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DSDownloadSpeed
Speed & Performance

Latency (Ping)

The time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency means more responsive connections.

What It Means

Latency is critical for real-time applications like video calls, online gaming, and VoIP. Fiber typically has 1-5 ms latency, cable 10-30 ms, fixed wireless 25-50 ms, and traditional satellite 600+ ms. Low-earth orbit satellite (Starlink) has reduced satellite latency to 20-40 ms. Latency is affected by physical distance to servers, network routing, and congestion. Unlike speed, latency cannot be improved by buying a higher-tier plan from the same provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Latency" mean?

The time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency means more responsive connections.

Why does Latency matter for internet quality?

Latency is critical for real-time applications like video calls, online gaming, and VoIP. Fiber typically has 1-5 ms latency, cable 10-30 ms, fixed wireless 25-50 ms, and traditional satellite 600+ ms. Low-earth orbit satellite (Starlink) has reduced satellite latency to 20-40 ms. Latency is affecte...

Related Terms

Download Speed
The rate at which data travels from the internet to your device, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Determines how fast web pages load, videos stream, and files download.
Upload Speed
The rate at which data travels from your device to the internet, measured in Mbps. Critical for video calls, cloud backups, live streaming, and working from home.
Mbps (Megabits Per Second)
The standard unit for measuring internet speed. One megabit equals one million bits of data. Not to be confused with megabytes (MB), which are eight times larger.
Jitter
The variation in latency over time, measured in milliseconds. High jitter causes choppy video calls, distorted VoIP audio, and rubberbanding in online games.

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About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.