Upload speed

Listening to music online, streaming videos, browsing, or uploading and downloading documents—these days, all of this is usually possible without any issues. However, everyone is familiar with the situation where a video simply will not load or uploading an important document just will not work. This is where bandwidth comes into play, as it indicates how smoothly your online activities run.

What is meant by upload speed?

Upload speed becomes noticeable at the latest when you want to upload larger documents. Uploading is usually significantly slower than downloading. Ultimately, every action you perform on the internet results in data being uploaded or downloaded. For example, streaming videos counts as downloading, and if you publish images (on social networks), this is considered uploading. Your upload and download speeds depend on the bandwidth provided by your internet service provider.

The role of bandwidth on the internet

Bandwidth is a measure of the possible speed of an internet connection that can be used at maximum. It is the difference between the upper and lower frequency; it is the range in which the transmission of electrical signals is possible. The greater the bandwidth, the faster electrical signals can be transmitted. It is measured in thousands, for example DSL 6000, which corresponds to 6 Mbit.

However, as a customer you should not believe everything providers want to sell you. They often advertise with large numbers but do not mention that the speed that can be achieved depends on your location. In this case, it is important to also take a look at the fine print. Because if you order an internet connection and later find that you cannot reach the promised speed, you are bound to a minimum contract term of 12 or 24 months.

The speed ultimately available has technical reasons: the farther the end user is from the nearest exchange, the lower the speed available to them. Suppose you have a provider advertising 16 Mbit, but you are two or three kilometres from the exchange—this distance can reduce it to as little as 6 Mbit. To avoid such pitfalls, it is advisable to choose reputable providers that offer you the option of testing the expected speed at your connection in advance. This way, as a customer, you will know what bandwidth you can expect before signing the contract.

Which upload speed is recommended?

There are numerous internet plans, but many customers do not know what speed they really need and are easily persuaded into an overpriced plan. For the average internet user, a bandwidth of 16 megabits per second is sufficient. For larger households or streaming fans, a bandwidth of 50 Mbit/s is recommended.

However, you should be careful with LTE plans, because multiple users share a cell tower, which can affect internet speed, especially at peak times. In addition, once you have used a certain data volume, your bandwidth will be throttled by the provider.

Check and optimise upload speed

If you already have an internet provider but repeatedly experience problems uploading certain documents, it is advisable to run a speed test first. This measures your ping value, which serves as a metric for testing the response time of the internet connection. In other words, it measures the time between sending a data packet to a recipient and the immediate response sent back. This period is referred to as packet round-trip time, RTT (Round Trip Time), or ping time. In short, ping indicates the reachability of servers and computers in a network—the lower the value, the faster your data transfer. Ping time is measured in milliseconds. Since the maximum data rate never reaches your home due to intermediate nodes or transmission errors, you are in the green if you achieve two thirds of the maximum data rate. In general, ping times of up to 120 ms are considered good.

Apart from the fact that your upload speed depends on the overall speed of your connection, there are a few tricks you can use to increase it. First, check whether downloads or updates are running in the background, as these can reduce speed. Significant speed losses can also occur if someone else is using the same internet line. Sometimes viruses or malware can also impair your internet connectivity. For this reason, antivirus software can help find and remove malicious programs. Another option is to switch from Wi-Fi to LAN. Simply connect your device to your router using a network cable. This avoids potential delays between the outgoing signal from the router and your computer receiving the signal.