An unreliable internet connection can be very frustrating, especially if you're in the middle of your favorite Christmas movie or trying to meet a deadline. If you think this only happens to you, don't worry — you're not alone. A majority of people can relate to this problem. Around 15% of internet users, or 45 million people, are getting less than their advertised speeds.
So if you're now wondering, how do internet speeds work? Or why your advertised speed and actual connection don't match up? Keep reading to get the inside scoop on everything you need to know about internet speeds, the difference between advertised and actual speeds, and the factors affecting internet speed.
Defining Internet Speed and How It’s Measured
"Internet speed" is the amount of data that can be transferred over the internet at one time. Customers need to know this term because it affects what activities can be done online and how many devices can connect simultaneously.
Your internet connection's speed depends on how quickly it can upload and download data (bits). This speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).
Remember that one Mbps equals 1,000,000 bits being transferred every second and one Gbps, 1,000,000,000 bits per second. Thus, the larger the Mbps or Gbps you see displayed, the faster your internet speed.
Download Speed
Download speed measures the internet connection's quickness in downloading data from the internet to the user’s device. This data can be in various forms, such as images, videos, text files, and audio.
Download speeds at or above 25 Mbps are typically considered good, as this meets the broadband speed minimum set by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). However, it's important to remember that download speeds can vary based on how many devices are being used simultaneously and what those devices are being used for.
Upload Speed
Upload speed is how quickly you can send info from your device to the internet. It's less commonly used than downloading, but some activities also need data going in the opposite direction. If you want to do things like emailing, playing multiplayer games, or video calling on Zoom, then you'll need a quick upload speed so that your data will reach the other person's server rapidly.
An upload speed of 3 Mbps is usually considered enough because it meets the FCC’s base guideline. However, if you or anyone in your household regularly uploads videos to YouTube or works from home, a plan with higher upload speeds may be necessary.
Do you want to know how fast your internet is? Conduct an internet speed test. This way, you can determine if your actual speeds match the speeds advertised by your internet service provider (ISP).
Advertised vs. Actual Internet Speeds
After running an internet speed test, you might end up scratching yourself in the head — wondering why your real-time speeds don’t match up with what you saw in your ISP's ads. To help you better make sense of things, we’ll be breaking down advertised and actual speeds and why they’re so different.
Advertised Speeds
As the competition among ISPs has increased, so too have the misleading marketing tactics they use to lure customers. This often includes ISPs exaggerating their advertised speeds or promising maximum speeds at all times. To pull people in, many ISPs advertise rates of "up to" a certain Mbps.
Because of this misconception, people often believe they have a max connection when that's rarely the case. According to the FCC report on fixed broadband speeds, most individuals are getting slower broadband speeds than advertised. This can be very disheartening and disappointing for customers who feel like they didn't receive what they paid for in terms of speed.
Simply put, advertised speeds are what we could call bandwidth — a theoretical value. It is the maximum possible potential data that could be transferred over a specified time.
Actual Speeds
The actual speed of your service may be lower than advertised, especially at high-traffic times. Several factors contribute to the reality that we seldom get the speeds we were initially promised on internet packages. Some factors that cause your speeds to drop include having too many people connected to your Wi-Fi, outdated devices, the interference in speeds of the servers you’re downloading from and the routers in between, and being located too far from your ISP.
Actual speeds are comparable to throughput; it is the actual value of speed or transfer of data we get in a set amount of time.
Factors Affecting Internet Speed: Why the Sales Pitch is Often Far From Reality
A variety of things can cause your internet connection to act sluggish. Below, we listed some reasons for your slower-than-expected internet connection.
Customer Hardware Issues
Your internet may be slow because of the devices you’re using. An old router is usually the culprit — as they age, they can't keep up with your service provider's speeds. If this happens to you, you'll experience significantly faster speeds after turning the router off for a short time.
However, there will come a time when turning your router off and on again will no longer do the trick and the only way to fix your old router’s issues with consistently slow speeds is to upgrade to a new one. Your current router might not be able to handle speeds from newer technology.
