Getting the most from your internet connection takes the right knowledge. What Internet Speed Do I Need for a Smart Home? can dramatically improve your experience with mobile internet, whether you're running a 4G LTE or 5G plan. From optimizing router placement and managing data usage to troubleshooting speeds, these practical tips will help you get faster, more reliable connectivity from your Nomad Internet service.

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What Is Internet Speed?

First, it’s essential to understand what internet speed is. Internet speed is how fast information can be uploaded or downloaded. Speed is measured in megabits per second or Mbps speed. You’ll need more internet speed, specifically download speed, to support more devices or smart devices. 

Different Devices Will Use Different Speeds

To determine the internet speed you will need, you need to consider two things:  your general internet speed requirements and what each smart device will need. Some standard smart devices that you may have and their speed recommendations include:

• Video or smart cameras. Any camera you have, including smart doorbells, security cameras, and other smart cameras, will require about 2 Mbps per camera. 
• Amazon Echo, Google Home, or other smart assistants. Any smart assistant that you have will require at least 1 Mbps to run. When these devices are idle and not interacted with, they will use less than 1 Mbps. 
• Smart light switches or plugs. Smart light switches and plugs don’t use much internet speed to run. You can expect to use less than 1 Mbps for each of your smart switches or plugs. 

What speed You’d Need Without Smart Devices

The second step to figuring out what internet speed you need for your smart home is figuring out what you would need without considering smart devices. The following internet speed advice may help you determine general internet speed usage:

• For simple internet usage for 1-2 people, including browsing the web and occasionally using a streaming service, you will need 40 Mbps. 
• For 2-3 people, occasionally streaming on up to 2 devices and regular video calls, you may need 100 Mbps. 
• For more than three people, gaming, or streaming on several devices, you will need more than 100 Mbps. 

What Internet Speed You Need

The best way to calculate what internet speed you’re going to need is to follow this advice: simply add your base speed usage needs plus the Mbps needed for each smart device. For example, if you have a home with 2-3 people, a smart camera, and an Amazon Alexa, you may need between 100-150 Mbps. A general rule is to always err on the side of caution and get more speed than you think you’ll need! 

Get Fast and Reliable Internet in Your Smart Home

Adding smart devices to your home is a great way to have your home be comfortable and convenient. You shouldn’t have to worry about slow or laggy internet speeds! Following these internet speed tips for smart homes will help you keep your internet from slowing down. For always reliable internet, find the internet plan that’s right for you with Nomad Internet.