As 5G becomes more mainstream, you may have considered checking your Internet or mobile data speed out of curiosity. And you may have encountered speed readings that don't match your expectations, but why is that? Isn't 5G faster than 4G? Yes, but there are many factors to consider, so we'll get to that in a bit.
First, you need to know how to read your network speed test results correctly, whether it's your home Internet or mobile data. To begin, the Speedtest Internet and WiFi Test app by Ookla is one of the most popular tools used by Malaysians, so you can start with that.
The basics - Mbps and Ping
You can do the network speed test on your phone or PC, which will produce the same thing. After a few seconds, you should see your test results written in Mbps. Mbps stands for Megabits per second, but it's not the same as Megabytes per second (usually abbreviated as MBps), which you will usually see when transferring files between storage devices such as pen drives, hard drives and SSDs. In the past, you could actually use the network speed and divide it by 8 to figure out how fast you can download a large file. But because the Internet speed is so fast these days, it hardly matters.
The three primary measurements for reading speed tests
Besides Download and Upload speeds, ping is also a common term that you usually see on the speed test result page. Download and Upload speeds also use Mbps to refer to data transfers online. But ping is measured in milliseconds (ms) to indicate the time it takes between sending a request and receiving a response. Ping is also often referred to as latency.
These 3 primary Internet speed measurements are very straightforward. If you are wondering why the download speed is often higher than the upload speed (as shown in many Internet plans), it's because the majority of users pull data from the Internet to watch YouTube, download files and images, and more. Upload speed is usually relevant when making video calls, transferring your files to the Internet, or uploading your photos or videos online, which is basically the opposite of downloading. It's also not used as often.
Ping often appears in online games such as PUBG Mobile (image credit)
Faster download speeds usually mean more stable streamed movies, while faster upload speeds let you send files faster. Finally, the lower your ping is, the better the quality of your Internet experience. It is a good measurement to gauge the quality of voice and video calls, as well as the responsiveness of your online multiplayer gaming experience. So, it doesn't matter if you only have a 30Mbps Internet plan or lower. As long as you get a single-digit ping number, you're good to go for most online things like gaming and streaming.
OK, but why doesn't my speed match my Internet plan?
Sometimes the speed may not match your Internet or mobile data's expected speed. And this is because you could have a few devices connected at the same time. With the craze of brands introducing their own ecosystem, there can easily be more than two or three devices connected to the same network. The allocated bandwidth will be divided around, so you usually won't get the full top speed if someone else is using the Internet near you for something else.
Another common factor is that your device may be connected to "WiFi_2.4G" instead of "WiFi_5G". For faster speeds, you may want to choose the latter because the signal performance is stronger. Also, do keep in mind that this doesn't refer to mobile 5G Internet. 5GHz is a completely different thing, but what is the difference between the two?
A common mistake made by casuals is thinking WiFi 5G is 5G
See the difference in speed between a 2.4GHz and 5GHz speed option?
2.4GHz WiFi is slower than 5GHz, but it doesn't mean it is inferior. It is still useful for devices that are farther from the WiFi router. So yes, the speed is not that fast but the signal transmission is better, going around or through walls such as your bedroom. On the other hand, 5GHz is the opposite of that with a higher transmission rate, stronger anti-jamming ability, better stability, and low latency. However, it's usually not strong enough to go through walls.
Other factors to consider
If you're not getting the maximum Internet speed expected, other factors must be in play. For starters, your device could be older and has access only to slower WiFi bands like WiFi 5 or WiFi 6. These days, newer devices integrated with WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 have tremendously improved the transmission speed by double and more. Additionally, your WiFi router could also be old. Do also check on your mesh WiFi to boost the signal strength or range further.
A website promoting WiFi 7's speed (image credit)
It's only 11MB/s but do take note of the capital letters
Also, if you see other Internet speed readings in Mb/s or MB/s, they're the same as Mbps and MBps, respectively. Moreover, when Internet providers send their technicians to install your home WiFi, they will always do the test results while setting it up so that you know this is the package you signed up for.
So, that's pretty much it for how to read your network speed test results correctly. Want to learn more tech stuff? Find out more on our website and stay tuned for more trending tech articles, news and reviews at TechNave.com.
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