What is the difference between speed and data?
Often times when comparing plans, customers will tell us they get “way more data” than what we are offering. This always leads to an interesting conversation about the differences between speed and data. So let’s talk about the differences.
Are we talking speed or data?
Many internet plans only allow so much data to be consumed before they start reducing the amount of service they provide. Data measured in Terabytes (TB), Gigabytes (GB) or Megabytes (Mbps) is the amount of information transferred back and forth between your internet connection and the outside world. This data amount is usually tracked by the amount of internet browsing or the amount of streaming services a person utilizes. And while data is measured in the same units as speed, it is viewed quite differently.
To give you an analogy, let’s think of data like you might think of water. Many providers will give you a five gallon jug and once it’s filled up, they turn the spigot off or they slow the water flow quite considerably to reduce the water overfilling the bucket.
Speed on the other hand is the pipe size that delivers the water. If I hand you a garden hose, only so much water will come out of the hose. If I give you a firehouse, a lot more water is going to come out. If I give you a water main, even more water is going to flow. This is how internet speed works. When you purchase a 1 Gigabyte package, this is the amount of water that flows out at an instant point regardless of whether you are filling a cup, a five gallon bucket or swimming pool.
Here are a couple of examples from other companies:
Company 1: Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. Video streaming resolution depends on available speeds. For best performance, leave video streaming applications at their default resolution setting. Not compatible with some live TV streaming services.
Company 2: After 60 GB of data usage, we may prioritize your data behind other customers during network congestion which will likely result in slower speeds.
Notice in both of these examples, the company does not fully promise you the full speed or data that you are subscribing to.
Why do providers limit data?
Some providers only have so much capacity to deliver internet service to you. Often times these providers will limit this to ensure that all customers get a piece of the internet they are supposedly paying for, but even more importantly they may also put a limit on the data to ensure that they do not get hit with bigger penalties from their internet provider.
At first glance, in the example above, Company 2 is providing 60 GB of data. While this might seem like a lot of data in comparison to a 1 GB of speed, it’s not an apples to apples comparison. According to an Open Vault survey in 2022, the average US home used over 500 GB of data each month. It’s not uncommon for households that have multiple streaming devices to use more than 2 TB of data in a given month.
What is the benefit of picking a higher speed?
Often times customers will ask us, is there any benefit to selecting a higher speed. This question has a lot of variables to it. Things such as, how many people live in your home, how many devices do you have, and do you plan on streaming services for television and movies all factor into the equation. The truth is, there isn’t a one-size fits all approach. Most companies offer a set of standard speed packages. If your provider is trying to sell you on a custom speed package, they likely aren’t willing to provide you the best quality service but rather trying to “right-size” the approach for your situation today. Keep in mind that many providers are limited on the amount of bandwidth available to them without incurring higher costs. Inevitably, your situation will change once you have reliable internet. For that reason, we recommend choosing a speed that gives you flexibility for today and in the future. Speed upgrades are easy to do, especially with SwiftCurrent Connect.
Upload vs. Download
Many providers forget to share their upload speeds. They conveniently only discuss their download speeds. Those same providers are quick to point out that “upload speeds aren’t as important” because most of your internet use is downloading information. While most internet use is used to deliver content, providers who can provide symmetrical speeds (the same upload and download speed) have a superior advantage. Those companies are well positioned for the future as more and more use of the cloud, uploading pictures, gaming, and virtual meetings take place. SwiftCurrent offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, situating ourselves for all of your internet speed and reliability needs.
Lastly, remember to always ask questions. If you are unsure about whether you are receiving 60 GB of data or speed, we can help. Just contact us at 1-866-307-5326 or by e-mailing us at [email protected].
— The SwiftCurrent Connect Team
