Just over 30 years ago, the internet made its public debut. In the beginning, it was a bit of a novelty. Reports show that a couple of years after its release, only around 14 percent of Americans had access to it. Of course, that didn’t take very long to change. In less than a decade, nearly 45 percent of U.S. households subscribed to internet services. Today, that figure has surged to more than 90 percent, and the internet has become a necessity.
In fact, most of today’s families have multiple devices that require internet connections. From laptops and smartphones to gaming systems, appliances, and beyond, an ever-growing number of the items we depend on every day need to be connected. Having reliable internet is important for everyone at this point, but the more devices you have, the more crucial it is. Here are some of the reasons why.
Family Entertainment
Entertainment is a big part of people’s lives. Streaming services have become a go-to solution for television shows, movies, live sports, music, and other forms of at-home amusement. At this point, only around 36 percent of Americans still subscribe to cable or satellite television, and the rest rely solely on streaming. Furthermore, most households have at least two or three televisions streaming at any given time.
Besides television, there are millions of online gamers in America. Unlike the simpler systems of the past, today’s video game consoles largely depend on the internet to work properly. For both television and gaming, families need fast internet with plenty of bandwidth. Otherwise, they’ll deal with lag, buffering, and lost connections that make entertainment more of a frustration than a diversion.
Remote Work and Education
In addition to streaming, a growing number of Americans are working remotely. More students than ever are attending virtual school as well. For people who work from home, being able to connect to their jobs via the internet, send and receive files, attend videoconferences, and carry out other work-related activities is a must.
For remote learning, students need to be able to access their lessons, submit assignments, attend synchronous learning sessions, and communicate with their teachers. Without reliable internet, none of those activities are possible. Students end up falling behind in class, and parents can’t be as productive as they need to be.
Successful Smart Homes
Smart homes once seemed like an element of science fiction, but today, they’re a reality. They’re growing increasingly common too. In smart homes, numerous components are connected to the internet from lights and entertainment systems to appliances and security systems. If the internet fails, none of those work properly. It’s far more than an inconvenience; it can leave families vulnerable to intruders and many other problems. A dependable internet that’s capable of supporting smart home devices keep that from happening.
Supporting Today’s Growing Range of Connected Devices
These days, it’s not a question of whether households have multiple devices; it’s a question of just how many connected devices they have. Some have a couple of televisions, laptops, and smartphones. Others have a television in every room, several computers, half a dozen gaming systems, and an array of smart home devices. In either case, they need internet connections that can meet all their online needs. Without reliable internet, no one can stay connected and take advantage of all the benefits the internet can bring to their lives.
