Do I need 150 Mbps internet? (and what is it good for?)

When choosing between internet plans for your family, it’s important to understand the capabilities and differences between speeds to determine which will work best for you.

With so many speeds available, however, it can be difficult to know what will be the best internet speed for streaming, video conferencing, learning, gaming or working from home. 

In this article, we’ll explain the benefits and capabilities of 150 Mbps internet.

150 Mbps is an internet connection that allows users to access the internet, transferring 150 megabits per second. A single megabit contains 1 million bits, meaning 150 Mbps transfers data at 150 million bits per second.

150 Mbps internet is good for users that want to stream movies and browse the web on a budget.

With 150 Mbps internet up to three users can:

• • Browse the internet.
  • Play select games online.
  • Stream videos.
  • Download some files.

Your actual speed experience may vary due to network congestion, device performance and the quality of your WiFi connection.

When figuring out usage needs, most people consider download speeds. However, a fast upload speed is essential for sending large amounts of data – whether through file uploads and video conferencing or streaming content and online gaming.

When comparing internet speeds of 150 Mbps and 300 Mbps, there are key differences between the bandwidth available for various activities, the number of users or devices that can be supported simultaneously and the types of activities that can be performed.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

• Download and Upload Speeds:
  • 150 Mbps: Suitable for moderate usage, including streaming HD videos on a few devices, online gaming and general browsing.
  • 300 Mbps: Doubles the capacity, supporting more devices and more data-intensive activities. Great for multiple HD streams, higher-speed online gaming and downloading large files faster.
• Number of Devices:
  • 150 Mbps: Can support around 4 devices simultaneously, depending on the activity. If most devices are used for high-demand activities like streaming video or gaming, you might start noticing slower speeds.
  • 300 Mbps: Can support up to 6 devices simultaneously. It’s a better option for larger households or for smart homes with connected devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and home automation devices.
• Online Activities:
  • 150 Mbps: Adequate for streaming video but may struggle with multiple streams.
  • 300 Mbps: Capable of handling multiple video streams, more online gaming sessions and intensive cloud-based applications.

150 Mbps and a 5G home internet connection are two different high-speed internet technologies.

Fiber and cable connections offer consistent speeds with minimal interference, lower latency, more reliability and broader coverage. Most urban and suburban areas are equipped with cable and fiber infrastructure.

5G home internet is a wireless internet service that operates on high-band frequency radio signals transmitted over the air by 5G cell towers. While 5G internet provides faster speeds than the previous 4G/LTE technology, performance can be inconsistent.

5G’s wireless signal transfer introduces latency, resulting in slower data transfer and lag for applications that require real-time response, such as gaming and video conferencing.

Other factors that can affect 5G’s performance include:

• Distance between devices and cell towers.
• Weather events.
• Signal interference from physical barriers like buildings.
• Network congestion.

In addition, 5G home internet is a newer technology, with coverage limited to select urban areas with 5G infrastructure. 5G home internet plans provide less value to users, as some providers include data caps in their plans while charging extra fees when you exceed the limits and throttle the speeds.

The cost of 150 Mbps plans varies depending on your ISP. However, most ISPs bundle internet, mobile and TV services to make them affordable. If you are a prior ACP beneficiary, you can transfer your ACP benefit to Astound or choose from one of our many low-cost options, including Internet First.

150 Mbps is recommended for moderate internet usage. Learn more about how 150 Mbps can handle different activities online, depending on the bandwidth each user and device needs.

150 Mbps will get you gaming online on a single device. With a 150 Mbps connection, you’ll be able to:

• Play some games.
• Watch some streams on YouTube or Twitch.
• Download some games and game updates.

If you’re a serious or competitive gamer, check out our higher speeds and dedicated gaming router. Our gaming router optimizes performance and provides high-quality streaming experiences.
 
Learn more: What internet speed do I need for gaming?

Streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube recommend a minimum of 3 Mbps and 5 Mbps, respectively. With a 150 Mbps connection, your household should be able to:

• Stream some videos.
• Stream audio.

With a 150 Mbps internet connection, your stream quality will depend on the number of people and devices in your home. If you’re concerned about bandwidth, consider looking into higher speeds, such as 600 Mbps or 1500 Mbps.

A 150 Mbps connection provides adequate speed and bandwidth to handle working from home. You’ll be able to do the following tasks:

• Video conference on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Slack or Teams.
• Manage email and access the web.

If you have multiple users working from home on different devices, check out some of our higher speed plans, such as 600 Mbps or 1500 Mbps.

Many homes have smart devices such as TVs, locks, refrigerators and cameras.  Smart home and IoT devices require a minimum internet speed of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.

A 150 Mbps internet connection may not be enough if you intend to connect many devices. If you don’t exceed your bandwidth, your smart devices and IoT devices will:

• • Create a smart environment within the home.
  • Execute commands and receive real-time updates.
  • Improve home-automation overall.

Remember, smart devices, unlike personal devices, are always on and accessing your bandwidth.

