Is 6 Mbps DSL fast enough

We all dread slow internet. While fiber or cable internet is very fast, it’s not ideal in all locations in the US, especially rural areas where this is compensated with either Satellite or DSL internet connection.

Despite DSL being slower than cable internet, it’s faster and more reliable than Satellite. DSL internet service like any other internet service is offered in plans with certain speeds. So, is a 6 Mbps DSL fast enough?

A 6 Mbps DSL is fast enough depending on the device hardware, and type of activity being undertaken on the device.

DSL or Digital Subscriber line is a type of internet connection that uses telephone lines to transmit data. Its speed ranges from 768 Kbps/second and maxes out at around 7 Mbps/second which is slow compared to the likes of cable or Fiber optic cable that max at between 20 to 1000 Mbps depending on the internet provider and geographical local which qualifies for broadband. A DSL connection isn’t that fast but can still do the job when given the right tasks.

To determine if 6 Mbps DSL is fast enough, you first have to determine your needs. Firstly, what do you use your internet for and how many connected devices do you have? Besides, the number of people connected to the network is another thing to consider. The final factor to put into consideration is the type of activity happening on those connected devices. Is it work, gaming, downloading and uploading of heavy files, video streaming, etc. To give you a rough overview, take a look at the table below:

Activity
Minimum recommended speeds
Email and basic web browsing
Email, web browsing, video streaming, gaming
5 – 10 Mbps
Standard HD streaming, gaming, downloading files on a few devices
10 – 25 Mbps
4K video streaming, gaming, downloading files on a lot of connected devices
25 – 40 Mbps
Heavy streaming, gaming, downloading
40+ Mbps

Now, these figures are for a single person. Now to the math when you have more than a single person on the network with connected devices carrying out more than one activity. Besides, DSL offers download speeds of between 5 to 35 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10 Mbps. These speeds are affected by how far you are from the internet provider’s office. Despite being slower than other options, DSL is cheaper.

Is it worth it?

It depends. If you are in a geographical area with cable internet, then you’d rather get the cable internet and save yourself from a lot of headaches that come with slow internet. However, if you are in a rural area, then DSL is the best option since it covers almost 90% of the geographical area in the US and is way faster and more reliable than satellite which is another choice in some areas. Regarding the price, for those speeds, it’s fairly priced.

Final Thoughts

Despite DSL being more reliable than most internet connections, it has its own fair share of issues regarding speeds. It’s slower but reliable and best suited for rural areas. You can use it for light activities like emailing and light web browsing. Alternatively, when dealing with heavy activities, you can make your mobile phone a hotspot since cell phones use cell towers which are equally reliable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 What does broadband mean?

Broadband is a wide or broad band of frequencies that allow various data types including video & voice to be sent and received simultaneously on the same connection. It has a high-bandwidth making it faster than narrowband.

How can I tell my internet speed?

Mostly, when subscribing to an internet plan, the internet provider will advertise some plans for you to choose from. However, the speed that you receive won’t march the advertised ones. It will be less or close to the advertised speed. To determine your internet speed, carry out a speed test on your browser. There are several speed-test providers including fast.com, speedtest.net, etc.

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