Internet download speed, like a speed of 100 Mbps or megabits per second, can also be converted to speed in gigabytes per second. A download speed of 100 Mbps is equivalent to a download speed of .0125 GB per second. However, internet speed is typically measured in Mbps, while GB or gigabytes is usually used as a measure of data.
When you use the internet, you will often notice speed – the time it takes to load a website, picture, or video, for instance. This was especially true when dial-up internet was common. Download speed is usually faster than upload speed, but both impact your experience when you’re online. High-speed internet availability makes a better experience available for more people.
Data usage refers to the amount of information being transmitted or “hauled” with your speed. Some internet use doesn’t consume much data. The text of a webpage has far less information packed in it than a streamed show that is an hour-long video. This is why different online activities consume different amounts of your data plan.
Many internet providers offer plans with two components: download speeds in Mbps, and priority data thresholds in GB (gigabytes) or TB (terabytes). It’s common for providers to offer unlimited data but to offer a threshold of priority, high-speed data before switching to slower unlimited data. The benefit is that if you go over your data threshold, you aren’t charged extra; the speed of accessing that data is just slowed.
Fixed broadband internet providers often feature extremely high download speeds to high-population areas. However, in recent years there has been an increase in the speed of internet service by satellite internet providers for rural and remote areas.
For example, depending on your area, Viasat offers these speed and data tiers in some regions:
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