Decoding internet terms: speed, latency and jitter

<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>Decoding internet terms: speed, latency and jitter</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://blog.ting.com/hubfs/ting_logo_blue.png"> <meta name="description" content="Read our crash course on some of the most commonly misunderstood internet terms: speed, latency, jitter and ping."> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta property="og:description" content="Read our crash course on some of the most commonly misunderstood internet terms: speed, latency, jitter and ping."> <meta property="og:title" content="Decoding internet terms: speed, latency and jitter"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Read our crash course on some of the most commonly misunderstood internet terms: speed, latency, jitter and ping."> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Decoding internet terms: speed, latency and jitter"> <style> a.cta_button{-moz-box-sizing:content-box !important;-webkit-box-sizing:content-box !important;box-sizing:content-box !important;vertical-align:middle}.hs-breadcrumb-menu{list-style-type:none;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px}.hs-breadcrumb-menu-item{float:left;padding:10px 0px 10px 10px}.hs-breadcrumb-menu-divider:before{content:'›';padding-left:10px}.hs-featured-image-link{border:0}.hs-featured-image{float:right;margin:0 0 20px 20px;max-width:50%}@media (max-width: 568px){.hs-featured-image{float:none;margin:0;width:100%;max-width:100%}}.hs-screen-reader-text{clip:rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);height:1px;overflow:hidden;position:absolute !important;width:1px} </style> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://blog.ting.com/hs-fs/hub/8635674/hub_generated/template_assets/67750108992/1722546072599/atlas-theme-child/css/main.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://blog.ting.com/hs-fs/hub/8635674/hub_generated/template_assets/67748418134/1682532353864/atlas-theme-child/child.min.css"> <style> </style> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://blog.ting.com/hs-fs/hub/8635674/hub_generated/module_assets/101641461303/1675915493347/module_101641461303_Header_Search.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/hs/hsstatic/AsyncSupport/static-1.122/sass/comments_listing_asset.css"> <style> @font-face { font-family: "CircularStd"; 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https://8635674.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8635674/hubfs/24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg?width=1800&name=24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg 1800w, https://8635674.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8635674/hubfs/24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg?width=2400&name=24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg 2400w, https://8635674.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8635674/hubfs/24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg?width=3000&name=24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg 3000w, https://8635674.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8635674/hubfs/24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg?width=3600&name=24-086-NATL-BlogPosts-NewSEOfocused-CableSpeedTest.jpg 3600w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"> </div> <span class="blog-post__preheader"><a href="https://blog.ting.com/tag/tips-tricks">Tips & Tricks</a> </span> <h1 class="blog-post__title"><span id="hs_cos_wrapper_name" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="text">Decoding internet terms: speed, latency and jitter</span></h1> <p class="blog-post__summary">Read our crash course on some of the most commonly misunderstood internet terms: speed, latency, jitter and ping.</p> <div class="blog-post__meta"> <div class="blog-post__avatar" style="background-image: url('https://blog.ting.com/hubfs/IMG_4594.jpg');"> </div> <div class="blog-post__author"> <a href="https://blog.ting.com/author/emma-dressler"> Emma Dressler </a> <div class="blog-post__timestamp"> Nov 26, 2024 </div> </div> </div> <hr class="blog-post__divider"> <div class="blog-post__body-wrapper"> <div class="blog-post__body"> <span id="hs_cos_wrapper_post_body" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><p style="font-size: 16px;">To fully understand what we’re paying for and getting from our internet service providers (ISP), we need to understand terms like speed, latency and jitter. These terms also come up in your speed test and with their confusing face value, people often overlook them, often to their ISP’s benefit.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px;">Here’s a crash course in some of the most commonly misunderstood internet terms:</p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="#Download" rel="noopener"><strong>Download speed</strong></a><a href="#Download" rel="noopener">: </a>How fast you can receive data from the internet.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="#Upload" rel="noopener"><strong>Upload speed</strong></a><a href="#Upload" rel="noopener">:</a> How fast you can send data to the internet.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="#Latency" rel="noopener"><strong>Latency</strong></a><a href="#Latency" rel="noopener">:</a> The time delay between sending a request and getting a response.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="#Ping" rel="noopener"><strong>Ping</strong></a><a href="#Ping" rel="noopener" id="__hsNewLink">:</a> Measures the round-trip time for data to travel between your device and a server.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="#Jitter" rel="noopener" id="__hsNewLink"><span style="color: #3253ff;"><strong>Jitter</strong>:</span> </a><span style="color: #000000;">The variation in latency.</span></p>  <h1><span style="font-size: 20px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: bold;">Speed</span></h1> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Internet speed is measured in Mbps (Megabits per second) or Gbps (Gigabits per second). Higher numbers mean faster performance. </span></p> <a id="Download" data-hs-anchor="true"></a> <h2><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: 500;">Download speeds</span></h2> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">When we look for internet providers, download speeds overshadow almost every metric. That’s not to say it’s unearned—download speeds enable streaming, receiving communications, loading web pages and more. From a wider lens, it's how fast you can receive data to your device.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">But download speeds aren’t everything. A common ISP trick is to highlight their impressive download speeds. The trick here is you end up ignoring their upload speeds, which are just as important but commonly overlooked. Cable internet providers love to flash their 25 Mbps download speed, while only offering 3 Mbps in upload speeds (the</span><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/broadband-speed-guide" style="color: #0270e0;"><span> bare minimum required by the FCC</span></a><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> to qualify as "high-speed" broadband).