Best Internet for Streaming

I recently got dared to experience firsthand embarrassment in front of my friends.

You won’t believe how I pulled it off.

I invited all my friends to my place for a fun little movie night. I ordered their favorite food, made my living room super cozy, and got ready to welcome them.

‘You’re going to love this movie,’ I exclaimed.

They all walked in with big smiles. I could sense their excitement.

I dimmed the lights and started streaming the movie on Netflix.

A few minutes in, the movie got intense, and I could see how everyone was glued to the screen, gripping the armrests of their chairs.

Just as the serial killer was about to hunt his prey, the screen froze. Yes, the movie actually got stuck!

All my friends turned their faces towards me, their eyes begging for an answer.

‘And that’s how you complete a dare. You happy now?’ I screamed while throwing a fist in the air.

All my friends started yelling at me. But I guess my slow and unstable ISP did help me feel embarrassed by freezing the movie right in the middle of an intense scene.

The Significance of a Good ISP for Smooth Streaming

Now, the scene narrated above only sounds funny if you’re an easy-going person who loves pulling off dares, even at the risk of losing some very close friends.

I know you all must be judging me right now. Well, give your brains a rest, I'm not that crazy.

What you don’t know is that my ISP has been acting up for quite some time now. It was ruining my online entertainment experience and affecting my productivity. I had already planned to switch to a faster, more reliable internet connection, but I thought I’d squeeze in one last dare before giving it up for good.

So, why is having a good ISP important?

• For starters, it saves you from being embarrassed in front of your best friends.
• It offers blazing-fast speeds and sufficient bandwidth to support HD and 4K streaming.
• It provides a stable and reliable connection that lets you seamlessly stream your content without any interruptions.
• It eliminates high latency and lag.

Internet Speeds Required for Streaming

By now, you must be aware of the significance of a reliable ISP for streaming. Before you go ahead and read the rest of the resource, take a moment to explore the internet speeds required for the common streaming activities and platforms.

After studying the recommended speeds for streaming, follow the steps below:

1. Run an internet speed test using your current ISP.
2. See if the obtained results align with your streaming requirements.
3. If you feel like the speeds aren’t sufficient, then consider upgrading your plan or switching to a new provider.

Best Internet Connection Type for Streaming

Finally taking the leap and changing your ISP?

Start by comparing the two internet connection types that rule the online world:

• Fiber
• Cable

Look at the table below for a better understanding of the two:

Both fiber and cable connection types are considered good for streaming.

But if you ask me, which type is ideal, my answer would definitely be fiber internet. Fiber is the king of all connections, mainly because it offers:

• Lightning-fast speeds up to 50 Gbps
• Symmetrical speeds (equal upload and download speeds)
• Lower latency
• Higher bandwidth
• Enhanced security
• 99% reliability

Best Internet Providers for Streaming

If you’ve made up your mind to switch to a fiber internet connection, consider yourself lucky if any of the following fiber internet providers are available near you:

^Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.

This was just a gist of the top fiber internet providers for streaming, let’s now discuss them in detail.

1. AT&T

If you’re a movie enthusiast who loves binge-watching in Ultra HD 4K resolution without any buffering, then signing up with AT&T Internet would be a smart choice.

I’ve opted for this provider myself.

Why?

Well, because I share an apartment with a software engineer (who works remotely) and a content creator (who loves playing online games).

All three of us are avid internet users. We work, stream, play, and use multiple devices at the same time.

So, we figured that investing in a multi-gig, 100% fiber-optic internet provider would be a wise approach.

We first heard about AT&T through a friend. She helped us get in touch with the provider’s customer service team.

• We connected with the support representatives
• Told them about our internet speed requirements and budget
• Compared and analyzed AT&T’s Internet plans

And finally opted for the AT&T Fiber Internet 1000 plan

2. Optimum

Optimum’s fiber internet plans help you experience a lag-free streaming experience at affordable rates. Its incredible features, coupled with the high-octane performance, make it a perfect choice for all the heavy streamers out there.

This provider was actually my second preference after AT&T. I had heard a lot of positive reviews about it from my family friend who’s currently subscribed to one of Optimum’s fiber plans.

This is what she told me:

After listening to her reviews, I started researching this provider. What intrigued me the most was the WiFi 6E technology, which comes FREE with its 1 Gig Fiber Internet plan.

All of the features discussed above, combined with Optimum’s multi-gig speeds and unlimited data plans, equip you to stream your favorite content in high quality, without any frustrating interruptions.

3. Kinetic

Kinetic is one of the finest fiber internet providers, offering future-ready plans even in rural areas. So, if you reside in suburban regions but don’t want to compromise on your video streaming quality, then consider investing in Kinetic's Internet plans.

With symmetrical speeds up to 2 Gbps, unlimited data, and 99.9% network reliability, Kinetic has made its place in the hearts of its customers.

I first heard about Kinetic while travelling to Iowa by bus. I overheard two passengers praising the provider for always coming through. I couldn’t control the industry expert inside of me, and asked them what made them love Kinetic so much. This is what one of them said:

I was amazed. I got back home and started studying this internet provider. What grabbed my attention was its whole home Wi-Fi setup that distributes spotless connectivity throughout the house, making it easier to carry out video streaming activities effortlessly.

This along with its equal upload and download speeds and FREE Kinetic Secure App, takes your entertainment activities to the next level while ensuring online safety.