Does Spectrum Offer Symmetrical Internet Speeds?

What is Symmetrical Internet?

Symmetrical internet offers the same upload and download speeds, leading to an enhanced digital experience. It is a feature that is widely considered to be a hallmark of fiber internet. Until now, most non-fiber internet providers in the USA were offering asynchronous speeds where the bandwidths on the upstream were kept lower than the downstream to match the usage patterns. An average American household downloads around 551.4 GB of data and uploads 35.3 GB of data, each month. But with Spectrum’s symmetrical internet speeds, change is on the horizon.

In a bid to move away from its old identity, Spectrum is gradually rolling out symmetrical internet connections in a select few markets, enriching two-way communication, especially for content creators. 

Continue reading as we give you a lowdown on Spectrum’s new symmetrical internet offerings and help you understand how it is another step toward next-generation connectivity.   

Spectrum Symmetrical Internet Speeds

Fiber internet is spreading like wildfire in the USA. Recently, the Fiber Broadband Association reported that there is a 12 percent year-on-year increase in fiber passing that now stands at 60 million American households. As the telecom giants, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and CenturyLink continue to expand their fiber footprint and make high-speed internet more affordable, cable internet providers are pulled into the rat race for higher bandwidths and cheaper rates. 

Spectrum by Charter Communications is the second largest cable internet provider in the USA. However, to keep up with the growing demand for equally fast upload speeds and stay atop a sea of fiber internet providers in the country, Spectrum decided to increase the upstream capabilities (signals traveling from the consumers back to the data center) of its coaxial cable network. It uses DOCSIS 3.1 modems to deliver faster upload speeds to a select few markets. Spectrum’s symmetrical internet speeds apply to flagship 300 Mbps and above. 

Spectrum 300 Mbps Internet Speed

The very first speed tier that is eligible for equal upload and download speeds is Spectrum Internet 300 Mbps. The plan costs $49.99 per month for the first 12 months and includes unlimited data, a free modem, antivirus software, and contract-free service. In approved markets, such as Gering, Nebraska, the plan can deliver 300 Mbps of internet speed on both, upstream and downstream. 

However, in most places, consumers of this starter plan will receive up to 300 Mbps on the downstream and a maximum of 10 Mbps on the upstream. The good thing is that regardless of the upload speeds the price and perks of Spectrum Internet plans remain consistent across its national footprint. 

So, whether you are getting symmetrical speeds on your Spectrum Internet 300 Mbps plan or asymmetric speeds, you will get promo discounts, an Advanced WiFi system, and a Spectrum Mobile Unlimited line for $49.99/mo for 12 months. After that, regular rates apply for the Internet, WiFi, and Mobile services. 

With Spectrum’s symmetrical 300 Mbps internet speeds, you can live stream your gameplay, upload high-definition images, and enjoy smooth video calling on various social apps.  

Spectrum 500 Mbps Internet Speed

Spectrum Internet Ultra is one of the top-performing mid-speed plans in the hyperfast internet offerings. The plan is offered for a starting price of $69.99 per month and comes with uncapped data, a Spectrum-approved modem, and antivirus software activation on three devices. Neighborhoods that are qualified to receive Spectrum’s symmetrical internet speeds will get 500 Mbps on up and down channels, given that a DOCSIS 3.1 modem is used. 

Otherwise, Spectrum Internet Ultra delivers up to 20 Mbps of upload speed throughout its 42-state service area. Subscribers can avail of the combined benefits of high-speed internet, whole-home WiFi, and unlimited mobile service for $69.99 per month (for 12 months) through the Spectrum One bundle. But after the promo period, the monthly rates will switch back to the standard fees of $104.99 for the Internet, $5.00 for the WiFi router, and $29.99 for the Spectrum Mobile Unlimited line. 

Spectrum’s 500 Mbps symmetrical internet speeds are best suited for simultaneous multi-device connectivity, multiplayer gaming, and transferring of large files. 

Spectrum 1,000 Mbps Internet Speed

Spectrum Internet Gig is the fastest speed tier in the residential broadband product portfolio. The promotional price of the Spectrum Internet Gig plan is $89.99 per month and includes a free internet modem, access to a cybersecurity suite, unlimited monthly data, and no contract service. For the same price, new Spectrum Internet Gig subscribers can enjoy whole-home WiFi coverage and unlimited data, talk, and text, completely free for a year. 

