The video quality may drop two or three bars when you’re watching a favorite program in high definition, which may be both annoying and inconvenient. Every one of us has been there at some point. Even if you pay for a high-speed internet connection, the speed decreases from time to time, leaving you numbly looking at the screen.
After all the hype surrounding flying vehicles in 2020, it’s a little surprising that internet speed was still a hot topic in 2019. The average monthly cost of an internet connection for most American families is $50. As promised by most ISPs, consumers aren’t receiving an unbroken connection speed.
But the reality is, no matter how much you pay for your internet service, you’re still going to run into problems from time to time. Why is it the case? Is your Internet service provider doing this on purpose? The term for this practice is bandwidth throttling.
What is Bandwidth Throttling?
When your internet service provider (ISP) deliberately reduces your connection speed, this is known as bandwidth throttling. Whether you’re just surfing the web, watching a video, or going to a particular website, you may run into this problem.
There is no set time or regulation when it comes to bandwidth limiting. As a result, you’re essentially at the mercy of your ISP, even though you may be paying a substantial monthly cost. In the networking sector, it’s standard practice to limit network traffic and avoid bandwidth congestion, although it’s not necessarily morally correct.
The idea of net neutrality argues that all internet service providers (ISPs) must treat their customers equally, regardless of the content, user, platform, application, or device being used.
Nevertheless, is it a crime to do so? That’s not the case. Bandwidth throttling isn’t subject to any regulation or rule at this time. Though it’s not always a good idea, throttling may assist Internet service providers (ISPs) keep streaming sites running smoothly and preventing them from going down.
When internet throttling occurs regularly, there is no rationale for it. In addition to broadband services, throttling is also common. On mobile data connections, this problem occurs more often. A reasonable price on unlimited monthly data could make you feel better about your situation. However, when your data consumption hits a specific threshold, your sim provider cuts down your connection speed.
Reasons for Bandwidth Throttling
Throttling has no set rules or guidelines. There is a slew of possible causes for this. When too many people are using the same website at the same time, your Internet service provider may slow down your connection speed. It’s also possible that you’ve exceeded your data or usage limit.
Your Internet service provider (ISP) may slow down your internet speed for a variety of reasons, but here are some of the more typical ones:
1. To manage network congestion
Your ISP may slow down your connection speed if there is a lot of internet traffic in the exact location so that other customers in a different area may still enjoy a reliable connection.
Also, it might be a one-off event. There are several reasons for this, such as when a website is overloaded with visitors from the same network. Internet service providers frequently restrict your connection speed while browsing certain websites to avoid traffic congestion. For live-streaming websites, this is particularly true.
2. To control the use of data
Before, we’ve spoken about the limitations of “unlimited” plans. Your Internet service provider (ISP) nearly always has a hidden data limit. The ISP may also reduce your connection speed if you use the internet more than a certain amount before the conclusion of your paying cycle.
3. To deprioritize certain services
Regulators in several regions permit ISPs to restrict access to certain streaming services. It’s very uncommon for Internet service providers (ISPs) in Australia to reduce your connection speed while you’re using a free streaming service. Their goal is to increase the number of people using legitimate, paid streaming services rather than illegal, pirated ones. Whatever the cause may be, you shouldn’t be denied access to any area of the internet by your ISP for reasons that have nothing to do with you.
How to Stop Bandwidth Throttling?
Am I being throttled, and if so, how can I stop it?
Running a speed test can quickly reveal whether or not your internet connection is being slowed down. Run a standard speed test before connecting to a virtual private network (VPN).
Your ISP may be limiting your internet connection if you see a speed boost while using a VPN. It is possible that internet slowing is not occurring all the time. This test should only be performed if you’re experiencing a lower than average connection speed.
Here are some of the best ways to stop bandwidth throttling:
- Change your Internet service provider.
- Check to see whether your Internet service provider has a policy about bandwidth throttling.
- Talk to your Internet service provider (ISP) about your data limit (often hidden).
- Choose a connection with a larger bandwidth allowance.
- Consult with your Internet service provider about the busiest times of the day for use.
- Don’t use several browsers at the same time during high use times.
- Make use of a virtual private network (VPN).