</span></p> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">But hey, you’re not doomed to slow uploads. Alternatives like Ting’s fiber optic internet offers up to 2000 Mbps download and upload speeds, that don’t get throttled.</span></p> <p> </p> <a id="Upload" data-hs-anchor="true"></a> <h2><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: 500;">Upload speeds</span></h2> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">The way I think about it is when you consume internet content, it’s typically using download speeds, whereas when you contribute it’s typically upload. For example, posting to social media or sharing your video in a call requires upload speed. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">With strong upload speeds, your online experience can dramatically improve. Whether you want to stream HD buffer-free, crystal-clear video calls or game lag-free; better upload speeds are likely your fix.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: 500;">Internet speeds in action</span></h2> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">How much speed do you really need? It depends on what you want to do with it. Not every internet user needs the same speeds. Here’s anoverview of regular internet users and the speeds they need to operate headache-free.</span></p> <ul> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Email: 1 Mbps</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Social media: 3 Mbps</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Video calls: 5 Mbps</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">HD video streaming: 10 Mbps</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">4K video streaming: 30 Mbps</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Online gaming: 6 Mbps</span><br><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"></span></li> </ul> <div class="hs-embed-wrapper hs-fullwidth-embed" data-service="youtube" data-responsive="true" style="position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; height: auto; padding: 0px; min-width: 256px; display: block; margin: auto;"><div class="hs-embed-content-wrapper"><div style="position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0px;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UgjSmTgPK9s?si=vzijOqbNhPSzPkPb" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div></div></div> <h3> </h3> <h3 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: 500;">Video calls</span></h3> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">If you work remotely, you probably are familiar with the frustration of lagging and frozen video calls. Upload speeds are essential to prevent this. </span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Here’s why: every time you’re on a video call, your internet connection is constantly sending data (your voice and video) </span><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">out</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> to others while simultaneously receiving data (your coworkers’ voices and videos) </span><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">in</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">. If your upload speed is sluggish, that data bottlenecks, causing glitches, frozen screens and a whole lot of “Can you hear me now?” moments.</span></p> <h3 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: 500;">Streaming</span></h3> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Streaming requires a steady download speed to deliver the high-quality video you expect. While non-HD streaming might scrape by with 3 Mbps, stepping up to HD content requires at least 10 Mbps, and </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">4K Ultra HD</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;"> demands a hefty </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">30 Mbps</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">. If your connection can’t maintain these speeds, you’re left with buffering, reduced quality or, worse… being forced to watch in standard definition.</span></p> <h3 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: 500;">Gaming</span></h3> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Online gaming doesn’t demand massive sustained download or upload speeds. Most games can run smoothly with a steady connection of </span><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">3-6 Mbps download</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> and </span><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">1 Mbps upload</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">. However, gaming performance hinges on two key metrics: </span><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">ping</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> and </span><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">jitter</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">.</span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://internet.ting.com/speedtest-new?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=pillar_page&utm_term=consideration&utm_content=fast_internet" style="color: #0270e0;"><span>Take our internet speed test and find out if your connection can keep up.</span></a><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> </span></p> <a id="Jitter" data-hs-anchor="true"></a> <h1><span style="font-size: 20px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: bold;">Jitter</span></h1> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Jitter is the inconsistency in latency—basically, how unevenly your data packets arrive at their destination. While it might sound harmless, jitter can wreak havoc on your experience. Think: stuttering in gaming, choppy audio during that critical video call or annoying delays that make even simple tasks feel like pulling teeth.</span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Here are some quick fixes to keep your connection steady:</span></p> <ul style="font-size: 16px;"> <li style="color: #000000;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Go wired with Ethernet: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">Ethernet cables provide a stable, direct line to your router, cutting down interference and delivering reliable speeds.</span></li> <li style="color: #000000;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Restart your router: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">Sometimes your router just needs a reset to reconnect to less congested channels and optimize your connection.</span></li> <li style="color: #000000;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Get closer to your router: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">If Wi-Fi is your only option, staying within a short range of your router minimizes signal loss and interference.