With a speed of 1 mbps, you will only be able to download at most about at 122.07 KB/sec. This internet speed is considered to not be very fast at all as the minimum internet speed requirements for many popular applications is well above 1 mbps.
To put this into perspective, the popular movie streaming service Netflix requires at least 1.5 mbps or higher in order to use their service effectively. This is referring to the lowest quality streams as well, and not the higher quality streams like High Definition or 4K.
Also, according to the FCC, in order to be classified as high speed broadband internet you have to have a speed of at least 25 mbps down and 3 mbps up. 1 mbps falls way below the minimum for broadband internet which means this internet may not be the best option for you.
Examples of File Sizes and Download Times Using 1 Mbps
The following is a small table showing some common file sizes and the time it would take to download these files if your internet speed was 1 mbps.
| Amount of Data | Amount of Time to Download |
| 25mb | 3 minutes 29 seconds |
| 50mb | 6 minutes 59 seconds |
| 100mb | 13 minutes 58 seconds |
Is 1 Mbps Internet Slow?
According to the above statement from the FCC, an internet speed of 1 mbps is definitely not considered to be high speed broadband. 1 mbps is indeed a slow internet speed to have and use. We recommend that this speed is only used if it is the only available internet speed in your area otherwise it would be best to go with a higher speed.
With 1 mbps, you should be able to perform basic web browsing and email opening. Downloading and uploading large files will take a very long time, and streaming video will become an issue if you are trying to watch them in high quality.
We only recommend this internet speed if there is nothing else offered in your area. If there are faster speeds available, avoid this internet package at all costs.
Is 1 Mbps Fast Enough for Netflix?
| Netflix Stream | Broadband Internet Speed |
| Standard Definition (SD) | 3mbps |
| High Definition (HD) | 5mbps |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | 25mbps |
If you look at the Netflix website, they say that they require an internet speed of at least 1.5 mbps to run their service. Only having 1 mbps falls .5 mbps short. This means that you may encounter issues like long loading times and buffering, even with all of the lowest settings.
Is 1 Mbps Fast Enough for YouTube?
| Video Quality/Resolution | Recommended Internet Speed |
|---|---|
| 4K | 20 Mbps |
| HD 1080p | 5 Mbps |
| HD 720p | 2.5 Mbps |
| SD 480p | 1.1 Mbps |
On the contrary, Youtube should be easier to run than Netflix. According to Youtube minimum internet requirements, you need at least 1.1 mbps internet to effectively run a video in standard definition.
However, it is always possible to load a higher quality video, you will just have to wait for it to download before playing it. Playing a video before it has fully loaded will lead to low quality glitches and buffering.
Is 1 Mbps Fast Enough to Work From Home?
When working from home, the most important thing is to have a fast and stable internet connection. A slow connection that is constantly dropping will leave you with a horrible experience and maybe even without a job.
We do not recommend trying to work from home with only a speed of 1 mbps. We recommend having at least a speed of 25 mbps, which is the minimum speed required to be considered high speed broadband.
The main reason for needing a good internet speed is so you are able to download and receive large files, as well as have a stable and high quality stream when using a video calling service like Zoom.
Zoom
Using Zoom is probably one of the most important aspects when working from home. It allows you to communicate with your boss and other coworkers as needed. This application has grown in popularity the last few years and will continue projecting upward as more and more people start working from home.
Let’s take a look at what Zoom recommends in terms of internet speed for their service. You must have at least 600kbps (up/down) for high-quality 1 on 1 video while you will need at least 1.0 Mbps/600kbps (up/down) for group video calling.
As you can see from their requirements, an internet speed of only 1 mbps is on the bare minimum side. You may or may not encounter issues when using their service, and this will mostly be based on how good and stable your internet service provider is.
Is 1 Mbps Enough for Gaming?
Within the video game industry today, it is recommended to have a minimum download speed of at least 3 mbps and an upload speed of 1 mbps. That means 1 mbps falls pretty short of what the minimum recommended speed is to play video games online effectively. 1 mbps is definitely not recommended for gaming.
Some issues that will occur when your speed is too slow is high latency/ping. Your ping may be 100ms+ which can lead to a negative gaming experience with excessive lag and long loading times.
On top of a high latency/ping, you will also have to wait a very long time to download full games or patches. Many modern games are multiple gigabytes in size which can take hours or even days to download with such a slow internet speed.
If Wifi is your primary connection point, then we recommend using a high speed gaming router to help keep your as low as possible. Click here to check out the wide selection of Netgear Wifi Gaming Routers on Amazon.
Is 1 Mbps Fast Enough for a Family?
1 mbps internet is definitely not fast enough for an entire household. This internet speed is really only good for a single user that wants to browse the internet, open emails, and watch low quality Youtube videos. We recommend having a speed of at least 25 mbps for a household. It is usually the best price to performance when it comes to internet packages, but this can vary depending on the area that you live.
Final Thoughts
1 mbps will only be able to download at most about at 122.07 KB/sec. This is considered to be extremely slow and is not considered to be high speed broadband.
This speed is not good for gaming or streaming video, but is good for basic web browsing and opening emails. Voice and video calling as well as sending and receiving large files will also take a very long time making this speed not suitable for working from home.
We only recommend purchasing this internet speed if there is nothing better available in your area. We recommend an internet speed of at least 25 mbps if you are planning on streaming video, gaming, or sharing the internet within a household.