There are situations where the internet speed may not be sufficient for your needs. In the past, there were specialized internet accelerator programs, but they primarily worked by reducing image quality and compressing traffic. These technologies are no longer relevant. So, what are the ways to boost your internet speed?
Upgrade your Internet plan
Many cable providers now offer speeds of around 100 Mbps. If you have a large family or many users, this may not be enough. In such cases, check if your provider offers higher speeds like 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, or even a massive 1 Gbps. However, keep in mind that if you have an outdated router and devices, you may need to upgrade your equipment as well. In practice, 100 Mbps might not be sufficient for a large family, especially when someone is streaming or watching high-resolution videos.
Check your router
For example, an older Wi-Fi 4 standard router can theoretically provide speeds of up to 600 Mbps under ideal conditions, but in reality, it rarely achieves speeds exceeding 100 Mbps. As of 2023, the current Wi-Fi standard is Wi-Fi 6, which can comfortably provide speeds of 1 Gbps. An older router might work well with 1-3 devices, but if you connect a television, gaming computer, and multiple smartphones to it, it might struggle to handle such a load. Additionally, many high-frequency devices operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, causing significant interference for the router. Transitioning to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 will solve these connection issues.
Check Your Devices
Many users believe their internet is slow when, in reality, their smartphones or PCs are slow. It’s possible that too many programs are installed on the device, creating a heavy load. Consequently, web browsers may indeed operate slowly. Also, the presence of viruses on the device and background programs that use up network resources can matter.
Now, what should you do if your mobile internet is slow?
- Ensure that your device is connected to the cellular operator via the LTE (4G) protocol.
- Try reconnecting to the network (enable airplane mode and then disable it).
- Attempt changing the device’s location slightly, such as moving it a meter left or right; this might resolve the issue.
In summary, boosting your internet speed can involve upgrading your plan, checking and upgrading your router, and ensuring that your devices are running efficiently and free of unnecessary programs or viruses.