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A speed test for fiber, just like for other connection types, measures three main things:
Download Speed: This is how fast your connection can pull data from the internet to your computer or device. It's measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). A high download speed is important for activities like streaming videos in 4K, downloading large files, and browsing websites.
Upload Speed: This is how fast your connection can send data from your device to the internet. This is also measured in Mbps or Gbps. A high upload speed is crucial for video calls, uploading large files (like videos to YouTube or backups to the cloud), and online gaming. A key feature of many fiber plans is symmetrical speeds, meaning the upload speed is the same as the download speed.
Latency (or Ping): This is the reaction time of your connection—how long it takes for a small packet of data to travel from your device to a server and back again. It's measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency is better. Low ping is very important for activities that require real-time responses, especially online gaming and video conferencing.
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For the most reliable measurement of your fiber connection's speed, follow these steps:
Use a wired connection: connect your computer directly to your router using an ethernet cable. Wi-Fi speeds can be slower and less stable due to signal interference, distance, and the limits of the Wi-Fi hardware itself.
Close pther applications: shut down any other apps, browser tabs, or programs on your device that might be using the internet (like streaming services, active downloads, or cloud backups).
Limit other devices: for the best results, make sure no one else in your home is heavily using the internet (e.g., streaming 4K movies or downloading games) while you run the test.
Run the test multiple times: Run the test two or three times at different times of the day to get an average. Network congestion, even on a fiber network, can cause speeds to fluctuate.