Navigating the Digital Highway - Bandwidth Usage
I get lost. A lot. Even driving around the city, I always have a map open on my cell phone because I’m directionally-challenged. But having an application that consumes data while it’s on always makes me worry that I’m using too much.
Which got me thinking, how much data am I actually using on a daily basis?
If you also own a cell phone, you know that WiFi is your best friend: data overage charges are the worst! You’re constantly looking for that “Free WiFi” sign in coffee shops, restaurants, and malls. The tricky thing about data plans is that most people don’t actively manage their data until they get a notification that they’ve used up almost all of it.
This also happens to be the case with home Internet plans. At Q Wave, all of our Internet plans have unlimited usage, but if you are currently signed up with a provider that has limited data usage, it's important to understand your usage habits. And with many people working, learning, and entertaining themselves at home due to social distancing measures, this is more important than ever.
As you’ll soon see, how you use the Internet, whether on a cell phone or on a computer, is dependent on what you’re doing. And even though we’re talking about cell phones, keep in mind that you’re also using it at home with your own Internet connection. So let’s break it down and look a little closer.
All Internet Usage is not Equal
The way Internet data travels is a two-way street. Incoming data uses the download stream and outgoing data uses the upload stream. Typically, in most plans, your download speed will be faster than or equal to your upload speed. Conversely, your upload speed will be slower than or equal to your download speed. When these speeds are different, we call them asymmetrical.
The reason download speeds are often faster is because they service the bulk of what you do on the Internet. Streaming, visiting websites, browsing social media; these are all download-based. Upload speeds are used when sending files to others whether by email or cloud storage, or creating live feeds on social media.
Not sure what speeds you need? Check out our recent blog on Internet speeds and how to determine if you’re overpaying.
Data Hogs
Not all apps or software consume data equally. There are many ways to determine how much data you are consuming. No matter what kind of cell phone you have, Apple or Android, you can always check to see how much data you’re using per app. Once you know where to look, it’s pretty easy to toggle an app’s cellular data usage on or off. This comes in handy when you’re travelling internationally. Your Internet provider, if they don’t offer unlimited Internet plans, should also have provided you with a way (app or website) to track how much data you are consuming each month.
How you use your devices will ultimately determine how much data each kind of application consumes. It should not be surprising, however, that applications that involve more media (images, photos, videos, audio) consume the most data. That means social media platforms are the worst offenders:
Sources: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook
In terms of other devices in your home, these will also vary in terms of how much data they consume. Streaming boxes (for watching Netflix, Crave, AppleTV, etc.) are the obvious hogs here, consuming large quantities of data depending on the resolution. At the highest resolution, 4K or Ultra HD, you can expect to be using up anywhere from 10 to 20 gigabytes of data per hour.
Working from Home Can Strain your Internet
When we look at computer applications and how much data they consume, things are a little different. Unlike a cell phone which has apps that access the Internet in different ways, much of how you interact with the web has to do with your chosen browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.).
Working from home means holding video conferences, answering calls on a company VoIP phone, checking emails, and browsing the web.
Here’s a tip, whether you are using Zoom, Webex, Google Hangouts, or some other service to communicate with co-workers or to hold virtual meetings with clients, you know that your feed can at times be a little finicky. These applications are often resource-heavy in and of themselves, which means they require most of your device’s computing power to function, let alone run smoothly.
Here’s where understanding how different uses of the Internet comes into play. When you need to conduct a virtual meeting, close all applications which don’t need to be open or running. If you have other people in your home who might be streaming Netflix or some other service, it might be a good idea for them to press pause for a little while.
Why? You can think of your Internet streams as highways with many lanes. The highways represent your bandwidth. You cannot exceed your bandwidth, otherwise, drivers are driving on the shoulder or off the road. In this analogy, drivers can only be on the road.
When you need to host a Zoom meeting for example, you’re using more of the highway lanes. To keep things running smoothly, you want those lanes to be clear of the “slow drivers.” You might still have some open, unused lanes, but keeping those clear will reduce any possible congestion.
This is especially important when you consider that a virtual meeting is using both download and upload streams at the same time. Not only are you getting video from other people, but you are sending your own video (and audio) to them as well.
Be Your Own Traffic Controller
Everyone uses the Internet differently, which makes it almost impossible to map out how much data each app or program uses. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t give you a few things to think about!
The best way to keep track of your data is to think about what devices are connected and what you’re using them for. Is everyone streaming at the same time? Downloading or uploading large files? These will likely be your main sources of data consumption.
Online gaming is not likely to make a huge dent in your overall data usage (0.3 to 0.5 gigabytes per hour), but again, if you want the best possible experience, clear the other lanes.
Almost everything else you do in your home should be light on data use. Social media platforms have the potential to be data hogs, but generally speaking, they’re not going to break the bank, so to speak.
Smart home devices can vary quite a bit depending on what they do. You needn’t worry about things like Alexa or smart light bulbs, but a home surveillance system is a different story. Just keep in mind how many of these devices you have in your home because many small amounts can add up over time.
Avoid Data Limits
Want to avoid having to think about how much data you’re allowed to use each month? Switch to one of Q Wave’s many Internet plans and get unlimited data! No matter what your home needs are, we have a plan for you.
Better still, bundle your electricity and natural gas with one of our Alberta-based partners and get 6 months of free energy administration charges!