Most people focus on download speed when shopping for internet, but upload speed is just as important, especially if you work remotely. In this blog, we dive deep into why upload speed matters and how Mercury Fiber is best positioned to meet your work-from-home needs.
What Is Upload Speed and Why It Matters
Upload speed measures how quickly data travels from your device to the internet, while download speed measures how fast you receive data from the internet. Upload speed matters greatly because remote work relies on a steady two-way connection. That connection is heavily involved in the following:
- Video conferencing (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet)
- Cloud storage and file sharing (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)
- VPN performance for secure company access
- Collaborative tools (Figma, Miro, Office 365)
To avoid any interruptions in communication, a strong upload speed is just as important as a strong download speed. It also makes work less frustrating by avoiding dropped calls and slowdowns in productivity.
The Rural Connectivity Challenge
For many rural households, connectivity is a daily struggle. Older infrastructure, such as DSL, wasn’t designed to support the high demands of modern remote work. Satellite connections fill some gaps, but high latency, inconsistencies with the weather and limited upload speeds make them less than ideal for video calls or real-time collaboration.
This “digital divide” means rural professionals often face:
- Poor video conferencing quality
- Delays in uploading documents and files
- Difficulty using cloud-based software
For rural workers, a reliable fiber internet connection is not a luxury. It’s a necessity for keeping pace with today’s digital economy.
How Fiber Internet Solves the Upload Speed Problem
Fiber internet offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, meaning you can download data just as quickly as uploading it. Symmetrical upload speeds lead to a more consistent experience. No more laggy video calls, being impacted by the weather or waiting for your family to finish that last Netflix episode.
How To Test and Improve Your Upload Speed
We recommended free speed test tools (e.g., Speedtest.net, Fast.com). These tools measure both your upload and download speed, offering a realistic forecast of your internet speeds. If there is a strong disparity between the two, we suggest looking into our fiber solutions. Check to see if we are available in your area.
If you need a quick fix to your upload speed, try restarting your router, though doing this repeatedly can be inconvenient for everyone else on your network.
Upgrade Your Network
For rural professionals, upload speed is the backbone of digital work and traditional networks are falling short. At Mercury, we can upgrade you to our fiber network.
Whether you need help choosing the right gear or want a full-home connectivity plan, our team is here to guide you. We’re proud to serve families across Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio. Check to see if we’re available at your home!
