The Ultimate Guide to High Speed Internet in 2025
What is High-Speed Internet?
I think it first important for to establish an intuitive understanding for what internet speed is. Internet speed works much like a bus transporting people and with a faster bus(higher internet speed) it can transport more people(data) over an expressed period of time. High speed internet is a relative term for fast internet that allows you to do things like stream movies, play games online, and work from home without interruptions. According to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) “High Speed” is anything over 25mbps(Megabits per second). If you are anything like me I do not agree with everything Government agencies say and 25mbps for download is slow so do not listen to the FCC about what “High Speed Internet” is. There are a few factors that impact speed but we will explain those later in this article.
Here is a brief overview of the speed demand for various tasks
Under 25 Mbps: Slow; good for basic browsing and emails.
25 - 100 Mbps: Good for HD streaming and light gaming.
100 - 500 Mbps: Great for multiple devices, 4K streaming, and gaming.
500 Mbps - 1 Gbps: Very fast; ideal for large households or work that needs lots of data.
1 Gbps and above: Super fast; used for heavy business tasks and lots of devices.
There are a few ways to get internet and they all offer various speeds. These are what your Wi-Fi router would be linked to.
Fiber Optic: Provides the fastest speeds (up to 1 Gbps and beyond) with low latency and high reliability. Fiber optic connections are ideal for high-demand users.
Cable Broadband: Offers speeds of 100-500 Mbps, often faster than DSL or satellite connections. Common in urban and suburban areas.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): Typically offers speeds up to 25-100 Mbps, depending on the distance from the ISP’s equipment.
5G: The fifth generation of mobile technology offers high-speed wireless internet, with speeds that can exceed 1 Gbps in some areas.
Satellite: Although historically slower, satellite internet services like Starlink now offer faster speeds (up to 100-150 Mbps) for rural areas
Understanding Internet Speeds:
What Determines Internet Speed? Bandwidth vs. Latency & Data Speed
Data as a Bus
Bandwidth:
What it is: The amount of data(capacity) that can be transferred over an internet connection, measured in Mbps or Gbps. Let us take the bus again and add a few rows to the bus(increasing the bandwidth), more people(data) can be transmitted.
Impact: Affects how much data can flow at once. Higher bandwidth allows for fast downloads, HD/4K streaming, and multiple devices using the internet without slowing down.
Latency:
What it is: The time it takes for data to travel from your device to its destination and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). I think a great analogy for latency involves a bus… a big yellow one. The Speed of the bus(Data Speed) and the Distance of the journey(Propagation distance) effect when the people reach their destination(data reaches its’ terminal).
Impact: Affects response time. Lower latency means faster load times, smooth video calls, and less lag in online gaming.
Factors affecting speed: hardware, distance from the router, network congestion, etc.
How to Measure Your Internet Speed
Your ISP will typically have an app on their website to test internet speed.
There are speed tests you can perform on google as well
There are manual measurements you can do, but if you know how to do that it is likely this article and its’ content are all familiar.
Factors Affecting Internet Speed
What is an Router and a Modem
Modem: The modem is the device that connects your home network to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It’s responsible for translating signals between your home network and the wider internet. Essentially, it allows your ISP's service to communicate with your devices. This is like the door to the bus allowing the people(data) into the bus.
Router: The router is responsible for distributing the internet signal to your devices, either through Wi-Fi (wireless) or Ethernet cables (wired). It creates a local network within your home or office, allowing multiple devices to access the internet simultaneously. The router is much like the bus itself onboarding the passengers(receiving a data transfer request) and delivering them to their destination(transmitting the data to be decoded to devices)
Network Congestion
During peak usage times when a lot of people are on the network there are most requests to send data. Just like bus stop with a full bus it takes longer for everybody to enter and exit the bus. This increases the time it takes for people to get to their destination. Just like with a Wi-Fi connection it takes more time to transfer data when there is a lot of people trying to send and receive data at once.
How to Increase Internet Speed
Make the Bus Bigger (Increase Bandwidth)
Just like a bigger bus can carry more passengers (data), increasing your bandwidth allows more data to be transferred at once. A larger bandwidth means that more information can travel through the internet connection simultaneously, which reduces congestion and improves overall speed.
How to do it:
Upgrade to a higher-speed internet plan with more bandwidth.
Switch from an older plan to fiber-optic internet, which typically offers much higher bandwidth than older connections like DSL or cable.
Make the Bus Routes Efficient (Improve Network Efficiency)
Optimizing how the bus (data packets) travels can reduce the time it takes to reach its destination. This is like improving your network setup for better speed.
How to do it:
Use a quality router with Wi-Fi 6 or dual-band (5 GHz) technology for more efficient data transfer.
