How much bandwidth do you need?

The amount of Internet bandwidth needed depends entirely on which applications are used on the connection. For simple Web browsing and email, a standard 1.5 megabits per second Internet connection suffices.

However, as more data is transferred, more Internet bandwidth is needed to compensate for the higher transfer rates. In order to transfer or stream Internet music or video, a minimum 3-megabits-per-second connection is often suggested. With file-sharing applications, even more is needed. For those who like videoconferencing and remote computer access, a 50 megabits per second Internet connection is generally needed to handle the immense amount of data being transferred at one time.