The global pandemic has changed the way we work: Having the fastest internet speeds possible is becoming more and more necessary as companies who had traditional office set-ups are allowing employees to remain at home to work. Businesses around the world are finding that having remote team members lowers overhead costs and, in some cases, increases productivity.
However, if you’re one of the people whose job environment has changed from office to the couch, you’ll be needing a trusted internet connection offering high speed and reliability. HomeLinkd takes a look at which internet providers offer the fastest upload and download speeds and what you can do (for free!) to improve your current speeds at home.
Which internet provider has the fastest speeds? Top internet providers in the US
From 5G to fiber-optic internet to DSL to satellite, there are a handful of different internet connections, all with their pros and cons. However, if you’re specifically looking for high speed as the dominating feature, fiber is your best choice. Although 5G offers speeds up to and beyond those of fiber, it is not yet widely available across the US, making fiber the more available choice. Which fiber providers are going to offer you the best speeds? Let’s take a look:
Top four fiber providers in the US available in your area
Frontier FiOS fiber internet
940 Mbps (average download speed)
$29 -$200
Month-to-month option; two-year price lock
Verizon FiOS
940 Mbps
$40 -$90
Free TV included in packages for the first 6 months; router rental included
Cox
1 Gbps (aka a gigabit plan)
$30 -$100
Price lock for 1 year; free equipment upgrades; strong gaming connections
EarthLink
1 Gbps (aka a gigabit internet or internet 1000)
$50 -$100
Uncapped data; modem included
High-speed internet tips for internet users
Having high-speed internet from a top provider is a sure-fire way to get the fastest broadband, however, there are things you can do at home to heighten your speeds and consistency even further.
Unthrottled and unshaped: What does it mean?
You may have seen these two terms when browsing for a better internet connection, but what do they mean? Well, what you want is to choose a provider that does not throttle or shape your internet line. “Throttling” means that internet service providers will slow down or limit data use during peak hours.
This is done to give a every internet user a fair or standard internet speed during hours of high usability.
However, this can be frustrating and unfair if you are paying for a high-speed connection. “Shaping” is when a service provider decides which online activity should take priority, thus deciding which activity gets higher or lower internet speeds.
For example, Zoom calls may be prioritised over streaming. Choose a provider that clearly states that there is no throttling or shaping of lines.
Ensure your line speed is enough for the amount of connected devices
If you’ve got a 10 Mbps line with 6 devices connected to it, you’re definitely going to experience slower internet speeds.
This is because your line speed has to be divided and distributed equally between each device, putting strain on it. Make sure that your bandwidth speed is high enough to account for all of your devices and online activities.
If you have more than 5 devices that need connecting, such as tablets, smartphones, TVs and laptops, then a minimum of 25 Mbps is suggested.
Choose an uncapped internet plan
If you’ve got a 10 Mbps line with 6 devices connected to it, you’re definitely going to experience slower internet speeds. This is because your line speed has to be divided and distributed equally between each device, putting strain on it.
Make sure that your bandwidth speed is high enough to account for all of your devices and online activities. If you have more than 5 devices that need connecting, such as tablets, smartphones, TVs and laptops, then a minimum of 25 Mbps is suggested.
Get fast internet speed with home internet packages from HomeLinkd
Getting the fastest internet from high-speed providers is available in the US is possible! And, you don’t have to fork out hundreds of your hard-earned dollars to get it. By choosing an uncapped, unthrottled and unshaped fiber package from HomeLinkd, you’ll be set for remote working or weekends full of streaming in no time.
Get fast internet service today with the top providers of 2023!