What is the standard for internet connection speed? We also explain how to improve it if it's slow!

The Internet is now used in a variety of everyday situations, not just for surfing the web, but also for online games, web conferences, and more.
Because it's such an essential part of our lives, it can be frustrating when you experience issues like the screen freezing midway through or downloading taking too long. One possible cause of these issues is slow internet speeds.
In this article, we will introduce general guidelines for internet connection speeds and also explain how to improve your internet connection speed if it is slow.

Table of contents

Important points to keep in mind when measuring internet speed

Before measuring your internet connection speed, let's understand how connection speed works. Here we will explain the basics.

Line speed units

The unit used to express internet line speed is "bps," which stands for "bit per second" and indicates how many bits of data can be sent in one second.
When describing internet line speeds, the terms "Kbps," "Mbps," and "Gbps" are often used. "Kbps," "Mbps," and "Gbps" refer to the following values, respectively.

・1Kbps (Killer Bits per Second) = 1000 times 1bps
・1Mbps (mega bps) = 1 million times 1bps = 1,000Kbps
・1Gbps (gigabit per second) = 1 billion times 1 bps = 1,000 Mbps

The higher the bps value, the faster the line speed, leading to a more comfortable internet experience.
We will also explain in detail later on the recommended line speeds depending on your Internet usage.

There are two types of line speeds: "up" and "down"

There are two types of internet line speeds: "upload" and "download." "Upload" speed is the speed at which data is uploaded (sent) to the internet from a device such as a computer. Activities related to "upload" speed include sending emails, posting to social media, and uploading videos to YouTube.
"Download" speed is the speed at which data is downloaded (received) from the Internet to your device. If your "download" speed is slow, it may cause problems with receiving emails, browsing websites, watching videos, installing apps, loading online games, and more.

If you play online games, ping is important.

If you often play online games or hold remote meetings, you should also be aware of the "ping" value. Ping value is an abbreviation for "Packet Internet Groper" and refers to the response speed of the Internet. It is measured in milliseconds (ms), with 1 ms meaning 1,000 responses per second.
The general ping values that are used as a guide are as follows:

・0 to 40 ms: Fast
・41-60ms: Normal
・61 to 100 ms: Slightly slow
・101ms and above: Slow

The smaller the ping value, the faster the response time. Therefore, a ping of around 40ms to 60ms is sufficient for social media or watching videos, but for online games or day trading, a ping of 20ms or less is considered ideal.

Line speed guideline

Here we will introduce guidelines for line speeds depending on the purpose.

Estimated line speed for each communication line

Internet connection speeds vary depending on the type of connection you use, such as fiber optic, cable, or mobile.
Line speeds are also described as "theoretical" and "measured." Theoretical speeds refer to the speeds you can expect under ideal conditions, and can be confirmed through fees plans of your telecommunications carrier or internet provider. Measured speeds are speeds measured in an actual environment, including obstacles, and are often not published, so you'll need to measure them yourself.
Below are examples of line speeds (theoretical download values) for each communication line.

Websites that can measure internet speed

If you want to measure the actual line speed, you can use a website that can measure speed. An example is shown below, so if you're interested, please check it out for yourself.

・Fast.com
This is a free service provided by Netflix, a major video streaming service, and when you access the page, it automatically displays your current internet connection speed.

・USEN GATE 02
It's provided by USEN ICT Solutions, Inc., and can be accessed by visiting their "Internet Line Speed Test" page. It measures upload and download speeds, ping values, and jitter values, which represent fluctuations in ping values. It also shows results for different uses, such as video viewing and gaming. Note that a high jitter value (the amount of fluctuation in ping values) can cause stuttering or interrupted video when playing online games.

・Broadband Speed Test
This service is provided by Ookla, a company headquartered in the United States. By accessing the page and clicking the "GO" button, your "upload" speed, "download" speed, and ping value will be measured.

How to improve your internet speed

Internet speed depends on factors such as:

・The status of your device, such as your computer or smartphone
・The condition of devices such as routers and cables, and the environment in which they are used
・Service contents and line types of telecommunications carriers

Here we will introduce ways to improve your internet speed if you feel that it is slow.

Restart your device or update your OS

Devices such as computers and smartphones may begin to slow down over time. First, try closing any apps you are not using and then restarting your device.
Also, if you are using an older OS, the speed may be slow, so it is important to update to the latest version of the OS.

