How Fast Does Internet Speed Grow?

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

Since 1990, hard disk storage capacity doubles in about every 1 year, computing speed doubles by about every 2 years. What about internet speed?

How Fast Net Speed Grow?

It's about 50% faster per year.

The formula is c*1.5^n where n is number of years, and c is a constant.

Assuming in 1990 it's 1.2 kbits/s. We have:

internet speed growth
Internet speed growth. Table[{1990 + x, 1.2*1.5^x}, {x, 0, 22}]
yearkbits/s
1990 1.2
1992 2.7
1994 6.1
1996 13.7
1998 30.8
2000 69.2
2002 155.7
2004 350.3
2006 788.2
2008 1773.5
2010 3990.3
2012 8978.2
2014 20200.9
2016 45452.1
2018 102267.0
2020 230101.0

Here's my internet connection speed history:

YearConnection TypeSpeed (kbit/s)Comment
1991Modem 1200 (V.22)1.2
199756k modem56
1998Innetix wireless, San Jose (at work; Brainpower.com)800
1999alink.net ISDN, Mountain View (at work; Weborder.com)280
2002Pacfic Bell ADSL, Palo Alto (home)880137 upload
2003Cable modem with 802.11b wireless, Sacramento (friend Paul K home)800240.1 upload.
2003library, wireless, Palo Alto980112 upload.
2006DSL, Mountain View (Danny's)980◆
2008Cable, Camcast, Mountain View5288◆
2009Cable, Comcast, Mountain View8410◆
2013Cable, Comcast, Mountain View22000◆
2014Cable, Comcast, Mountain View26000ping 17ms
2017AT＆T internet28000ping 22ms, upload 4.66Mbps

kbit/s = 10^3 bits per second.

internet speed 71120 2014-02-16
my internet speed, as of
xah lee web speed 2015-07-30
my internet speed, as of
internet speed xah 2017 06 20
internet speed xah 2017-06-20
internet speed xah 2019-08-13 jm6p6
internet speed xah 2019-08-13 jm6p6

see also: Computer Devices Bandwidth Table

If you have a question, put $5 at patreon and message me.