How fast is gigabit internet?

Gigabit internet is dubbed as the future of internet connectivity. It provides faster, smoother connections with more data for streaming, gaming and working from home, which is perfect for heavy internet users, big households and households with multiple smart home devices. Hands down, gigabit internet is the best internet on the market for those who want or need the fastest internet speeds possible.

Read on to find out more about gigabit internet, how it works and if it meets your internet needs.

What is gigabit internet?

Gigabit internet, also called gig-speed internet, is a broadband internet connection that can reach data transfer rates of 1,000 megabits per second (1 Gbps) or faster. These speeds are 10 times faster than the average broadband speed of 100 Mbps, allowing you to download a full HD movie in just a few minutes, upload large files in seconds, stream ultra HD videos and more. The higher your upload and download speed, the better your internet experience will be.

How fast is fiber-optic gigabit internet?

Gigabit internet through a fiber-optic connection gives you an average of 940/880 Mbps speeds. A download speed of 940 Mbps means you can do anything on more than 10 devices with no slowdowns. And, considering that the upload speeds of most internet service providers range around 20 to 50 Mbps, you can be sure an 880 Mbps upload speed gets the job done, reducing minutes to seconds. You can post photos online almost instantly and communicate live without lagging.

When it comes to home internet, gigabit internet is one of the fastest internet speeds you can get. With Frontier^® Fiber Internet, increased upload speed frees up bandwidth, which means a gigabit connection can support up to 100 users without any lag.

Enter your address to see if Frontier^® Fiber Internet is available in your area.

How does gigabit internet speed compare to standard broadband?

Given that you can stream in standard definition with speeds of 3 Mbps, you only need speeds as fast as 25 Mbps to stream in 4K or ultra-HD. Average broadband internet speeds over 25 Mbps are generally considered fast.

However, when you compare the top speed of broadband internet to gigabit internet speeds, the increase is exponential. And if you get gigabit internet through a fiber-optic connection, you get symmetrical speeds, which means your upload speed is just as fast as your download speed.

Standard broadband internet generally delivers a slower upload speed. You don’t need a fast upload speed for activities like watching YouTube videos or scrolling through social media. However, if you want to upload YouTube videos, gig-speed internet can cut down your upload time from hours to minutes.

How does gigabit internet work?

The world generally has two kinds of internet access: broadband internet and dial-up. Broadband is offered in four different forms: DSL, fiber-optic, cable and satellite. Currently, gigabit internet is run through cable and fiber-optic connections.

Due to the massive data capacity and lack of subjectiveness to interference, fiber-optic networks offered an ideal way to first introduce gigabit internet. However, the availability of fiber-optic infrastructure is currently concentrated in major cities, limiting the number of households that can take advantage of the technology.

Gigabit internet is also offered through cable internet, which uses the same coaxial cables for standard cable internet and TV. Leveraging new DOCSIS 3.1 technology, cable internet service providers are able to offer up to 1 Gbps download speeds, but you’ll have to check on the upload speeds because they’ll be substantially slower than a fiber-optic connection. Make sure you also check with your internet service provider before buying a new Wi-Fi router.

Can you get gigabit speed over Wi-Fi?

Yes, you can get gigabit speed over Wi-Fi. You just need to make sure that you have a gigabit internet connection and an up-to-date wireless router that supports gig internet speeds. If you upgraded your internet access recently and received a wireless modem from your ISP, the chances are that it’s compatible with your new internet connection, so you should be good to go.

If you subscribed to a faster internet speed, but you’re still using your old router, you may need a new one that supports gig speeds. Find one that offers the ranges and features you need to achieve optimum gig internet speed.

Is gigabit internet worth it?

The value of gigabit internet depends on your needs. If you share your internet access with a lot of people or if you need to power many devices, it’s likely worth it. Similarly, if you do a lot of upload-heavy tasks, like attending Zoom meetings or participating in multi-player high-graphic games online, gig internet could be an excellent option for you.

If you live alone and only use the internet mainly for downloading activities like streaming Netflix movies and shows, surfing the web or checking email, you may not need gig speed internet. An internet speed of 100 Mbps is enough. Likewise, if you have slightly older devices, you may not get the full benefits of gigabit internet speeds.

What is gigabit internet best for?

Gigabit internet offers data transfers of 1 million bits per second. This means your internet has the capability to support everything you do online, plus more, and at a faster speed. But there are specific situations where gigabit internet is ideal, such as:

• Streaming videos: The bandwidth capabilities of gig internet means you can stream 4K resolution on different devices at once without the loading and buffer times.
• Online gaming: If you are an online gamer, the matching upload and download speeds of gigabit internet can help improve your play. It improves weak connections and latency, which is the measurement of the time it takes for the entire back-and-forth trip. This means you won’t have to worry about lag times or slow ping rates, which refers to the signals sent from one computer to another.
• Data backup: Internet users are doing away with local storage, such as external hard drives, and opting to use cloud storage services. With gigabit speeds, cloud computing and backup storage that can be accessed anywhere, anytime could become the norm.
• Multiple users: The main advantage of gigabit internet is its capacity to support multiple users and devices. A multiple-user household can easily clog bandwidth and slow everyone’s connection. But gig-speed internet reduces the strain on your home network. It allows all members of the household to attend lag-free Zoom meetings, stream movies or play online games — all at once.

Discover Frontier Fiber Internet options in your area

Frontier Fiber Internet offers multiple plans to fit your needs. You never know when you might need more or less internet speed. You can stream away with no annual contracts, and most data plans come with unlimited data, so you can get the most out of your gigabit speeds without worrying about data overages.

For a reliable high-speed internet connection that lets you stream to your heart’s pleasure, take a look at Frontier’s Fiber Internet options. Enter your address to check if Frontier is available in your area.

Frontier^® Fiber Internet has a speed capable range of 846 to 940 Mbps download and 792 to 880 Mbps upload for Gig Service Internet. Max speeds are wired speeds. Wi-Fi, actual and average speeds may vary. See performance details at: frontier.com/internetdisclosures.