Why is the internet running slowly? The most common causes

Is the page refusing to load, is your video call cutting out, or is your TV series buffering at the worst possible moment? Find out where the problem might lie!

What is the most common cause of slow internet speeds at home?

The most common source of the problem is between the router and the device, rather than between the operator and the building. Thick walls, reinforced concrete ceilings, metal fixtures and a long distance all attenuate the Wi-Fi signal. A router tucked away in a cupboard, placed on the floor or in a corner of the flat faces more challenging conditions than one positioned high up and as centrally as possible.

The second reason is bandwidth sharing. When one person is watching a 4K film, another is holding a video conference, a games console is downloading a game, and mobile phones are uploading photos to the cloud, each device receives only a portion of the available resources.

However, the cause may lie with the provider: a fault, a network node overload, a cable fault, a problem with the modem, or service specifications that do not comply with the contract. On the mobile internet There is one further factor to consider – the speed drops once you have used up your data allowance or reached the threshold specified in the tariff terms and conditions.

How do the 5 GHz band and router settings affect Wi-Fi?

The 5 GHz band usually offers higher Wi-Fi connection speeds and is less congested than the 2.4 GHz band, but it has a shorter range and does not penetrate obstacles as well. It is advisable to connect a device located close to the router to the 5 GHz network, whilst a sensor or device situated in a room further away may operate more reliably on the 2.4 GHz band.

Tip: Position the router above floor level, in an open space and as close as possible to the centre of your home. Do not place it behind the TV, next to a metal cupboard or at the edge of the house.

Why does the internet slow down on my mobile and when the network is overloaded?

During peak hours, many people share the same resources, which is why LTE or 5G may be fast in the morning and considerably slower in the evening. The phone itself is also important. An older mobile modem or network card may not support newer bands, carrier aggregation, more advanced Wi-Fi or the higher speeds offered by the router.

Apps running in the background may use up your data allowance: copying photos, system updates, automatic video playback or downloading maps. Check your data usage by app in your phone’s settings.

What should you do if your mobile internet is slow?

1. Restart your phone.
2. Compare Wi-Fi with mobile data.
3. Try disabling your VPN and limiting the number of apps running in the background.

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Which household appliances interfere with Wi-Fi?

Microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, some baby monitors and other transmitters operating in the 2.4 GHz band may interfere with your Wi-Fi connection. Moving further away from the source of interference or switching a compatible device to the 5 GHz band may help.

Please note: Cameras, televisions and speakers connected via Wi-Fi are more likely to put a strain on the network itself than to interfere with it via external radio signals. They can take up bandwidth and airtime, particularly when transmitting video or playing back high-definition content.

How do you measure your internet speed and interpret the result?

This could be used for that internet speed test. A speed test measures the connection parameters between your device and a selected server at that particular moment.

Speed is usually given in Mb/s, which stands for megabits per second.

How can you find out for yourself where the problem lies?

The most effective diagnostic method involves changing one element at a time. Follow these steps:

1. Check whether the whole internet is running slowly, or just one website or app. If the problem is with a single website, its server may be overloaded.
2. Restart your modem or ONT and your router. Disconnect the power supply in accordance with the equipment’s instructions and wait until the devices have fully re-established their connection after being switched back on.
3. Run the test on a single computer connected via Ethernet. Stop any other data transfers and switch off the VPN.
4. Disconnect devices one by one or stop their tasks. If the score improves after you switch off your console, television or disable cloud synchronisation, you have found the source of the load.
5. Compare the wired connection with the Wi-Fi connection. A good performance over a cable and a poor performance over Wi-Fi may indicate an issue with the router’s positioning, bandwidth, channel, range or network card.
6. Try a different cable and a different port on the router. With high-speed connections, an old cable, a 100 Mb/s port or a network card can create a bottleneck.
7. Run a fresh antivirus scan. A sudden increase in data usage, your device running slowly and unknown processes may be signs of malware.

If the problem also occurs on the cable, at different times and on more than one device, please report it to your service provider, stating the dates and the results.

What are the benefits of a stable and fast internet connection?

In a household with lots of appliances sufficient bandwidth It allows you to work, watch films and download files all at the same time. However, speed alone won’t solve every problem. Even a gigabit fibre-optic connection won’t guarantee a good connection in a room with no Wi-Fi coverage, and a very high Download will not compensate for the instability upload during an online meeting.

If your internet connection is still slow after testing the cable connection, restarting your devices and ruling out background traffic, please contact your internet service provider. Please provide results from several times of day, the type of connection, the router model, and whether the problem affects all devices. Such a report is far more useful than simply stating that ‘the Wi-Fi isn’t working properly’.

Sometimes, however, the problem lies with the equipment itself – an old router, a lack of signal in the furthest corners of the house, or a network card that doesn’t support the latest standards. In such a situation The settings alone won’t help; the equipment will need to be replaced or upgraded.

Where can I buy equipment to boost my Wi-Fi signal?

You don’t need to compare the range, standards and specifications of all the available routers, range extenders or Mesh systems yourself. By Halsky, the shopping assistant in the InPost Mobile app, will search through the offers and suggest options tailored to your needs. Simply describe your coverage issue, the size of your flat and your budget – for example, “a Mesh system for a 120 m² flat, poor coverage on the upper floor” – and Von Halsky will help you find and compare suitable offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the weather affect LTE internet speeds?

It does happen, but a typical downpour, snow or fog is rarely the main cause of a drop in LTE speeds. More often, it is due to a base station being overloaded, a weak signal inside a building, terrain obstacles or a fault. A severe storm, on the other hand, can damage infrastructure, cut off the power supply or impair the operation of the network’s radio components.

Can an internet service provider deliberately restrict speeds?

The operator may apply a limit set out in the contract or terms and conditions, e.g. once a data allowance has been used up, or may implement lawful traffic management measures. This does not mean that selected services are slowed down at will. Check your package, FUP threshold, contractual terms and information about any service disruption.

Why isn't the internet working even though I have full LTE coverage?

Solid bars indicate signal strength, but do not confirm the station’s available capacity or that data is currently being transmitted. This may be due to a BTS overload, a fault, an incorrect APN, an exhausted data allowance, an inactive service or a problem with the SIM card.

Why is the speed test fine, but web pages load slowly?

A speed test measures the connection to a selected server, usually one that is nearby. The slow response may be caused by a specific website, a DNS server, a VPN, a security filter, your browser or the device itself. Try a few different websites and a different browser, disable your VPN temporarily, restart the app and compare performance on another device