Your Guide to the Best WiFi for Gaming

Looking for a new Internet provider?

Check availability 

Online gaming can be fun to relax and get away from reality. Many of the most popular games have online multiplayer options, which allow tens of thousands of players to play at the same time. And whether you're a rookie or a seasoned player, you want the best WiFi for gaming to limit interruptions when playing online. Technology has grown significantly to meet these standards, but to understand where gaming technology is going it's essential to know how it began.

A Brief History of Gaming

The first home video game system was introduced to the public during the game technology stone age of the 1970s. Atari introduced a rudimentary video game called PONG, and thus, the gaming industry's evolution began. A breakthrough was in 1983 when Nintendo sold 2.5 million Nintendo Entertainment Systems within just a few days after its release. Then, in October 2000, PlayStation 2 (PS2) entered the gaming arena, and gamers purchased over 500,000 game systems in a few days. This was far from the gaming experience available with today's advanced PlayStation 4 (PS4), but it set the foundation for modern gamer systems like these.

Back then, gaming speed crawled at a snail's pace, and download speed and upload speed was an idea that was decades away. It would require Internet service development, accessing an Internet connection, and having features such as WiFi for the best gaming experience possible. While these games were fun, the technological advances on the horizon would take the gamer experience to a whole new level.



Is WiFi OK for Gaming?

WiFi is an excellent alternative for online gaming if you have the correct provider, a suitable modem, and a capable router. WiFi has evolved significantly in recent decades, with WiFi 6 being the most recent example.

An old expression goes, "Life is not all fun and games." If you're a gamer, you'd probably beg to differ. In fact, according to the ESA, "54 percent of frequent gamers feel their hobby helps them connect with friends, and 45 percent use gaming as a way to spend time with their family." The gaming experience and interactivity with other gamers have popularized this form of entertainment to what it is today.

Optimum helps make this kind of gaming experience possible with our new, state-of-the-art Fiber network. It delivers 1 Gig service and intelligent WiFi, providing a truly extraordinary experience that can't be matched. According to the FCC, Optimum's Internet download speeds outperform Verizon Fios and are rated #1 in customer satisfaction and #1 in reliability. Netflix continually ranks Optimum Internet as one of its top Internet speed providers.

What Makes WiFi 6 Good Enough for Gaming?

WiFi 6 is an excellent option for gamers due to improved speed, network connection, frequency, and steadiness. Below we break down exactly how WiFi 6 upgrades these factors.

Speed

The bandwidth of WiFi 6 is much higher than that of WiFi 5. A maximum of 3.5 gigabits per second is possible with WiFi 5. This is increased to 9.6 Gbps with WiFi 6. You're unlikely to reach that speed because it's a theoretical maximum. However, getting 5 Gbps and above speeds will be great, especially for massive game downloads over WiFi.

Network Connection

Another new feature that was not available in WiFi 5 but will be in WiFi 6 is the fully connected mesh network, which allows all devices on a WiFi network to talk with each other rather than only with the router or access point.



Frequency: Is 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz better for gaming?

Speed and range are the two major distinctions between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. Wireless transmission at 2.4 GHz covers a larger area but at the expense of fast Internet speed, whereas 5 GHz covers a smaller space but gives quicker rates. WiFi 6 has a more extended range than WiFi 5 because WiFi 5 can only operate on the 5GHz band, but WiFi 6 can run on both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. WiFi 5-enabled routers employ the WiFi 4 protocol for long-range reach.

Steadiness

The most important benefit, though, is steadiness. In general, WiFi 6 is far superior to WiFi 5 when several devices are connected to a single network. WiFi 6 employs an improved version of MU-MIMO (multiple users, multiple input, multiple outputs) technologies that allow a router to interact with up to eight devices simultaneously, double the number of devices supported by WiFi 5.

What is the Best WiFi Speed for Gaming?

Now you know where video game technology has been and how it has advanced. The big question is, where are you going for your high-speed Internet service?

We suggest the smart choice for the best upload speed and download speed and the best Internet connection and the best Internet speed; you should make the switch to Optimum. Enjoy gameplay without interruption because our bandwidth and fiber optics deliver a superior playing experience.

You don't have to concern yourself with tech terms such as maximum ping, ping rate, or even megabits capability - you're covered with Optimum high-speed Internet. We can take your gaming to the highest level of entertainment. After all, you're not interested in minimum speeds when you require maximum fun with online gaming.


Optimum internet plans. Because gamers want the best internet service.

Now you know where video game technology has been and where it's going. The big question is where are you going for your high-speed internet service?

We suggest the smart choice for the best upload speed and download speed, as well as the best internet connection and the best internet speed, you need should make the switch to Optimum. Enjoy game play without interruption because of our bandwidth and fiber optics that deliver a superior game playing experience.

Plus, you don't have to concern yourself with tech terms such as maximum ping, ping rate or even megabits capability - you're covered with Optimum high-speed internet. We can take your gaming to the highest level of entertainment. After all, you're not interested in minimum speeds when you require maximum fun with online gaming.


Ready to switch to Optimum?

Check availability 

You May Also Like

Check availability

See if Optimum is available for your home.

ORDER ONLINE

ORDER ONLINE

See if Optimum is available for your home:

Find special offers in your area

Already an Optimum customer?

Sign in to add enhanced services to your account now.