The Truth About Gigs, Gs And Other Internet Marketing Jargon
My phone works with 5G. I've also seen a lot of 10G hype lately. Is it twice as fast? Our local internet company, Ziply Fiber, just announced their 10 gig plan. Is it the same?
If you're confused by Internet technology and marketing jargon, you're not alone. Here we explain the important differences so you can make an informed decision.
gigabit/megabit
Internet packages are sold per gigabit per second (Gbps) or megabit per second (Mbps). Gigabits (also called gigs) or megabits indicate how much "stuff" (videos, music, games, social content, email) can be transferred at once.
Most residential customers use packages ranging from 50 Mbps to 1 gig. "Gig-Speed Internet" means that the program offers a download speed of 1 gigabit/s or 1000 megabits/s.
Upload / download speed
A little known fact is that most companies only advertise and sell their download speed. So if you see your cable ISP reporting, say, 200 Mbps, that's just the download speed. However, download speed is just as important as how fast you send things like your photos and your voice over the Internet during a video call, and is usually part of the download speed. If the upload and download speeds are not symmetrical or uneven, you may experience a stuttering video or audio delay during the call.
Fiber internet plans like Ziply Fiber are symmetrical, meaning they always offer the same upload and download speeds. This means better performance without lag or buffering.
Check for symmetrical upload and download speeds for the best internet experience.
5G = 5th generation wireless
5G stands for 5th generation and is the technology standard for modern mobile broadband networks. If you see a "5G" icon on your phone, it means your phone is connected to your carrier's 5G network.
5 doesn't mean 5x faster and doesn't mean 5 gigs. According to Ookla, the carrier with the fastest 5G speed test actually had an average download speed of just 220.70 Mbps in the first quarter of 2023, which is what consumers can achieve with a typical giga-speed fiber plan. .
10G = network name
There's been a lot of marketing lately, but let's be clear: unlike 5G, 10G does not mean 10th generation, as there is no 7G, 8G or 9G. It's just what the cable companies call their network.
Currently, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offering 10G often show speeds that are still under development and mislead the public about what speeds they can offer, giving the impression that they have a 10 gigabit plan. Today, in most areas, packages advertised on 10G cable networks are equal to 1 gigabyte download with slower download speeds, as many of these networks rely on outdated copper technology to transmit TV signals, rather than modern Internet. Fiberglass. Designed for home networks.
10 Gig = Very high speed
1 gigabyte = 1000 Mbps, then 10 gigabytes = 10000 Mbps. That's the latest speed for Ziply Fiber, named the West's fastest ISP by CNET when it rolled out the region's first 10-gigabit fiber-to-the-home network in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
10 gigabyte fiber home internet is brand new, and those who want to take advantage of today's incredible speeds are likely to be serious content creators. It also makes gaming and HD video streaming a lot of fun.
What speed do I need?
Not everyone needs a plan for 10 or even 5 gigs. Ziply Fiber's most popular plans are the 2 Gig and 1 Gig Fiber plans, which offer extremely fast, reliable, and symmetrical upload/download connections that let you seamlessly do whatever you want online across multiple connected devices.
If your needs are minimal, a basic plan like 100/100, which offers 100 Mbps upload and download speeds, offers a good quality connection for reading, surfing and emailing at a very affordable price.
Conclusion. With fiber optic internet there is no problem with buffer wheels and peak time regulation. And remember, not all "G's" are created equal.
Dan Miller supports Ziply Fiber's communications efforts in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. For more information about the company and its work to bring fiber to communities in the Northwest, visit ziplyfiber.com or call (866) 699-4759 .

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