Is 800 Mbps Fast Internet Speed?

If you have an 800 Mbps internet speed, you might think you have one of the fastest connections. But is that true? Yes, your broadband internet is over four times faster than the national average. 

Due to inconsistency in broadband infrastructure across the USA, the internet speed varies by region and city. So, depending on where you live, 800 Mbps could either put you on the high end of the spectrum or keep you somewhere in between. However, one thing is certain, the 800 Mbps internet plan puts you 32x higher up on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) broadband speed scale, which starts at a download speed of 25 Mbps. 

But what can you do with 800 Mbps of internet speed? And is it necessary to have such a fast internet speed for your daily needs? These are some of the questions that this article will answer.

Is 800 Mbps Good?

An 800 Mbps internet speed is considered fast by today’s standards. It means that you can download data at a rate of 800 megabits per second, or 100 megabytes per second.

800 Mbps is good for you if you are a hardcore internet user who loves to do everything online, from streaming to gaming to downloading and uploading. With 800 Mbps, you can enjoy the ultimate internet experience on multiple devices at the same time. For example, you can watch online videos in ultra-HD (4K) quality on 32 devices at once, or in full HD (1080p) quality on 170 devices, at once. You can also download a music album in a snap or an HD movie in less than a minute.

However, 800 Mbps might be too much for you if you are a light or average internet user who only does basic online activities, such as browsing, emailing, chatting, or watching videos in standard or high definition. You might not see a big difference between 800 Mbps and a lower speed, such as a 100 Mbps or a 300 Mbps internet speed. You might also be wasting money on your internet plan, as 800 Mbps is usually more costly than lower speeds.

Is 800 Mbps Internet Good for Gaming?

The answer is yes. 800 Mbps is a very fast internet speed that can support almost any online game you want to play.

Online gaming requires a lot of data transfer, especially for games with high-quality graphics, sound, and animation. Different games and platforms may have different internet speed requirements, but generally speaking, you want at least 25 Mbps of download speed and 3 Mbps of upload speed for a decent gaming experience. However, these are just the bare minimum, and you may need more speed to handle other online activities. Plus, some games may have higher speed requirements. 

However, having 800 Mbps of internet speed does not guarantee a flawless gaming experience. You also need low ping or latency, to avoid lag and delay in your gameplay. The type of internet connection you have can also affect your gaming performance. The best internet connection for gaming is fiber-optic, which offers the fastest and most reliable speeds, and the lowest latency.

Some of the top ISPs for gaming in the USA are:

• Verizon Fios
• Xfinity by Comcast
• AT&T Fiber.

Is 800 Mbps Internet Good for Streaming?

You might get tempted by the 800 Mbps internet tier. But do you really need that much speed to watch your favorite shows and movies in high quality?

The answer depends on how many devices you have in your household, what resolution you prefer to watch, and how much bandwidth each streaming service requires. For example, if you want to watch videos in 4K, which is the highest resolution available, you will need at least 25 Mbps per stream, according to Disney+. That means you can have up to 32 devices streaming 4K videos at the same time with an 800 Mbps internet plan.

Unless you have a large household with dozens of devices streaming 4K videos simultaneously, you probably don’t need an 800 Mbps internet plan for streaming. A 500 Mbps plan should be sufficient for most households. Moreover, it will also save you some money on your monthly bills.

Is 800 Mbps Internet Good for Remote Work?

At least 10 Mbps of download speed and 1 Mbps of upload speed are needed for each person working from home. This is enough for basic tasks like email and web browsing. However, if your work involves more data-intensive activities, such as video conferencing, streaming, uploading large files, or using multiple devices, you need a faster internet service.

Remote work gained popularity, especially during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Today, 56% of the U.S. workforce holds a job that is compatible with remote work, and 80% of employees want to work from home at least some of the time. Working remotely offers many benefits, but it also comes with some challenges. A slow and unstable internet connection affects the quality and efficiency of remote work, causing frustration, stress, and delays. 

So, how much internet speed do you need when working from home? The answer depends on the type and nature of your work, as well as the number of people and devices using the same network. Below, we have listed the typical speed requirements for most-performed online activities by remote workers. 

• Email and web browsing: 1-5 Mbps
• Video conferencing (standard definition): 1-4 Mbps
• Video conferencing (high definition): 5-8 Mbps
• Uploading or downloading large files: 10-40 Mbps
• Online gaming: 3-25 Mbps

These are the minimum speeds required for each activity. You must also account for the number of people and devices using the same network. For example, if you have two people working from home, one doing video conferencing in high definition and the other streaming in 4K, you will need at least (8 + 25) x 2 = 66 Mbps of internet speed. So, 800 Mbps internet is more than enough for most remote work scenarios.

Best 800 Mbps Internet Plans

The demand for fast internet will increase. To meet this need, internet service providers (ISPs) are upgrading their plans, with some offering speeds of up to 10 Gigs or higher. Generally, fiber and cable internet providers are the most capable of delivering 800 Mbps, while DSL and satellite internet are usually limited to slower speeds. Even within the same type of connection, different ISPs may have different speed tiers and pricing options.

If you are looking for an internet plan that offers 800 Mbps, you will need to compare the available providers in your area and see what they offer.

As you can see from the table above, you only have one option for the 800 Mbps internet speed. It is better to consider either the 500 Mbps or 1,000 Mbps internet speed because you can get several options to select from.

Conclusion

800 Mbps is a fast and reliable internet speed that can suit your online needs if you are a heavy internet user who wants to enjoy the best possible online experience. However, it might be unnecessary and unaffordable for light or moderate internet users who are looking for basic broadband connectivity. 

Therefore, before you decide to get 800 Mbps of internet speed, you should consider your online habits, budget, and availability. Not all internet providers offer 800 Mbps, and not all areas have the infrastructure to support it. You should check the availability and cost of 800 Mbps in your area, and compare it with other speed options. Remember, faster is not always better, and sometimes you may be paying for more speed than you actually need.