Internet Speed Test

At the beginning of the internet (1990s), dial-up connections offered 56 Kbps and no one formally measured speed. With the arrival of ADSL (2000s) and speeds up to 8 Mbps, the first online tests emerged like Speedtest.net (2006) by Ookla, which became the worldwide standard for measuring connections.

Today, with fiber optics offering up to 10 Gbps residential and 5G mobile reaching 1-2 Gbps, speed tests are essential for diagnosing problems, verifying contracts, and optimizing home networks. The COVID-19 pandemic exponentially increased the use of these tests with massive remote work.

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A slow connection directly impacts web experience. Google penalizes sites that take more than 3 seconds to load, and users abandon slow pages. Regularly measuring speed allows identifying if the problem is the connection or the website, improving technical decisions.

Companies and digital businesses depend on fast connections: video streaming requires 25 Mbps for 4K, video conferencing 10-15 Mbps, and online gaming low ping (<50ms). Regularly verifying these metrics ensures productivity and customer satisfaction.

To obtain accurate results and optimize the connection, follow these professional recommendations:

1. Measure under optimal conditions

Connect the device directly to the router via Ethernet cable to eliminate WiFi interference. Close all applications using internet (streaming, downloads, video conferencing). Perform the test at various times of day to detect peak hour congestion.

2. Correctly interpret the results

Download: reception speed (important for streaming and browsing). Upload: sending speed (critical for video conferencing and uploading files). Ping: response time (essential for gaming, optimal <20ms, acceptable <50ms). Jitter: latency variation (low indicates stable connection).

3. Optimize home WiFi network

Place the router in a central and elevated position, avoiding metallic obstacles and appliances that cause interference. Use the 5GHz band for nearby devices (more speed, less range) and 2.4GHz for long distances. Change the WiFi channel if you detect neighbor congestion.

4. When to contact the provider

If the speed is consistently and significantly lower (>30%) than contracted for several days, contact the provider. Save screenshots of tests as proof. Many contracts guarantee "up to" X Mbps, not exactly X Mbps, but you should receive at least 80% via cable.

Remote work professionals use speed tests to diagnose video conferencing problems (Zoom, Teams, Meet) and ensure productivity. Gamers measure ping and jitter to optimize competitive experience. Twitch/YouTube streamers need 10-20 Mbps stable upload to transmit HD quality.

Technology companies monitor remote worker connections to quickly solve incidents. Network technicians diagnose bottlenecks in infrastructures. Consumers verify they get what they pay for, especially in rural areas with fiber promises that aren't met.

The evolution of connection speeds

In the 1990s, dial-up connection offered speeds of 56 Kbps, taking minutes to load a single image. ADSL from the 2000s brought speeds up to 8 Mbps, revolutionizing browsing. Today, fiber optic offers speeds of 1 Gbps or more, 18,000 times faster than dial-up.

From fiber to future connections

Fiber optic, massively deployed since 2010, uses light pulses to transmit data at incredible speeds. Currently, Li-Fi technology (internet via visible light) and 6G networks are being researched, promising speeds up to 1 Tbps (1000 Gbps). This would allow downloading a 4K movie in less than a second.

Fascinating curiosities about internet speed

• The unmistakable dial-up sound: Modems from the 90s made the famous "beep-beep-beeeep" for 30-60 seconds to connect. This noise was the "conversation" between modems establishing the connection.
• Phone line busy: While you were connected to the internet, nobody could call you. It was common for the family to complain because "you were occupying the line".
• Endless downloads: Downloading a 3 MB MP3 song could take 10-15 minutes. A high-quality image, several minutes. And if someone picked up the phone, you lost everything!
• World record: Japanese scientists achieved a speed of 319 Terabits per second (319,000 Gbps) in 2021 using experimental fiber optic.
• South Korea leads: South Korea has the fastest average internet speed in the world at 245 Mbps on average.
• WiFi vs Cable: An Ethernet cable connection can be 2 to 10 times faster and more stable than WiFi.
• Distance matters: Every 100 meters of distance from the WiFi router can reduce speed by up to 50%.
• Internet in space: SpaceX's Starlink offers satellite internet at 150 Mbps in remote areas, revolutionizing global connectivity.