Set up Quality of Service (QoS) on your router to prioritize important tasks like video streaming or gaming.
Optimize your router’s placement in your home to reduce interference and improve signal strength.
More Doors for Entry and Exit (Reduce Latency)
Having more entry/exit points (doors) means data can get on and off the bus faster, reducing delays. This is like reducing latency in your internet connection.
How to do it:
Use wired connections (Ethernet) for devices that need fast, stable speeds, like gaming consoles or computers.
If using Wi-Fi, upgrade your router to a better model that supports Wi-Fi 6 for lower latency and faster speeds.
If your internet is slow due to Wi-Fi interference, switch to a less congested channel or band (e.g., 5 GHz).
Add More Bus Stops (More Access Points or Additional Bandwidth)
If you add more bus stops (access points), you can distribute the passengers (data) more efficiently. This can be compared to adding more access points or mesh networks in your home, which helps provide better Wi-Fi coverage and reduces congestion.
How to do it:
Install Wi-Fi extenders or set up a mesh network to extend the Wi-Fi coverage to areas where the signal is weak.
Add more access points in large spaces, like a multi-floor house, to ensure that data reaches its destination without delays.
How to Find the Best ISP:
Check local availability: See which ISPs are available where you live.
Compare plans: Look at speed, price, and features.
Read reviews: See what others think about the ISPs in your area.
Use comparison websites: Sites like BroadbandNow can help you compare options in your area.
How Do I Troubleshoot My Internet?
Check Your Internet Speed
Test your speed: Use a site like Speedtest.net to check your current speeds. Compare the result with what your ISP promised you.
What you’re looking for: You should get speeds that are close to what you’re paying for. If it’s much lower, it could be a problem.
Restart Your Modem and Router
Power cycle: Unplug your modem and router, wait about 30 seconds, and plug them back in. This can help clear temporary glitches and improve performance.
Why it helps: Restarting resets the connection to your ISP and can help improve speeds.
Check Your Wi-Fi Signal
Proximity: Make sure you’re not too far away from your router. Wi-Fi signals weaken with distance and walls.
Interference: Other devices (microwaves, baby monitors) or neighboring Wi-Fi networks might be interfering with your signal. Try changing your router's channel or use the 5 GHz band for less interference.
Limit the Number of Devices Connected
Too many devices: If lots of devices are connected to your Wi-Fi (phones, computers, smart TVs), they might be eating up your bandwidth. Try disconnecting some devices to see if the speed improves.
Check for Background Activities
Background apps: Ensure no apps or devices are downloading or uploading large files. Things like software updates, streaming, or online backups can slow your connection.
Pause or limit them: If you’re running big downloads or streaming, pause them temporarily to see if it improves your speed.
Use a Wired Connection (Ethernet)
Test with an Ethernet cable: Connect your device directly to your router using an Ethernet cable. This can help rule out Wi-Fi issues, as wired connections are usually faster and more stable.
If it improves: Your Wi-Fi setup might need tweaking (e.g., router placement or interference).
Check for Router Issues
Old router: If your router is outdated, it might not be able to handle higher speeds. Consider upgrading to a newer model, especially one with Wi-Fi 6 for better speeds and coverage.
Reset router: If your router is misbehaving, try resetting it to factory settings and setting it up again.
Check for ISP Problems
Outages or maintenance: Sometimes, slow speeds are caused by problems at your ISP’s end. Check if there are any outages in your area (you can use websites like Downdetector).
Call your ISP: If everything seems fine on your end, contact your ISP to ask about any issues or congestion in your area.
Update Your Devices and Firmware
Device updates: Make sure your devices (like your computer or phone) are running the latest software updates, as outdated software can slow down internet speeds.
Router firmware: Check if there are any firmware updates for your router that could improve performance.
Try a Different Browser or App
Browser issues: If you’re only noticing slow speeds on your browser, it could be a problem with the browser itself. Try using a different browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox) or clearing the cache and cookies.
Check for Malware
Scan for viruses: Malware or viruses can slow down your internet speed. Run a virus scan on your devices to make sure they are clean.
My Take on the Future of Internet Speed.
The future of high-speed internet is set to be transformed by advancements like Starlink, Wi-Fi 6, and the upcoming 6G technology. Starlink, with its satellite network, promises to deliver fast, low-latency internet globally, especially benefiting rural and remote areas. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi 6 is enhancing wireless speeds, capacity, and efficiency, allowing for better performance in crowded environments with multiple connected devices.
Looking ahead, 6G is expected to push the boundaries even further, offering ultra-fast speeds, near-zero latency, and massive connectivity, enabling innovations like augmented reality and holographic communication. Together, these technologies will create faster, more reliable, and universally accessible internet, transforming how we work, live, and interact globally.