Once the validity of the Spectrum One bundle ends, the subscribers must pay a regular fee of $124.99 per month for the gigabit internet, $5.00 per month for the Advanced WiFi system, and $29.99 per month for the Unlimited 5G Spectrum Mobile plan. 

As the name suggests, Spectrum Internet Gig plan delivers 1,000 Mbps of download speeds. In selected communities, customers can receive up to 1,000 Mbps of upload speeds, but as the implementation of symmetrical speeds across the entire footprint is a multi-year project, most households in the USA will get up to 35 Mbps of upload speeds on their Spectrum Internet Gig plan.    

Spectrum’s symmetrical gigabit internet speeds are ideal for ultra-high-definition content uploads, video conferences, and professional gaming. 

Benefits of Spectrum Symmetrical Internet Speeds

The upload speeds on Spectrum’s symmetrical internet connection mirror the download speeds. It means that if you are receiving 300 Mbps of download speed on your Spectrum Internet plan, then you will receive an upload speed of 300 Mbps or something close to that figure. An upload speed that is just as fast as the download speed has a range of benefits, as discussed below: 

Improved Performance for Cloud Backups/ Services 

Remote workers, content creators, and businesses frequently use cloud services to store data, collaborate in real-time, and for web hosting. Uploading large files on cloud storage can take several hours if the upload speeds are slow. But with speeds as fast as 300 Mbps and higher, you can upload 100 GB of data in less than an hour, 47 minutes, and 43 seconds to be exact. 

Better Video Conferencing

In remote and hybrid work environments, video conferencing has effectively become an alternative to in-person meetings. During peak hours, network congestion causes a drop in upload speeds leading to choppy or pixelated video calls. This is because several people are trying to use the upstream channel to send data back to the provider. On a cable network, the upload bandwidths are usually limited to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) but in the case of Spectrum’s symmetrical internet, the bandwidths are increased up to 1 gigabit per second, leading to superior video quality and audio performance at times of intense online activity.    

Smooth Streaming of Gameplay

Avid gamers use platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Vimeo to live stream their gaming sessions, increase their following, and earn a livelihood. Spectrum’s symmetrical internet makes glitch-free live streaming possible because the data can be uploaded and transferred to the servers at lightning-fast speeds.  

Enhanced VPN Performance

Some geographically-restricted websites and pages can only be accessed via a Virtual Private Network (VPN). For example, remote workers often use a VPN to log into their secure corporate networks. However, using a VPN with a slow internet connection can be a drag because of the multi-layered encryption process. But when you switch to an ultrafast internet service that offers equally fast upload speeds, the commands are processed and sent to the data center much faster, allowing you to view the web pages more quickly. 

Supports Home-Based Businesses

E-commerce businesses are graphics and image-driven. Studies have shown that 75 percent of online shoppers first look at product images and that websites with high-definition photographs outperform the ones with low-resolution pictures. One raw ultra-high-definition (4K) image file is around 20 MB in size and can take 20 seconds to upload with a 10 Mbps internet connection. But if you were to upgrade the upload speed to 300 Mbps, the same file would take just 0.5 seconds to upload, significantly increasing the efficiency and hence, the sales of your home-based business.  

And last but not the least…Spectrum’s symmetrical internet speeds are;

Future-Proof 

Our internet usage patterns are evolving as we rapidly shift from basic online activities to more data-intensive applications, such as virtual reality 3D meetings and augmented reality gaming. Along with fiber internet, Spectrum’s symmetrical internet speeds are paving the way for a hyperfast future where supremely fast upload speeds are the norm. 

Conclusion

It may take a couple of years before Spectrum’s symmetrical internet becomes widespread across the 42-state footprint. Until then, areas that have been chosen for the distribution of equal upload and download speeds via DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem will enjoy the added benefits of faster upstream capabilities at the same monthly rates. For as low as $49.99 per month, Spectrum is now offering speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps (up/ down) in shortlisted service areas to challenge the hegemony of fiber internet providers in the arena of symmetrical speeds.