Most cable internet providers, including Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity, have max upload speeds of 30 to 35Mbps, even though gigabit download speeds are often available. If you sign up for an internet plan with max download speeds of 50Mbps, you can likely expect peak upload speeds of 5Mbps or less. Plans from most internet service providers, with the exception of fiber internet service, typically come with max upload speeds around a tenth or less of their advertised download speeds. The main culprit of slow upload speeds, especially when compared to your download speeds, is the internet plan itself. If your upload speeds fall below your needs or expectations, there are a number of factors that can contribute to slow speeds. Of course, if you've been experiencing excessive lagging and freezing when on video calls, you might not need to run a speed test to know your upload speeds are not up to par with your needs. Keep in mind that these are the minimum requirements and you're likely to benefit from much faster speeds, so it's a good idea to know what your speeds are and what can affect them.Ī good speed test will give you an idea of what your upload speeds are.

Zoom is a bit more demanding, requiring a minimum of 600Kbps for 1:1 video calling and 3.8Mbps for 1080p HD video group calling. Skype recommends a minimum of 100Kbps for calling and 512Kbps for group video chats of seven or more people. Still, the FCC standard of 3Mbps is enough on paper, albeit not by much, to meet most of the minimum requirements for applications such as Skype and Zoom. The FCC considers any upload speed of 3Mbps or higher as 'broadband.' However, the FCC set this speed threshold (along with its broadband download speed of 25Mbps) back in 2015 and has since received bipartisan congressional pressure to raise the bar on what is officially considered broadband. Minimum requirements for calling and video conferencing

If you primarily use Wi-Fi or foresee using upload bandwidth on multiple devices at once, aim for upload speeds of 10Mbps or higher. When using a wired connection on a single device, upload speeds of 5Mbps or higher are generally considered 'good' as they will support most activities that require uploading data, including video calls in HD quality and gaming online.

How to make download speed faster