You’ve probably looked at an internet plan, seen numbers like 5Mbps or 30Mbps, and wondered what any of it actually means for you.
- Does a bigger number always mean better internet?
- What even is a Mbps?
- Why does your connection sometimes feel slow even though you’re on a decent plan?
This guide answers all of that, in plain language, so you can make a smarter choice when picking internet for your home or business in Nakuru.
Understand What Mbps Actually Means
Mbps stands for megabits per second. It tells you how much data your internet connection can move in one second. The bigger the number, the more data travels through at once and the faster things happen on your screen.
Picture your internet connection as a pipe. A narrow pipe can only let so much water through at a time. A wider pipe moves more water without any restriction.
Mbps is the width of that pipe.
One thing worth clearing up is that megabits (Mb) and megabytes (MB) are not the same thing. Files on your phone or laptop are measured in megabytes. Internet speeds use megabits. There are 8 megabits in every megabyte. So a 10Mbps connection can transfer roughly 1.25 megabytes of data per second.
That’s why a 20MB photo takes longer than you’d expect to send on a 5Mbps plan. You’re pushing 160 megabits through a 5-megabit pipe, and something has to give.
Know the Difference Between Download and Upload Speed
Most internet plans lead with their download speed, and that’s the number that affects most of what you do online. Streaming a series, loading a page, receiving a file on WhatsApp, watching YouTube, all of that relies on download speed.
Upload speed works in the opposite direction. It’s how fast data leaves your device and reaches the internet. Sending a photo to a family group, joining a video call, backing up photos to Google Drive, or posting on social media all use upload speed.
Most home plans prioritize download speed because the average person consumes far more data than they send. Downloads dominate most household activity and ISPs design residential plans this way intentionally.
That said, if you work from home and you spend your days on Zoom or Teams calls, don’t ignore your upload speed. A slow upload is what makes you freeze on a call, not a slow download.
Learn Why Latency Matters More Than You Think
Here’s the part of internet speed that most people overlook completely.
Latency – also called ping – is the time it takes for a signal to travel from your device to a server and come back. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower numbers are better.
Latency under 20ms is ideal for real-time activities like video calls and online gaming. Between 20ms and 50ms is still perfectly workable. Once you go past 100ms, you’ll start noticing delays.
Here’s a practical example:
Imagine you’re on a 30Mbps connection, but your latency is 200ms. That’s a fast connection with a very slow reaction time. Your video might load quickly, but your character in a game doesn’t respond when you press a button. Or your voice on a call arrives late, making conversation awkward.
This is one reason fiber internet often delivers a better overall experience. It pairs fast speeds with low latency. If you’re keen on gaming, check out this guide on the best internet for gaming in Nakuru to understand exactly what to look for.
Match Your Speed to Your Actual Usage
Not every household needs the same plan. Your right speed depends on what you do online and how many people share the connection at the same time.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Activity | Minimum Speed Needed |
| Basic browsing and email | 3–5 Mbps |
| HD video streaming | 10 Mbps |
| 4K streaming | 25–30 Mbps |
| Video calls (Zoom, Google Meet) | 5–10 Mbps |
| Online gaming | 10–25 Mbps (latency matters more) |
| Cloud backups and large file uploads | 10 Mbps+ upload speed |
A single user doing light browsing can get by on a 5 to 7Mbps plan without any complaints. But a family of five where two screens are streaming, someone is gaming, and another person is on a video call, that household will feel the squeeze on anything below 20Mbps.
If streaming is your main activity, read this breakdown of what speed you actually need for streaming videos before you settle on a plan.
Find Out How Many Devices Are Slowing You Down
Your internet speed is shared across every device connected to your network. Phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, CCTV cameras, and even smart bulbs all pull from the same pool.
This is called bandwidth, and it runs out quickly in a busy home or office.
We recommend that remote-working households plan for at least 50Mbps download to keep things running smoothly when multiple people are online at once. Two people working from home alongside children streaming educational content can easily hit that limit.
If your connection keeps lagging or dropping during peak hours, the number of connected devices is often the cause, not the plan itself. Learn more about why spotty Wi-Fi happens and how to fix it before you blame your provider.
Choose the Right Connection Type for Your Needs
In Nakuru, you’ll generally come across two main types of internet connection: fiber optics and wireless internet.
Fiber uses cables that carry data as light signals. It’s fast, stable, and handles multiple devices well without slowdowns. If your household streams in high quality, plays games online, or transfers large files regularly, fiber is the stronger choice.
Wireless internet uses radio signals and reaches places where running fiber cables is difficult or not yet possible. For most everyday users in Nakuru, such as browsing, video calls, social media, basic streaming, wireless delivers more than enough performance.
Both connection types work well depending on your location and needs. If you’re weighing the options for a home versus a business setup, this comparison of residential vs. business internet breaks it down clearly.
Get Connected with Tonycomm Group LTD in Nakuru
Tonycomm Group LTD (TCOM) is Nakuru’s go-to internet provider for both homes and businesses.
Plans start at just Ksh 1,500 per month for 5Mbps – perfect for small families – and go up to 30Mbps at Ksh 4,499 for larger households. For businesses, TCOM’s packages scale from 5Mbps all the way to 150Mbps, giving you room to grow without switching providers.
Every plan comes with unlimited internet, no data caps, a 99% uptime guarantee, and 24/7 customer support. Installation takes under 45 minutes and costs a flat Ksh 3,500, or just Ksh 2,000 if you already own a fiber router.
Browse TCOM’s full list of internet packages and pick the plan that fits your actual usage. If you’re ready to make the switch, here’s exactly how to get started with TCOM internet in Nakuru.
Call or WhatsApp: 0110345166
M-Pesa Paybill: 4129711 — Account number: your phone number
