Is your ISP giving you the internet speed you are paying for? Lots of factors contribute to the speed of an internet connection being delivered to you. The top three backers of good internet speed are location, subscription, and how you’re using the internet.
If, after testing your internet speed delivered by your ISP, you find that it’s slower than what you paid for, there are some things you can do to make the connection faster. However, the speed of any network is only as fast as what the internet service provider (ISP) gives out.
In today’s world where consumer rights are so influential, it seems strange that internet companies can constantly offer ‘up to’ speeds or fail to deliver on the speeds you pay for. Interested in the best internet service providers? Read our article on Best Internet Service Providers in Nigeria.
In this article, we take a look at the steps you can take to ensure the speeds you get are the speeds you should be getting. There are a number of ways that we can tackle this issue, and they should all be followed in order. By the end, you should have a good idea about how to fix any potential problems.
How to Determine a Good Internet Speed
It’s impossible to put a number on what’s considered the normal speed of a network’s internet connection. Everyone pays for different speeds and uses different devices on different networks to access the internet.
However, it is possible to determine your specific definition of normal by testing how fast a connection you have and comparing that to the speed you’re supposed to get.
With that said, you’re more likely to get faster speeds on wired connections than wireless. For example, your phone probably can’t stream movies while you are camping as quickly as it can at home.
What are the Average Mobile Internet Speeds?
The average connection speed for mobile phones supporting the 4G LTE standard ranges from 27 to 32 Mbps, depending on the state where you live and the age of the phone. If your equipment supports the 5G standard, the average connection speed is higher, ranging from 50 to 495 Mbps.
All major cellular providers show somewhat slower speeds in rural areas, probably because 80 percent of the population lives in urban areas. In most cases, the speed differential is less than 10 percent. These are averages. Some users experience faster speeds, and some users experience slower speeds.
What are the Average Broadband Speeds?
Modern broadband cable, fiber, and DSL networks continue to increase their internet speeds. Cable and fiber download speeds range from 100 Mbps to a maximum potential of 1 Gbps; download speeds on DSL are slower, as are upload speeds on all three networks.
How to Get Faster Internet Speed in your office or home
If your internet speed seems to be falling short of the theoretical maximum set by your ISP, consider the different variables at play. Here are some of the more common scenarios that could contribute to slow internet:
Network congestion
If you share a network with other users, specifically ones that play online games, stream Netflix and YouTube, broadcast live video, and download large software programs, you’ll experience a slowdown. Have the other users pause their downloads, streams, or uploads, or have them install an app with bandwidth control. The less bandwidth that’s split between all users, the more bandwidth each user will have, which translates to faster internet for everyone.
Your location and distance from the server
Particularly for people in rural settings, the more distance the signal travels, the more your data encounter bottlenecks across the many hops to reach your device. If you’re gaming or streaming movies, switch to a closer server (if that’s an option).
Hardware
Hundreds of pieces of hardware connect you to the web, including your network connector, router and modem, many servers, and many cables. Also, a wireless connection has to compete with other signals in the air. Check the connections in your network (router, cabling, and other devices) to be sure the connections are attached properly. Replace the router or modem if it’s too outdated to perform well. Change your wireless router’s channel number to avoid interference.
Selective throttling
Some ISPs analyze data and purposefully slow down specific types of data. For example, many ISPs limit connections that download movies or dial down everything if you consume more than your monthly allotment. Use a VPN provider to hide your data so that the ISP can’t detect your habits and throttle your bandwidth.
Software
You may unwittingly have malware or a bandwidth-intensive application running that robs your internet speed. Shut down the bandwidth-hogging application and scan for malware.