Best ISP for Your Online Gaming Needs

June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 shahbaz46

It is a Saturday night and you have planned a game night with your friends. They all show up on time, you have the snacks ready, consoles set up and adrenaline already starting to pump through your veins. You all settle down and start the game but the internet gives up just when it is time to fire away. You are all dead before you know it, defeated without a chance to fight back.

Does it sound like a similar situation you often encounter with your internet connection? Does it have you pulling out your hair now and then?

Well, in that case, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know to help you understand the requirements for your favorite game and if necessary select the best internet service provider (ISP) for your online gaming needs. We will also give you a comparison of the ISPs offering internet connections good enough for a serious gamer so that you do not have to go around wasting your time researching about every ISP in the industry.

Recommended Internet Speeds

Now that we understand the types of internet connections available, let us look at how internet speeds work and the recommended speeds according to a household’s usage.

Activity	Single User	Multiple Users (Up to 4)
Basic Usage	1 Mbps	4 Mbps
Music	0.5 Mbps	2 Mbps
SD Video	4 Mbps	16 Mbps
HD Video	8 Mbps	32 Mbps
4K Video	25 Mbps	100 Mbps
Video Calling	1 Mbps	4 Mbps
Online Gaming	4 Mbps	16 Mbps

The speeds shown in the above are a guideline for you to understand the speed required according to your activity and number of users. However, keep in mind that these speed guidelines are based on the actual download speed you receive and not the one your ISP advertises.

Advertised speeds are always mentioned as ‘up to’ which means the speed fluctuates throughout the day and most of the time you do not receive the highest speed. In order to find out what exactly is the internet speed you receive you may want to run a speed test. These tests will also show you the latency of your internet connection along with the download and upload speeds.

Megabits Per Second (Mbps)

Mbps is the term used to measure your internet connection’s speed, so generally the higher the Mbps, the higher the speed of the connection. It is usually confused with MBps, which stands for Megabytes Per Second. Even though they sound similar, there is a major difference between them. Mbps is the rate at which an audio, video or text file can be downloaded or uploaded over the internet. On the other hand, MBps is the measure of the size of such files. All internet connections offer asymmetrical internet speeds, which means that the download speed is higher than the upload speed, expect for fiber optic internet that offers symmetrical download and upload speeds.

Latency

Latency is the time it takes for your server to connect to another server over your internet connection. It is measured in milliseconds (ms) and is commonly known as ‘ping’. Latency is affected by the distance between the servers as well as the internet connection being used. The lower the ping the better the internet connection is for multi-player games. When it comes to online gaming a ping under 20ms is like gamers paradise, anything below 80ms is also great, but it is recommended that the latency stays below 150ms for smooth game playing. Anything above 150ms will result in lag and we all know what an unpleasant experience that is.

Which internet connection is a go to option for my gaming needs?

AT&T internet is without a doubt the best option for you to opt. It offers you three packages to choose from alongside blazing fast internet connections with stability and an opportunity to be the best gamer on Earth. Especially, now that Covid-19 has taken hold of most countries in the world – what else can you do other than pursuing your dreams of becoming a professional gamer? Even your family won’t stop you!

Package	Pricing and Details
Internet 1000	Up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) of internet downloading speeds, $49.99 per month
Internet 100	Up to 100 Mbps of internet downloading speeds, $49.99 per month
Fixed Wireless Internet	Up to 10 Mbps of internet downloading speeds, $60 per month

*Internet speeds, prices and availability may vary depending on your location.

Wrapping Up

A few things to keep in mind while talking to a representative of your chosen internet service provider:

Almost every provider advertises promotional rates to attract customers. These rates are good for a limited period, usually a year or two at most. At the end of the promotional period, prices revert to standard rates. You must confirm this with the ISP upon sign up so that you will not be surprised by the sudden hike in price at the end of the promotion.
Speeds may vary depending on your location and the infrastructure available there.
Quite a few internet providers offer a 30 to 90 days money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with their services. It will be a good idea to inquire about this just in case you have any problems and want to cancel the service.
Many providers also offer buy-out plans for customers who are interested in their services but are currently bound in a contract with another provider. They will usually cover your Early Termination Fee partially and sometimes even in full, payable to the previous provider for you to subscribe to their services. If you are bound in a contract with a provider you’re unhappy with, then ask the provider you’ve chosen from the above about their buy-out plan and save up.
With cyber-crime on the rise and everyone worried about their online security Internet Service Providers have started throwing in free anti-virus/ internet security software into the internet connection deals. This ensures that you stay safe from phishing attacks, malware, viruses, etc. while conducting your online activities. You must ask about any such offer if the representative has not already mentioned it.
Just like power outages are inevitable, so are internet outages that you could face due to circumstances your ISP could not have predicted or prepared for. However, oftentimes ISPs will offer you a service guarantee for such instances where you face prolonged internet outage. These guarantees will usually offer you compensation as a bill credit or something of the sort. Knowing about such a guarantee will be very useful to keep yourself calm in times of outages.
A good internet provider will usually offer you 24/7 technical support so that they can offer you help anytime, ensuring that you receive seamless service. If you have not been provided the number upon sign up you must ask for it yourself. It is better to have it handy instead of fumbling around looking for it when you are already frustrated because of your internet gave up in the middle of something important.

Just remember that it is crucial to understand your activity and the number of simultaneous users in the household before deciding upon the type of internet and the download and upload speed that you are going to subscribe to. Also, keep in mind that even though download and upload speeds are important it is the latency or ping of the internet connection that dictates how good or bad your online gaming experience will be. Running a speed check will help you find out what exactly you are receiving for your money.

If you don’t feel like going with AT&T – you can check out localcabledeals to compare some great high-end internet plans offered by different ISPs and choose the one you feel are well suited for gamers. All you need to do is figure out your requirements and choose the one that best fits your needs.