If you have multiple smart and personal devices connected, consider them when choosing your internet speed. Each additional smart home or IoT device may need up to 10 Mbps.

Look into a higher speed to keep your devices online if you find you exceed your bandwidth.

Determining whether an internet speed of 150 Mbps is enough for living in an apartment depends on a few factors: the number of individuals in the apartment, their internet habits and the number of devices. In most settings, apartments tend to be smaller, with fewer occupants and fewer connected devices.

150 Mbps will likely provide upload speed and download speed for two people. However, if your household engages in extensive online gaming, 4K content streaming or data-intensive tasks, you may want to consider a higher speed plan.

 
Learn more: How to set up your internet and WiFi in a new apartment

Larger homes typically house more people, each with individual devices. A home may also have connected smart devices. A 150 Mbps internet connection can accommodate a household with a few of their online activities, such as gaming, streaming or video conferencing.

However, smart devices, heavy-bandwidth activities or other unanticipated users—such as visitors or guests—may strain your internet speeds. If so, you may want to consider higher speeds like 600 Mbps or 1500 Mbps.

Internet speed is important for a homeowner, but so are reliability and coverage. If you’re worried about dead zones or an unreliable connection, consider introducing a mesh WiFi router into your home.

Mesh WiFi routers expand home WiFi coverage, reduce signal interference and optimize the performance of your wireless devices. Moreover, mesh WiFi routers are flexible, modular and moveable. If you want more coverage throughout your home, it’s as simple as placing a new device where you want a connection.

Learn more: How to set up your internet in a new home

150 Mbps is valuable for households with less than three individuals simultaneously accessing the internet.

With a 150 Mbps internet connection, you’ll be able to:

• Browse the internet.
• Stream HD videos.
• Play some video games online.
• Participate in online learning.
• Work from home.
• Upload content to social media.

When should you consider upgrading to a faster internet speed? It may be time to upgrade to a faster internet speed if you experience any of these issues:

• • Network congestion.
  • An increase in users in your household.
  • An increase in devices in your home.
  • Frequent buffering.
  • Long load times.
  • Latency or lag while gaming online.
  • Slow upload or download speeds.
  • Video connectivity issues when streaming.
  • Poor video or audio call quality.

 
Before deciding to upgrade, evaluate your internet requirements. It might be a good idea to run regular speed tests to determine whether the current provider delivers their advertised speeds, as well as check your minimum download speed and minimum upload speed.
 
Also, try optimizing your WiFi to access the highest speeds available. By optimizing your WiFi, you’ll improve your network performance, minimize channel interference and rebalance your device load.

To determine your internet speed connection needs, ask yourself the following questions to understand your usage patterns:

• How many people in my household will use the internet simultaneously? Consider how many people will be using the internet. Each user adds to the demand for bandwidth.
• What are the online access needs for my household? Identify the primary online activities people in your home typically perform, such as streaming, gaming, video conferencing, browsing and uploading photos and videos to social media.
• Which devices will be connected? Determine the number and types of devices like smartphones, laptops, smart TVs and gaming consoles that will be in use.
• Will anyone be working remotely or learning online? If anyone in your household works from home or takes classes online, consider the bandwidth required for video conferencing, file sharing and any other work-related tasks.
• Will anyone stream HD or 4K videos? If you frequently stream high-quality videos, a faster internet connection is essential to ensure smooth playback without buffering.
• Is gaming a priority for anyone? Gamers may require faster speeds for better gaming performance, with more immediate download and upload speeds and reduced latency.
• Does the house have smart home devices? IoT devices, like smart thermostats or security
• Are large files frequently downloaded or uploaded? Consider the need for faster download and upload speeds if you work with large files or use cloud services.
• Am I satisfied with my current internet speeds? Identify any pain points or limitations you may have.
• What are my future internet needs? Do you anticipate potential changes in your internet use? Will you be adding more devices or engaging in more data-intensive activities?
• What internet plans are available to me now? Check with local internet service providers to see what plans and speeds are available at your location.

Balance performance, cost and usage to choose the best plan for your needs.

You’ll need the following equipment to fully utilize the high-speed capabilities of a 150 Mbps connection:

• • Fiber or DOCSIS compatible modem: A fiber or DOCSIS modem is required to convert optical signals from a fiber/COAX line into electrical signals so your router and devices can understand each other. Astound’s installation process includes a modem. But you can bring your own modem if it meets our compatibility requirements.
  • A router: A high-quality router supporting high-speed connections is necessary to distribute the internet signal to your wired and wireless devices. Look for a router supporting Ethernet ports and modern WiFi standards like 802.11ac or 802.11ax (WiFi 6).

150 Mbps internet is available for eligible households starting at $9.95/mo and includes equipment, no credit check and no cancellation fee. See if you qualify.

Generally, 150 Mbps provides bandwidth to support some users engaging in activities such as streaming, online gaming and video conferencing.

For individuals with high internet usage, such as extensive online gamers or households with many people and multiple devices, higher speeds, like 600 Mbps, are recommended.