Upgrading From 200 Mbps to 2 Gig? What Will It Feel Like?

By Rachelle Dragani

Do I really feel the need for speed? That’s the big question on most people’s minds when they consider upgrading to a faster internet connection. Getting a boost from 2 gig internet can make a big difference in all the ways you use connectivity in your home, whether it’s working from home, managing your household or unwinding at the end of the day. 

Not sure if you need gigabit internet? Let’s break down the gigabit internet speed comparison and get a sense of what the upgrade could mean for you.

What is gigabit internet speed?

Gigabit internet is the fastest internet available on the market. It can handle more bandwidth and provide smoother, more streamlined connections than your typical broadband package. In some cases, depending on your current network, gigabit internet could run 40 times faster than what you’ve got now. 

To compare the numbers: A regular broadband connection typically gives speeds of about 10 to 115 Megabits per second (Mbps).

In the earlier days of home internet, about 25 Mbps was considered a speedy connection, but today that’s a bit of an outdated number. And now we rely more on connectivity. Between smart home devices, working and learning from home and constantly being on our phones, most households need far more speed and power.

Enter gigabit internet. Running on a fiber optic network, 2 gig internet means you’ll get speeds of 2 gigabits per second.

Check out the difference that upgrading to 2 gig internet can make in your home:

1. More supportive of multiple users

You’re not just looking for more speed—you’re looking for more bandwidth. Take a second to count the connected devices in your house. It might be a whole lot more than you think—the average number per family has more than doubled in the last two years alone. You might have 70 devices connected to your home network!

Do you have a few smartphone and laptop users in your place? A smart speaker like Alexa, or a video game console? What about smart home devices like a Ring doorbell, a Nest thermostat, a smart fridge or a smart sprinkler system? Wearing an Apple Watch or a Fitbit on your wrist? Using a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard and speakers?

Now think about everything you do on those devices throughout your day. You might be on a work Zoom call while also scrolling through your phone, while one roommate spends hours on multi-player video games and another streams movies. Or maybe your kids do their homework on tablets while Alexa plays music in the background and your Fitbit tracks your Peloton workout.

To support all of these uses, you need increased bandwidth. Fiber—especially with gigabit speeds—provides it. As long as you’ve got speeds of 940 Mbps or more, your household can easily hop on to multiple devices at once without concern about slowdowns.

2. Improves working from home

Made the shift to remote work? Then you’ll likely benefit from a shift to gigabit internet. Most people think of download speeds when they think of faster internet, but the real key to working from home without headaches is faster upload speeds—what you need when you’re sending data out to other users rather than using it up yourself.

Faster upload speeds will give you greater ability to quickly share giant files and have smoother Zoom calls. Plus, you’ll be better able to quickly get uploads into the cloud, which could be important if your job requires constantly sharing, updating or accessing documents that are stored there.

3. Provides reliability

Gigabit internet runs on the fiber optic network, meaning it uses durable glass cables. Along with being able to carry stronger connections than copper, they’re more reliable and can be less vulnerable to extreme conditions like poor weather.

A switch to a gigabit fiber network will give you the peace of mind you need when it comes to your home’s connections.

4. Enhances your entertainment

Faster internet isn’t all about work. Who wants annoying buffering while you’re streaming your favorite Netflix shows? And the real noticeable difference is when it comes to gaming. If you’re playing multi-player games, gigabit internet will make that play more seamless and enjoyable.

All in all, if you’re only hopping on the internet once in a while to check an email or Google a recipe, you’re probably okay with a broadband connection. But if your network has to support the variety of connected devices common in homes today, it’s worth it to make sure you have gig internet now, before your home gets even more connected and your current network comes up short.

Frontier 2 Gig keeps you ready for the future

Count ’em up. You might have as many as 70 connected devices today, but where are you going in six months or a year? Let gigabit take you there. If you think your household needs the boost now, check out if gigabit internet on the speedy fiber network is available in your home already. Ready for Frontier Fiber? Check here to see when it’s available at your address.