ND High School Esports

Why does broadband matter for competitive gaming in North Dakota?

Online gaming relies on quick and stable data exchange. A strong broadband connection can be the difference between smooth gameplay and lag that costs tournaments or scrims. Good broadband is the “infrastructure” of modern esports.

What’s the difference between speed and latency — and which one matters more for gaming?

Download speed decides how fast you pull content from the internet (game files, patches, streams). Latency (often measured as ping) is how fast your actions travel to the game server and back. For gaming performance, low latency matters more than raw download speed.
Fast is good. Fast and stable is better.

Why do games lag when my family is streaming or on video calls at the same time?

Multiple high-demand tasks share the same home connection. When one person streams 4K video or uploads a TikTok clip, it can eat into the bandwidth available for your game session and cause spikes in latency. This is why it is important to consult with your local provider on the best broadband package for your needs.

Does living in rural ND prevent me from gaming at a high-level?

On the contrary, some of our best Internet speeds are in rural areas.  Many North Dakota providers (including members of the Broadband Association of North Dakota) are deploying fiber in communities where large national providers never invested. Rural gamers today have more access to low-latency networks than those who live in more urban areas.

What should parents or coaches look for in a “good” connection for gaming and streaming?

Look for:

Fiber based service (if available) – the most stable option for both gaming and streaming

Upload speeds strong enough for streaming and video calls

Routers and equipment designed to utilize the high-speeds you are subscribing to

Is my current internet provider a member of BAND?

You can check out the full list of BAND members on our home-page.  All BAND member companies deliver their Internet via high-speed fiber-optic connections.

Why is the Broadband Association of North Dakota the platinum sponsor for high school esports in North Dakota?

Esports relies on dependable broadband — especially for schools and students in rural parts of the state. BAND members are the local companies actually building and maintaining the high-performance networks students depend on for practice, tournaments, streaming, and team collaboration. Sponsoring high school esports is a direct way for the broadband industry in ND to invest in the students who are using — and will continue to shape — the digital infrastructure they build.