slow connection

Slow Connection – Solutions to speed up the Internet

Almost everyone relies on high-speed internet for work, communication, and entertainment. There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for several seconds for a website to load or minutes for a video to buffer. Slow internet connectivity can hamper productivity, discourage professionals, and cause stress when you’re trying to take a break with some video content. Fortunately, all is not lost as it is possible to improve internet speeds significantly. You might not even need to call the ISP for better connectivity. Here are some steps to follow:

1. Test Current Internet Speeds

Checking the internet speed is the best way to determine if you need to upgrade your plan or not. There are several websites that allow you to test your internet speed by simply sending some data packets and receiving some in return. This only takes a few seconds but will give you a clear idea of just how fast your internet speed is.
Once this is done, log into your ISP account and check the speed provided by your plan. If your actual speed is equal to or reasonably close to the speed provided by the plan, you might need to upgrade it. If the speed is nowhere close to what’s offered in the plan, you might have a problem with the system that must be addressed.

speed test
Internet Speed Test Software Concept

2. Reboot Modems and Routers

Like all hardware components, modems and routers can become affected over time, which has a direct impact on internet speeds. It’s a good idea to reset your modem or router to enjoy increased speed. These devices usually have a small reset button at the back that you press and release when required. After you have restarted the modem or router, check internet speeds on all computers on the network.
If the speeds on all computers is slow, there’s something wrong with your internet connection and you might need to call a professional to address it. If the speed is slow on just one device, there might be something interfering with your home network. It might be a good idea to reposition the router or check internal connections.

3. Remove Apps that Consume Broadband

Several apps run in the background and consume broadband and most users lose track of them over time. Applications like Anti-Virus programs, torrent apps, Skype, etc., can slow your internet speeds down. Check your devices for Internet consuming apps that run in the background and close every program but the most essential ones down.

4. Install QoS

QoS stands for Quality of Service and this router can help prioritize how much bandwidth every device gets. If there’s a bottleneck on all devices and it is slowing your Internet speeds down, a QoS router will immediately assign more bandwidth to high-priority devices based on your settings, which will improve Internet speeds on the device that most needs it. For example, if you’re working on your personal laptop and experience slow speeds, the QoS will assign more bandwidth to the laptop and reduce some from your phone, smart assistant, and other such devices.

5. Install a VPN

ISPs can sometimes slow down the speed of websites accessed regularly by power users. For example, if you constantly watch videos on YouTube, they will deliberately slow down speeds during YouTube sessions to compel you to use higher plans. VPN will direct your traffic data through different networks and encrypt it, which means ISPs won’t be able to determine which website you use more or slow the Internet down.
If these solutions don’t work, call your ISP for professional assistance. Want to know more about how to speed up internet? Don’t hesitate to contact us at City Passenger at 1-855-893 6281 if you’re in US or Canada or on 0800 901 385 if you’re in Europe.

And also, find our article: “Why the gateway will increase your security and productivity”

Thomas, Editor at Citypassenger