Tech Tip # 16 What is Latency?
Tip # 16
TECH TIP TUESDAYS!
Every Tuesday, we’re breaking down quick, helpful info about all things tech—because let’s face it, the internet isn’t always easy to understand.
Today’s tech tip:
What is Latency & Why it Matters
Let’s go! 👇
What is Latency & Why it Matters
By Olivia Wells, LigTel Marketer
When most people check their internet, they look at one number: download speed.
But that number doesn’t tell the whole story about how your connection feels — especially for things like video calls, gaming, or remote work.
There’s another factor at play.
It’s called latency.
What Is Latency?
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server — and back again.
In simple terms: It’s delay.
As TestMySpeed.com explains, latency (often called “ping”) measures how long that round trip takes — and it’s measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower numbers mean a more responsive connection.
Bandwidth vs. Latency (They’re Not the Same)
It’s easy to confuse bandwidth and latency.
According to BroadbandNow, bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred at once, while latency is the time it takes for a single piece of data to travel between two points. If you want to learn more about bandwidth, I’ve also written an article about bandwidth. Check it out here.
Think of bandwidth as the width of a highway.
Think of latency as how long it takes one car to drive there and back.
They measure different things — but both can affect your real-life experience online.
What’s Considered “Good” Latency?
Here’s a simple benchmark range:
- 100+ ms → noticeable delay
- 50–99 ms → may cause hiccups
- 20–49 ms → responsive for most activities
- Under 20 ms → excellent
- Under 10 ms → top-tier performance (LigTel is here)
TestMySpeed notes that fiber connections often operate under 10 milliseconds due to light-based transmission and lower interference.
At LigTel, our fiber network typically averages around 6 ms.
Why Latency Matters
Latency shows up most in real-time situations:
- Video calls (no awkward talk-over delays)
- Online gaming (less lag between button press and action)
- Remote work
- Anything that needs quick back-and-forth communication
Streaming movies doesn’t require ultra-low latency the same way real-time communication does — but it absolutely matters for responsiveness.
BONUS TIP!
Keep Your Important Devices First in Line
Even with a great connection, your home network can get busy — especially when multiple devices are online at once.
That’s where ExperienceIQ can help.
With MyPrioritiesIQ (part of ExperienceIQ), you can set certain devices (or types of traffic) as a higher priority on your network — so they’re less likely to get stuck behind everything else happening at home.
A couple real-life examples:
- Work from home: prioritize your work laptop so video calls and remote tools stay smooth
- Medical/assistive equipment: prioritize devices that need a reliable connection so they aren’t competing with everything else in the house
It’s a simple way to keep the things that matter most from getting slowed down when your network is busy.
The Bottom Line
Download speed tells you how much data you can move at once.
Latency tells you how quickly your connection responds.
If your internet ever feels delayed — even when speeds look good — latency may be the missing piece of the puzzle.
And that’s where fiber makes a real difference.
Sources:
- TestMySpeed.com, “Understanding Latency: Ping, Lag, and Internet Performance Explained” (Feb 4, 2026)
- BroadbandNow.com, “Bandwidth vs. Latency: What’s the Difference?” (Dec 8, 2025)
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