What could be more frustrating than finding out that even after you have signed up for a high-speed internet plan, your videos are still buffering, your downloads take ages to complete, and your Zoom meetings freeze at unexpected moments? If this sounds familiar, then you are not alone because many people experience slow internet speeds despite paying for a high-speed internet plan.
The reasons why your internet is slow even after you have signed up for a high-speed plan can be multiple, and in this post, we have discussed most of those issues so that you can diagnose the issue and address it.
Network Congestion
One of the common reasons why your internet might be slow, even with a high-speed internet plan, is network congestion. Network congestion occurs when too many devices or users are connected to the network at the same time. When the number of connected devices or users exceeds the capacity of the network, then it leads to networking congestion. This is a common problem during peak usage times, especially during evenings when everyone is on their devices using the internet.
To fix this issue, you can limit the number of devices connected to the network or schedule bandwidth-intense activity during off-peak hours. Alternatively, if your wireless router is a dual-band or tri-band router, then you can go to 192.168.1.1 to broadcast Wi-Fi signals on two different frequencies using two different SSIDs to reduce network congestion.
Outdated or Incompatible Hardware
Your router and modem play a major role in delivering internet speeds. If you are having an outdated router/modem or your router/modem is incompatible with your high-speed plan or not able to transfer such high speeds, then you will be experiencing slow internet despite having a high-speed internet plan. An outdated or incompatible router can become a bottleneck and slow down the entire network.
Simply upgrade your hardware and buy a modern router and modem that supports higher speeds and newer WiFi technologies like the Wi-Fi 6.
Wi-Fi Interference and Signal Strength
Your internet connection might be slow despite having a high-speed internet plan because of interference and weak signal strength. WiFi signals are weakened by physical barriers like walls and furniture, as well as by interference from other electronic devices and appliances like microwaves. In addition, the distance between your WiFi router and your device can also determine the speed, as the farther you are from your router, the weaker the signal becomes, leading to slower speeds.
You can fix this issue of interference by optimizing the position of the WiFi router, configuring the default router settings, removing potential cause of signal interference, reducing the distance between your device and the router, and using a WiFi extender to improve coverage.
Background Applications
Having background applications running like cloud backups, software updates, OS updates, and streaming services can consume a significant amount of bandwidth, slowing down the entire network. Monitor your bandwidth usage regularly and close unnecessary applications and background processes to preserve the bandwidth.
Malware or Viruses
Having malware or viruses on your devices can slow down your internet by consuming the entire bandwidth or interfering with your connection. When your devices are infected with malware or viruses, then everything else will be fine, however, your internet connection will be very slow because of the virus or malware consuming the bandwidth and network resources. To prevent this, regularly scan your devices for malware and viruses using reputable antivirus software and avoid opening attachments or links from unknown sources.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) Issues
Sometimes, the problem lies with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Your ISP might be intentionally slowing down your connection (throttling), have data caps set on your connection, or be undergoing network maintenance. In some cases, ISPs oversell their capacity, which leads to slower speeds during peak hours. Contact your ISP for network issues or throttling, and if the problems don’t resolve, consider changing your ISP.