</span></li> </ul> <a id="Ping" data-hs-anchor="true"></a> <h1><span style="font-size: 20px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: bold;">Ping</span></h1> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Ping measures how quickly a signal travels from your device to a server and back—essentially, it’s the internet’s reaction time. Measured in milliseconds (ms), a</span><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> low ping means faster response times </span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">and smoother online experiences. A high ping? That’s when things start to lag, leaving gamers frustrated, streamers buffering and remote workers awkwardly frozen on video calls.</span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Why Ping matters</span></strong></p> <ul> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Gaming:</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> A low ping keeps you competitive. High ping could mean getting taken out in-game before you even see it coming.</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Video calls:</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> A high ping can create delays, making conversations feel like they’re happening on a time delay.</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Streaming:</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> While download speed affects buffering, a high ping can still mess with live streams and online interactions.</span></li> </ul> <p style="font-size: 16px;"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">How to improve your Ping</span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Here are some quick tips to lower your ping and stay in sync:</span></p> <ul> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Use a wired connection</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"><br></span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Ethernet cables reduce the travel time for your data and eliminate interference.</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Choose servers wisely</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"><br></span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Many games and services let you select a server. Pick one closer to your location for a shorter travel distance.</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Close background apps</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"><br></span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Too many apps using your internet can increase ping. Shut down anything you’re not actively using.</span></li> <li style="color: #0e0e0e;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Upgrade your internet</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"><br></span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">A fiber connection like Ting Internet provides a direct and reliable path to the server, reducing ping and improving overall performance.</span></li> </ul> <a id="Latency" data-hs-anchor="true"></a> <h1><span style="font-size: 20px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: bold;">Latency</span></h1> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back, </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">measured in milliseconds (ms)</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">. Think of it as your internet’s reflexes—the lower the latency, the quicker and smoother your experience. High latency? That’s when things get laggy and frustrating.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #000000;">Why latency matters</span></h2> <p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Gaming:</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;"> Quick reflexes and low latency go hand in hand. For a seamless experience, aim for under 50ms—any higher and you might lose before you even see your opponent.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Video calls:</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;"> Ever experienced that awkward pause where everyone’s unsure who’s supposed to talk? High latency is often to blame, turning simple conversations into frustrating delays.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Streaming:</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;"> While speed gets all the attention, high latency can sneak in and cause buffering or out-of-sync audio during your favorite shows.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: 500;">How to minimize latency</span></h2> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Here are a few pro tips to keep your connection responsive:</span></p> <ul> <li style="color: #000000;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Plug in for precision: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">An Ethernet cable gives you the fastest, most reliable connection—no interference, no congestion.</span></li> <li style="color: #000000;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Switch to 5 GHz Wi-Fi: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">The 5 GHz band is less crowded and offers better speeds than the 2.4 GHz band. Perfect for reducing delays on wireless devices.</span></li> <li style="color: #000000;" aria-level="1"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Stay local for gaming servers: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">Many games let you pick servers. Choose one closer to your location to cut down on travel time for your data.</span></li> </ul> <h1><span style="font-size: 20px; color: #000000; font-family: CircularStd; font-weight: bold;">Why these metrics matter</span></h1> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Whether you’re gaming for glory, streaming your favorite shows or tackling remote work, understanding latency, jitter and speed gives you the power to optimize your internet experience. A strong, consistent connection isn’t just a convenience—it’s a game-changer for how we live, work and play online.</span></p> <h2 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: CircularStd;"><span style="color: #000000; font-weight: 500;">Take control of your connection</span></span></h2> <p><span style="color: #000000;">The internet shouldn’t feel like a puzzle. With Ting, you can enjoy smooth gaming, crystal-clear video calls and streaming without interruptions. Looking to fine-tune your setup? Bring your own router or try Ting Whole Home Wi-Fi for a seamless experience.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Visit </span><strong><span style="color: #3253ff;">ting.com</span></strong><span style="color: #0e0e0e;"> and check your address to see if we’re available in your area.</span></p></span> </div> <div class="blog-post__tags"> <a class="blog-post__tag-link" href="https://blog.ting.com/tag/tips-tricks">Tips & Tricks</a> </div> </div> </article> <div class="blog-comments"> <div id="hs_cos_wrapper_blog_comments" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_widget hs_cos_wrapper_type_module widget-type-blog_comments" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="widget" data-hs-cos-type="module"><span id="hs_cos_wrapper_blog_comments_blog_comments" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_widget hs_cos_wrapper_type_blog_comments" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="widget" data-hs-cos-type="blog_comments"> <div class="section post-footer"> <div id="comments-listing" class="new-comments"></div> 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Decoding internet terms: speed, latency and jitter