will have to get a range extender, which will ensure that the dead zones are covered with internet signals.

Network Traffic – it is not unlikely for the internet to become slow in the evening or at night. Too many people going online at the same time, causes congestions with some of the devices, will experience slow load speeds. So to make your internet work during this peak hours, you could customize your router, to prioritize certain devices, for example, you could lock out the kids devices, and the guest network, or better yet upgrade to a new device that can effectively accommodate more devices in its network. And while your router can effectively accommodate more devices, your subscription plan might also need upgrading.

Device upgrade- currently technology waits for no man, if you have a router that is 4 or 5 years older, then you know it has served its time, and you need to upgrade. Besides, the older your router gets, the slower it will be in your network. Check the markets for new advanced routers, that have integrated the latest Wi-Fi standards and have new stronger antennas, thus can conveniently accommodate the needs of the current internet users in your network.

Device upgrade does not only focus on the router you have installed in your home but also on the devices that you are using to access the internet. If you are using an old PC, laptop, or smartphone, then the processors might be having a hard time integrating thus cause hiccups to your connections.

Scan for malware

Malware installs itself in a computer and then operates from the background, and in most times than not, it will connect to the internet, without your permission, and use your bandwidth. In the event, therefore, that you have eliminated all the possible causes of slow internet speeds then you will have to run the internet security software to get rid of the threat.

Conclusion

5mbps are good internet speeds it just depends on usage; so the best way to get around the various internet plans is to first know the ideal speeds, if you can grasp your online activities then you should be able to get a plan that will provide you with the best speeds inclusive of the data caps. Netizens should also invest in modems or routers, and not rent because it will attract a monthly fee even when you were out of town.

FAQ’s

1. Is 5mbps sufficient for gaming?

Online gaming only needs between 1 and 5 Mbps

2. Can I stream with 5mbps?

Yes, you can stream with 5mbps, given that applications such as Netflix only require a 3 Mbps connection for the standard quality stream.