During the early years of the pandemic, American houses used more than 400 GB of data every month. This is around 100 GB extra than the average usage rate. Hence, the monthly average usage in US homes was 300 GB. This gives people enough data for work and basic entertainment. But people who do a lot of heavy online work need more data. Things like online gaming and podcast hosting need bigger data.
Usual internet connections provide users with around 1 TB of data caps. But local fixed wireless internet connections may have lower caps. Exceeding the cap can lead to surge charges. So, what kind of data plan do you need? Want to get a better understanding? Read this article to know more.
How much data does an average consumer use?
In a survey, OpenVault found that the typical internet user uses 536 GB of internet every month. This data is solely about home internet users only. This data is from a recent 2021 survey.
Each year, there is a steady increase in the number of online users who use more than 500 GB of data. The growth of internet streaming and smart home technology is driving up demand for data. But not many people use more than 500 GB of data. That is a special case scenario for advanced users.
Is unlimited WiFi data a good option?
If you worry about data surges, get an unlimited data plan. That is the best way to avoid all extra charges. Unlimited data plans help you free yourself from all worries of extra charges. Unlimited data will let you use as much data as you need. This will have no monetary consequences. If you have a lot of work, then get the unlimited plan. This is best suited for gamers, live streamers, and more.
So, is 1 TB of data enough for an average household? Yes, one 1 TB data is generally enough for all average users. If you do not consume a lot of online things, then it is enough for you. Any average American household consumes much less than the 1 TB data cap.
How to figure out how much WiFi data you need?
Do you want to figure out the kind of data pack you need? Take a closer look at the section below. We will help you understand which things need more data and which don’t.
These activities have huge data consumption –
- Streaming live videos
- Conducting video calls
- Constantly running your smart-home security cameras
- Running multiple IoT devices around the house
- Posting videos to social media sites
- Downloading games and large files
- Playing online games
- Using multiple devices at the same time
These activities have low data consumption –
- Sending, checking, and receiving emails
- Social media usage
- Online shopping
- Watching small videos
- Listening to music
- Browsing the internet
Make a list of the things you do online. If they are most huge data consumption tasks, get an unlimited plan. If not, then small caps should be enough for you.
Why does fixed wireless internet have low data caps?
Rural fixed wireless internet runs on cellular networks. That is why many fixed wireless connections may have low data caps. This might be a problem for some people. But if you need more data in rural areas, you should get a bigger data plan. The coverage range is slightly lower in rural areas due to remote network issues. But fixed wireless data caps are not less than 250 GB/month. So, this is enough for basic work, browsing, and movie streaming. But if you have requirements for gaming, you need higher packages.
Parting thoughts
If you want to check the WiFi data consumption, log in to your connection portal. Your provider will have their official site. Once you visit the site they will provide you with all details of data consumption. You can also provide individual device addresses to check usage. This helps you track how much data each device is consuming. If any device is consuming too much, you can think about some changes.
Pro tip – If you are using the default login credentials for your router, change them. These primary login IDs are generic and can be easily copied. Once you log in, always change your ID and password. This helps users get much better safety of their accounts.
Want reliable data when you’re in a rural area? Talk to Wireless Solutions today!
