Do I need 500 Mbps internet? (and what is it good for?)

To choose the right internet plan for your household, you need to understand internet speeds. With many plans available, it can be hard to know what speed you need for activities like streaming, video conferencing, gaming or working from home.

In this article, we will explain whether or not 500 Mbps internet speed is fast, as well as how it can benefit your home network, users and devices.

500 Mbps is a high-speed internet connection capable of transferring 500 megabits per second. A single megabit contains 1 million bits, meaning 500 Mbps transfers data at 500 million bits per second.

With 500 Mbps, you’ll be able to access the internet to play games online. Compared to slower speeds like 150 Mbps or 50 Mbps, you’ll experience the following with a 500 Mbps connection:

• Higher bandwidth, enabling you to play multiplayer games
• Higher quality streaming for a gameplay audience on YouTube or Twitch
• Quicker downloads for multiple games and game updates across multiple devices
• The ability to engage in simultaneous activities, such as gaming, streaming and downloading

If you’re a serious or competitive gamer, check out our higher speeds, such as gigabit speeds for the total gaming advantage.

Learn more: How to stream full-time as a college student

Streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube recommend a minimum of 3 Mbps and 5 Mbps, respectively. With 500 Mbps, you should be able to:

• Stream multiple HD or 4K videos on different devices
• Stream high-quality videos on YouTube or Twitch
• Stream VR or AR content

The quality of your streams will depend on the number of people and devices in your home. If you’re concerned about bandwidth, consider looking into 600 Mbps or gigabit speeds.

A 500 Mbps connection provides speed and bandwidth to do some work from home.

You’ll be able to do the following tasks:

• Attending calls on Zoom, Google Meet, Slack or Teams across multiple devices
• Managing email and web access for multiple users
• Downloading media files or large documents from cloud services
• Handling data-intensive activities like accessing large data sets, web-based graphic design or development

Remember, your household’s internet habits while working from home can strain your connection. Consider the number of concurrent users, platforms and devices when choosing an internet speed.

Most homes have smart devices like TVs, locks, refrigerators, light bulbs and cameras. These smart home and IoT devices need at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. If you meet these requirements, your devices will:

• integrate seamlessly to create a smart home environment.
• execute commands and receive real-time updates.
• provide high-resolution security footage.
• improve home automation as devices share data and respond.

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. If you’re concerned about bandwidth requirements, take an internet speed test and consider upgrading to a higher speed tier.

Determining if 500 Mbps is enough for an apartment depends on the number of residents, their internet usage and the number of devices.

If your household engages in extensive online gaming, 4K streaming or bandwidth-intensive tasks, you might need a higher speed.

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

Larger homes usually have more residents, each with their own devices, and may also include smart devices. A 500 Mbps connection can support a household in their online activities. However, additional smart devices and unanticipated users, like visitors, may strain your internet speed. In such cases, 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. Mesh WiFi routers are also 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

A 500 Mbps connection is suitable for households with up to seven or eight people accessing the internet simultaneously. For homes with many users and connected devices, a 600 Mbps connection or higher may offer better value.

With a 500 Mbps internet connection, you’ll be able to:

• browse the internet.
• stream HD videos.
• play video games online.
• participate in online learning.
• work from home.
• upload content to social media.
• attach large files to your email.

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 loading times
• Latency or lag while gaming online
• Slow upload or download speeds
• Video connectivity issues when streaming
• Poor video or audio call quality

Before upgrading, evaluate your internet requirements. Regular speed tests, such as a 500 Mbps speed test, can help determine if your current provider delivers the advertised speeds and if your minimum download and upload speeds are enough for your needs.

Additionally, optimize your WiFi for 500 Mbps or other speeds to achieve the highest speeds available. This can improve your network’s performance, reduce channel interference and balance the device load.

If you’re worried about 500 Mbps WiFi, modern devices that meet the latest WiFi standards can handle 500 Mbps. Smartphones, laptops and gaming consoles allow you to check WiFi speed capabilities within their network settings. To check for yourself, visit the manufacturer’s website or read the manual. Search for “WiFi” or “Network Settings”.

You’ll need the following equipment to harness the speed capabilities of a 500 Mbps connection:

• Modem: A fiber or DOCSIS modem is needed to convert optical signals into electrical signals for your router and devices. Astound includes a modem in the installation, but you can use your own if it meets our compatibility requirements.
• Router: A high-quality router supporting high-speed connections is necessary to distribute the internet signal to your devices. Ensure it has Ethernet ports and supports modern WiFi standards like 802.11ac (WiFi 5) or 802.11ax (WiFi 6, WiFi 6e).

Generally, 500 Mbps will offer bandwidth to support users engaging in concurrent activities such as HD or 4K streaming, online gaming or video conferencing.

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