To take advantage of high-speed internet, you need a router that is compatible with the latest technology. If your current one is provided by your ISP, give them a call for a replacement.
Furthermore, this also applies to your ancient devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. They cannot utilize the high-speed service providers offer if they're too old and outdated — especially because technology is changing and improving daily.
Peak Hours
If you're in the city center and your ISP has set up a cell tower nearby, you would still experience slow internet due to network congestion. The time of day usually decides how fast your internet speed will be. Most people use the internet during peak hours, so speeds are generally slower. This often occurs on weekday evenings between 6 and 11 PM.
Too Many Connected Devices
If you and your family are frequently on the internet at once — whether working from home, streaming movies, or playing video games — then you know just how frustrating a slow Wi-Fi connection can be.
That's because every device (computers, mobiles, game consoles, smartTV with lots of data-hungry applications) competes for bandwidth on the same network.
Congestion From Multiple Residences
Although you may purchase a 50 Mbps leased line, that doesn't indicate that you will have exclusive use of the full speed. Most ISPs have several customers sharing one internet connection, so when heavy usage is happening (such as multiple people trying to stream movies or download large files), it can lead to congestion and slow down for everyone because they're competing for a limited amount of available bandwidth.
Internet Throttling
Many ISPs claim to offer "unlimited" data plans, but this doesn't always mean that you'll get a consistent bandwidth rate throughout your entire postpaid plan.
For example, you may be subject to throttling after downloading a certain amount of data — a speed much slower than what was promised. This is due to ISPs intentionally limiting internet bandwidth to guarantee quality service for everyone.
The Website Itself is Down
If you're noticing a decrease in speed, it may be due to the website's servers. Bear in mind that if other users on different networks have a similar experience, it is likely due to something on the website's end and not your ISP.
Many popular websites, including Facebook and Twitter, have endured periods of slow loading times. A distributed denial of service event or routine maintenance could cause this.
The Bottom Line
It's frustrating when you're promised one thing, and your internet doesn't deliver. We've all been there, waiting impatiently for a movie to load or for that important work document to download. And sometimes, it feels like we're constantly battling against our ISP with little success.
But before you go through the trouble of asking every person you know how internet speeds work, check some of these common causes for slow speeds. If it turns out that your hardware is outdated, your internet time is during peak hours, or you have too many devices connected to the network, do not worry — it happens to the best of us. You can rest assured knowing that you haven't been scammed, and this service issue is typical of internet providers.
Advertised speeds and bandwidth are the same — a theoretical value. It is merely the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over time. Actual speeds, or throughput, are the actual transfer rate of speed we witness within a set period.
Now that you are more knowledgeable about advertised internet speeds vs. the actual speeds put your new skills to the test. Check what speed you are currently getting. If it's not up to par, perhaps it's time to explore other internet plans or providers who can give you the best bang for your buck — depending on your needs and budget, of course!
FAQ
Is 500 Mbps internet fast?
Yes, 500 Mbps internet is very fast. Download speeds of 500 Mbps should be fast enough to allow for 20 4K streams or 300 Zoom calls simultaneously, which would more than satisfy the demands of an average family or small workplace. A download speed of 500 Mbps is way above the global average.
Is there a device to increase internet speed?
No device can increase your internet speed beyond the maximum speed provided by your ISP. However, you can purchase devices such as routers and extenders to help optimize your existing connection and ensure you get the best possible speeds.
Do I really need gigabit internet?
Gigabit internet speeds aren't necessary for everyone. If you're streaming HD content or gaming online, having a reliable and fast connection is worth the investment. But gigabit speeds may be overkill if your household only uses the internet for basic activities like web surfing, emailing, and social media.
Does sitting closer to the router make the internet faster?
Yes, sitting closer to the router can make your internet connection faster. The farther you are from the router, the weaker the signal will be; thus, the slower your connection will be. That said, if there are physical obstructions between you and the router (like walls or furniture), it won't matter how close you are since those things can block the signal.
How do I stop my neighbors from using my WiFi?
The simplest way to stop your neighbors from using your WiFi is to secure it with a strong password. Make sure that the password you choose isn't easy to guess.