Update your router and LAN cable standards

Even if the speed of the line you have subscribed to is fast, if the router or LAN cable specifications are old, the line speed will remain slow.
LAN cables are categorized into standards called "CAT" (category), with the higher the number after "CAT" the newer the standard. For everyday use, "CAT5e" or "CAT6" are your options, supporting a maximum communication speed of 1Gbps. For those who watch a lot of videos, we recommend "CAT6A," which supports 10Gbps.
If you are still using a router or LAN cable that you purchased many years ago, check it and consider replacing it.

Switch to Wi-Fi 6

There are several Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) standards, each with different maximum communication speeds. Among them, the fastest communication speeds are expected to be "IEEE802.11ax" (maximum communication speed of 9.6 Gbps) and "IEEE802.11ac" (maximum communication speed of 6.9 Gbps).
In recent years, "IEEE802.11ax" has also been called "Wi-Fi 6," and "IEEE802.11ac" has been called "Wi-Fi 5." Switching to a Wi-Fi router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard may result in faster internet connection speeds.

Change the Wi-Fi frequency band

Wi-Fi mainly uses two frequency bands, the 2.4GHz band and the 5GHz band, each with its own characteristics.
The 2.4GHz band has a low frequency and can reach long distances, but it is also used by microwave ovens and induction cooking appliances, so its disadvantage is that radio waves are prone to interference with each other.
The 5GHz band is a frequency band exclusive to Wi-Fi, so it is not affected by home appliances. However, it has the disadvantage of being vulnerable to obstacles such as walls and furniture.
The 5GHz band is less susceptible to interference than the 2.4GHz band, so one option is to change the Wi-Fi frequency band from your smartphone or PC.

Change the location of your Wi-Fi router

Depending on the location and number of Wi-Fi devices installed, communication may be interrupted, slowing down the speed. Please check the following points.

- Do not place the router in a location that is obstructed by walls, furniture, or other obstacles.
- Do not place the router near electronic devices that may cause radio wave interference, such as microwave ovens, induction cooking appliances, or Bluetooth devices.
・The further away you are from the router, the harder it is for the signal to reach, so if you are connecting from a distance, you should use a repeater.
・If you are using a mobile router, place it in a location where it can easily pick up signals, such as near a window.

Switch to another company's communication line

If the above methods don't improve your internet speed, consider switching to another company's internet service provider.
As mentioned above, there are different types of lines, such as fiber optic lines, cable TV lines, and mobile lines, and each has its own characteristics. We recommend that you compare the options, such as whether construction is required and fees differences, to choose the one that best suits your needs.

If you want to comfortably use the internet on your smartphone, we recommend povo2.0!

For those who want to comfortably use the Internet on their smartphone, we recommend povo2.0 ^(※1).
povo2.0 has a basic fees of 0 yen ^{(*2) (*3) (*4)}, and you can Topping data or calls as you want (for a fee). Because it uses au 's 4G LTE communication, you won't feel stressed even on the subway or in large shopping malls. 5G communication is also available in some areas.
Furthermore, povo2.0 allows you to use tethering at no additional fees, so it is also recommended for those who use tethering frequently.
If you want to enjoy a comfortable internet environment while keeping your monthly communication costs down, we recommend povo2.0. We are currently running special campaigns, so please consider it.
Reference: "Campaign List" (povo)

*1: All procedures and support are online. povo2.0 Please contact us through the application or the official website. 2: If you subscribe to 5 lines(*) under the same name, a contract administration fee of tax included 3,850 yen/line will be charged for the 6th line and thereafter. validity for 180 days or more, or if you have never purchased Topping for a fee, your subscription may be suspended or terminated.
*Includes lines that have been terminated or cancelled by the Company within the past year. *3: Domestic calls are charged separately at tax included 22 yen/30 seconds, and SMS sending is charged separately at tax included 3.3 yen/text (up to 70 characters). Depending on the model, up to 670 two-byte characters can be sent; up to 134 characters are counted as two SMS messages, and thereafter one SMS message is charged for every 67 characters. Calling rates may differ for some calls, such as calls to satellite phones. For more information, please contact this way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)
Reference: povo2.0 Plan Details" (povo) *4: If data Topping is not purchased, the maximum sending/receiving rate is 128 kbps.

summary

In this article, we introduced guidelines for internet connection speed and ways to improve it. If you feel that your connection speed is slow, first check the condition of the device and communication equipment you are using.
Your internet speed may improve if you update your OS, replace your LAN cable, or change the Wi-Fi standard. If you're looking for a better internet environment, we recommend that you also consider switching carriers.

*The names of products and services mentioned in this article are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. ・YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC. ・" au" is a registered trademark of KDDI Corporation. ・"Wi-Fi" and "Wi-Fi 6" are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. ・"Bluetooth (R)" is a trademark or registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. USA. ・"LINE" is a trademark or registered trademark of LINE Corporation.