Today people are sharing more content on the internet, utilizing the upload portion of their connection that pushes information from their devices out over the internet. Most people know their download speeds but not their upload speeds because upload speeds were less important 20 years ago when most of us connected to the internet primarily for activities such as downloading or streaming movies, music, video games and photos. These activities transfer data from the internet to our devices, utilizing the download portion of our internet connection.
We demand much more from our internet connections today. People of all ages are uploading high-quality photos and videos on social media, so it’s no wonder that videos on Facebook alone get more than 8 billion average daily views. We’re also video chatting on FaceTime or Skype and sharing files with family, friends, classmates and teachers through free web services like Google Drive, DropBox or WhatsApp. On top of this, we have many more connected devices in our homes and
offices than we did even just a few years ago.
This changing behavior fuels the need for symmetrical or matching upload and download internet speeds. With symmetrical speeds, you can upload and download simultaneously on
multiple devices without slowdowns, buffering or freezing.
Many large enterprise-class businesses have had higher upload speeds for years, and today businesses of all sizes continue to migrate toward cloud-based applications for everything from productivity software such as Office 365 to online backup and storage of their data. A higher upload speed can make a big difference when backing up a 10-gig file, reducing hours to minutes.
To determine the upload speed you need, consider how you’re using the internet and how many devices are used at the same time in your home or business. If you play video games, post video blogs, distribute large files such as videos or utilize any cloud-based services, you definitely will want to consider a higher upload speed. You will see a world of difference.
Are there more than five connected devices in your home or office? With the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) and increasing availability of affordable smart devices, it’s more than likely there are — just look at the rapid adoption of smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo and Google Home as one example. If your life is headed in this direction, symmetrical internet service may be something to look into. Without a doubt, faster speeds in both directions — upload and download — will enhance your online experience.
Jason Thune is director of network development at Hawaiian Telcom. Reach him at Jason.thune@hawaiiantel.com.
