Immersive media: Ultra HD streaming is just the tip of the iceberg, as faster upload and download speeds make more immersive media, like 360-degree video and VR, more accessible. With matching up/down speeds, you'll never again need to worry about slow ping rates and spotty connections. Online gaming: Anyone who has ever lost a match due to a laggy connection will appreciate the switch to gigabit speeds.But the real improvement is that 4K streaming which uses four to five times as much data as a 1080p stream,will be just as fast, without the interminable loading and buffer times you may experience on standard broadband. Streaming video: All that bandwidth means lag-free Netflix, even when you're watching different shows on different devices at once.That said, there are several specific uses that benefit dramatically from the new fat pipe of data that gigabit connectivity offers. All of your usual web browsing and streaming will be supported, but with higher speeds and less congestion on your home network. What can I do with gigabit speeds?Īll that data - a million bits per second - means that you can do everything you already do online, but a lot more of it, and faster. Traditionally, you'll get a much smaller pipe for uploading, which is part of the reason you can watch a 5-minute YouTube video in roughly 5 minutes, but uploading the same amount of footage can take over an hour.įaster upload speeds are also a boon for activities such as streaming your gameplay with services like Twitch. The other major benefit of gigabit (in most current implementations) is that download speeds are matched with similar upload speeds. We're talking 1,000 Mbps, or 1 million bits per second. How does gigabit compare to current broadband speeds?Ĭompared to standard cable-based broadband packages, which offer download speeds of 20 to 100 Mbps, gigabit speeds are an exponential increase. But it's not quite the same, since the new format boasts 1-Gbps download speeds but only 35-Mbps upload speeds. Until recently, gigabit speeds were offered only by providers with fiber infrastructure, like Verizon Fios and Google Fiber.īut a second player has entered the game, in the form of the DOCSIS 3.1 standard, which enables gigabit speeds over the same coaxial cables used for standard cable internet. The data capacity of fiber-optic lines and the lack of interference (a common issue on standard copper lines) makes the light-driven data technology perfect for delivering blistering gigabit speeds. While gigabit internet is still rolling out across different parts of the U.S., internet service providers are offering gigabit speeds using two technologies. As always, you'll want to look into what options are available in your area, and you will definitely want to research pricing. You may be able to get a better deal when bundling your internet with TV service, or you may be charged an additional monthly fee for the unique hardware that gigabit speeds require. Finding actual pricing data is difficult, and many of these prices are introductory rates that apply for the first year or two with a long-term agreement. Now, bear in mind that this is internet service pricing we're talking about, and that comes with a lot of caveats. While this may change over time, right now, you can get the fastest internet around for the price of a good cable internet subscription. Pricing is also varied, but the overall trend is clear: Internet providers are charging prices similar to those for broadband, but delivering gigabit speeds. Check your local options when considering internet providers, as many smaller companies are using the shift to gigabit as an opportunity to compete against the big boys, offering blazing speeds in places where the major companies aren't. Many communities have proactively invested in local fiber networks, providing ready-made infrastructure for any service provider that wants to offer ultra-high-speed internet. Smaller cities and towns aren't completely out of luck, however.
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