40 Mbps is okay for gaming, streaming, and working from home, but not for everyone

If you are wondering how fast 40 Mbps is and whether it will be sufficient for you, we have put together a guide for you right here.

Now, most Internet Service Providers offer a 40 Mbps plan, and it is a fairly common choice among people as it does not cost a lot. But what matters here is whether that speed will be sufficient for you to carry out your day-to-day online activities.

While 40 Mbps may not be as fast as a 200 Mbps or 500 Mbps connection, it is still considered fast for small households or offices. In fact, as per Statista’s latest findings, the global download average speed is 50 Mbps, and 40 Mbps is only slightly lower than that.

So, with a 40 Mbps internet connection, you can do a variety of online activities. For instance, you can stream movies in high definition, participate in Zoom meetings, and browse Google without experiencing significant lag or buffering.

Let’s delve into understanding the speed of a 40 Mbps connection and whether it’s considered fast in today’s digital landscape.

What activities can you do with 40 Mbps?

A 40 Mbps connection will let you perform any activity that requires internet, and some of these include:

• Surfing the web smoothly
• Stream 4K videos without worrying about any buffering
• Play online games
• Download and upload large files faster

How fast is 40 Mbps?

As mentioned earlier, a 40 Mbps speed sits below the global average of 50 Mbps. This makes it a good choice for households or businesses with moderate to high internet usage.

If we go by sheer numbers, then a 1GB file will take about 3 minutes to download with 40 Mbps – provided that the speed stays consistent throughout. This means if you’re downloading software, games, or large documents, a 40 Mbps connection will complete your download within a few minutes (depending on the size of the file)

However, it’s important to remember that the “minimum” speed required can vary greatly depending on your specific internet needs. If you’re a heavy internet user who frequently downloads large files, streams in 4K, or plays online games, you might want to consider a faster connection.

With a 40 Mbps connection, you can expect to see the following download speeds –

Is 40 Mbps good for gaming?

The answer to this question is highly subjective because it depends on the type of gaming you’re planning on doing. If you’re playing story-based games and only need to connect to the server, then 40 Mbps should be more than enough for that. 

However, if you plan on playing multiplayer competitive shooters, then the simple rule is – the more, the merrier – as a faster internet will provide more download and upload bandwidth, which will result in lower ping. Typically, for online multiplayer games, a minimum of 3 Mbps download speed and 1 Mbps upload speed is recommended (by most ISPs). However, this is the low end of the spectrum and won’t exactly deliver the best experience.

As far as download is concerned, 40 Mbps should be able to download games of up to 40GB in about 2 hours. So, a 40 Mbps internet connection might be a sweet spot with an affordable price for a decent gaming experience. Keep in mind the performance may vary depending on the number of connections you have.

Is 40 Mbps good for streaming?

A 40 Mbps internet connection should be enough for HD streaming without lag or buffering issues, whether you’re watching Netflix or a live pay-per-view sporting event. 

As recommended by Netflix, you can stream 4K videos without any issues with 15 Mbps internet speed. So with a 40 Mbps connection, you will still have a lot of bandwidth to spare.

However, it might not be enough bandwidth to cater to multiple devices, allowing them to stream in high definition, but if you’re talking about streaming less intensive media such as music, then it should be more than enough.

Is 40 Mbps good for working from home?

Working from home has become the norm in many organizations, but you need a stable and fast internet connection to do your best work. 40 Mbps should be more than enough to handle WFH workloads, especially if you have to attend audio and video calls, upload and download files, send emails, and access the company CMS. 

So, all in all, 40 Mbps offers enough internet speed to be efficient regardless of the nature of your work, and you can connect multiple devices without disrupting their performance

Is 40Mbps fast enough for multiple devices in my home?

Yes, 40Mbps can support multiple devices connected simultaneously, allowing each device to perform basic online activities without significant slowdowns. However, it isn’t recommended for more than four devices.

Can I upgrade my internet speed from 40Mbps to a higher option?

Yes, many service providers offer internet plans with faster speeds. You can contact your provider to inquire about upgrading to a higher Mbps plan based on your needs.

Is 40 Mbps speed good for Netflix?

Yes, as mentioned, Netflix will work fine with a 40 Mbps speed. You should be able to stream HD or even 4K content on your device. However, if multiple devices are using WiFi at the same time, then Netflix might experience some buffering.

Conclusion

Whether 40 Mbps is fast or not depends on your needs. Generally, it is a good internet speed that can support a wide range of online activities. For example, you can comfortably browse the web, stream videos, play online games, and participate in video conferencing. However, it isn’t ideal for large homes or offices where you need to connect more than four devices to the network. But for small homes, it is a great choice. In any case, make sure you’re using one of the best cable modems with your internet plan to get the best internet experience.