How Our Broadband Choice Affects Our Netflix Binges
Streaming services like Netflix have boomed in popularity in
recent times. However, the popularity of Netflix is set to sore further with
most of the nation being on lockdown. To make sure you enjoy Netflix properly,
you will need to have a good Internet connection. Otherwise, you could be faced
with annoying issues, such as the program lagging. With that in mind, continue
reading to discover everything you need to know about how your choice of
broadband is going to have an impact on your Netflix binges.
What is a good broadband for streaming?
You may think that the same sort of broadband is going to
suffice across all streaming platforms. However, there’s not the case. For
standard streaming on the likes of BBC iPlayer, you’re going to need a minimum
of 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps). For HD quality, 2.8Mbps is recommended. For
Netflix, though, you’re going to need more of this. You will require around
3Mbps for the standard streaming service, whereas a minimum speed of 5Mbps is
recommended for HD quality. If you’re after Ultra HD, you’re really going to
need around 25Mbps for Netflix.
Checking your connection speed
If you’ve been reading this so far and thinking “I have no
clue how fast my Internet is” - don’t worry. There are a lot of devices that
give you the ability to check your connection speed through the Netflix app.
The process is really simple, and we will guide you through it. So, you will
need to start by selecting the gear icon or settings. If you do not see a gear
icon, it means this feature is not supported on your device. There are websites
available that can help you test your broadband’s speed, so you can explore
this further.
If you have been able to locate the gear, you should then
choose ‘check your network.’ The app should then verify that you are able to
connect to the Internet and reach the servers at Netflix. It is also going to
check your connection speed. Once the test has finished, you need to make sure
the speed matches the minimum speeds that were recommended in the section above.
If your connection is slower than you were expecting, it is a good idea to get
in touch with your Internet provider for some help.
Are broadband providers going to be able to cope with the
increased demand?
You may be worried that you’re going to struggle to enjoy
Netflix as you usually would because of the increased demand placed on Internet
providers during the lockdown. Nevertheless, BT is one of the Internetproviders that have moved quickly to reassure customers that they have nothing
to worry about in this regard.
It was announced by Netflix that in an effort to reduce data
use they would be lowering the picture quality of films in Europe. BT, though,
has stated that both evening and daytime usage are still a lot lower than the
highest levels the company has ever recorded. This is despite the fact that
data use on the network has increased by 35 to 60 per cent. This isn’t
something to be concerned about according to the company. They have stated that
this use is well within a manageable range, and there is plenty of headroom to
cope should data demand increase further.
Other ways to speed up Netflix
Aside from choosing a broadband provider and package with
care, there are some other ways you can speed up Netflix. For example,
something as simple as keeping Microsoft Silverlight up-to-date on your PC will
make a difference. Silverlight is an application framework design for writing
and running rich Internet applications. Despite having other functions, it
supports streaming on Netflix media. Quality and streaming speeds can take a
hit if the software is outdated. In terms of watching Netflix on your mobile
phone, it could be as simple as closing some of the applications that you have
running in order to lighten the load. You may be surprised by just how much of
a difference this can make to your Netflix binging experience.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how your
choice of broadband impacts your use of Netflix. Nevertheless, if you’re
concerned that you’re going to struggle to get the best out of Netflix while
the nation is on lockdown, it seems we’re a long way from anything happening
that will dampen your TV binges!
0 comments: