Upload vs Download: The Truth About Speeds and Equipment Changes
When most people think about internet speed, they picture a high megabit-per-second rating attached to their service. Something like “1 Gig” or “500 Mbps”. That number almost always refers to download speed, or how fast your devices can pull information from the internet. It impacts how quickly a webpage loads, how fast Netflix buffers, and how smoothly you can stream music. But there’s another side to the equation often overlooked: upload speed. And as the way we use the internet continues to evolve, this side is becoming just as important—if not more so for some households.
The Other Side To The Story
Upload speed determines how fast you can send data from your devices to the internet. This affects things like uploading files to Google Drive, sending large email attachments, backing up photos to the cloud, livestreaming, gaming, or simply having an uninterrupted video call. In the early days of home internet, people mostly used the web to download content—watch videos, read the news, or check email. Naturally, internet providers focused on boosting download speeds. Upload speeds were often a fraction of that, and for most people at the time, it wasn’t a problem.
But things have changed. Now, more than ever, we depend on fast, reliable upload speeds. Whether you’re working remotely on Zoom all day, gaming competitively, or managing a home security system. In all of these scenarios, slow upload speeds can cause noticeable delays, glitchy video calls, or even failed uploads.
What The Fine Print Doesn’t Always Say
When you look at your internet plan, the headline speed might be impressive, but it rarely tells the whole story. Most plans are asymmetrical, meaning your upload speed is significantly slower than your download speed. A 500 Mbps plan, for instance, might only offer 20 Mbps of upload speed. In some cases, that may be enough, but it’s not ideal for everyone. To complicate things further, you may not even be getting the full speeds you’re paying for. That could be because of peak usage in your neighborhood, outdated wiring, or because of something much simpler: your modem.
The modem, or ONT (Optical Network Terminal), is your internet connection’s gateway. It’s the bridge between your provider’s network and the devices in your home. If you’ve had the same modem for a few years, chances are it wasn’t built to handle the speeds or demands of today’s internet. Even if your plan promises 1 Gbps, an older modem might be limiting you to a fraction of that. And while the FCC recommends at least 100 Mbps download speed for basic internet usage, your actual experience will depend heavily on both your service plan and the equipment powering it. This applies to upload speeds as well, and that’s why we’re making ONT upgrades a priority.
What We’re Doing To Improve Your Experience
We’re rolling out a major initiative to upgrade outdated modems and ensure members can actually take full advantage of their internet plans. Newer ONTs support advanced standards like 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology, which not only allow for faster speeds but also provide more reliable connections—especially important in homes with lots of connected devices. This upgrade isn’t just about raw speed. It’s about preparing your home for the future to support more video calls, smart devices, cloud backups, and shared moments online.
The internet is no longer a one-way street. We create, collaborate, and connect every day. You deserve an internet connection that can keep up, so we’re working hard to make sure you have it.
Don’t know what speed you really need? Click here for more information.
Sources
1 Federal Communications Commission | The United States of America. (n.d.). https://www.fcc.gov/
