Things that may Slow Down your Broadband Connection

With most people working and studying from home now, the need for a high-speed, reliable internet connection is a major concern. Bandwidth is now needed not only for your routine computer use, but also for mobile phones, gaming consoles, smart TVs, Internet of Things (IoT) and various streaming devices. And with most people stuck at home, the broadband connection is being used for entertainment and live streaming purposes too.

For all these things to function smoothly, you need a reliable high-speed internet. After all, you wouldn’t want to face lags when you are in the middle of a meeting – or even a game! Some reasons why you are facing slow down of your broadband connection could be due to the following factors:

Location of Router

If your router is placed too far from the internet source, chances are the signals are too weak to be useful. A central location is best for the router. For optimal speed availability, do ensure that there are minimal physical barricades around it – these include furnishing, walls, ceilings, etc.

Malware

Though malware or malicious viruses don’t affect broadband speeds directly, they can affect the hardware and software components of the device you are using. This in turn can affect your broadband speeds. Keeping the anti-virus up-to-date on your device can prevent slow down of your broadband to an extent.

Multiple users

One of the major reasons for the slowdown of broadband signals is due to too many devices being logged on simultaneously. In a single family, its easy to find at least 4 mobile phones, a couple of laptops/PC and a smart TV hooked onto a single internet network. If your broadband data package is on the smaller size or comes with data caps, then you are bound to face slow down in your broadband connection in such a scenario.

Heavy Downloads

Multiple users downloading heavy volumes at the same time can cause network congestion and slowdown of your broadband connection too. Heavy usage includes video games, streaming apps and even hidden downloads.

Faulty Wiring

Loose or frayed wiring is a common cause of slowdown in broadband speeds. Regular checks and maintenance goes a long way in sustaining healthy broadband speeds.