You may not think to blame your Internet provider when you’re looking at a buffering wheel. After all, there are several suspects. It could be an outdated router. You may have a router location that is not ideal. You could potentially resolve slow speeds with an easy fix, such as upgrading to a mesh network (which also needs to be configured in the right place) or simply restarting your modem and router.
But what if you’ve already tried these tried-and-true methods and your internet speeds are still poor? In that case, the problem could be something you internet service provider is doing intentionally: bandwidth throttling.
You read that right. Your ISP could be slowing down your Wi-Fi on purpose. The Federal Communications Commission voted in 2023 to reinstate net neutrality rules that prohibit throttling, but the practice remains legal for now. Furthermore, due to the 2019 Supreme Court decision in which the court refused to hear an appeal over net neutrality, ISPs can still legally block your Internet in the US. This means they can limit your bandwidth if you stream more TV than they want, or they may offer slower connections to websites owned by their competitors.
One solution to slowing down Wi-Fi (if it is due to internet throttling) is a virtual private network. Basically, providers need to see your IP address to slow down your Internet, and a good VPN will protect that identity, although this has some limitations and drawbacks, which we’ll discuss below. We’ll explain how to tell if throttling is to blame, and if so, what to do to fix your bad Wi-Fi connection.
Read more: My Internet Journey at Home: What I Learned Testing Wi-Fi and Ethernet Connections
Troubleshoot your slow Internet connection
So your Wi-Fi is slow and you think your service provider is throttling your connection. Before jumping to that conclusion, it’s important to first go through the usual troubleshooting list: check that your router is centrally located in your home, reposition your antennas, double-check your network security, etc. If your slow Internet is due to your router being too weak to reach all the rooms in your house, consider purchasing a Wi-Fi extender to increase your connectivity.
If you’ve checked the laundry list and your Wi-Fi is still running slowly, continue to the next step.
Compare your speed with the VPN
Next, test your Internet speed using a service like Fast.com or Speedtest.net. Compare the results with the same test when your VPN is active. Using any VPN should significantly reduce your speed, so speed tests should show a discrepancy, with the speed of the active VPN being noticeably slower than the speed of the inactive VPN. But a VPN also hides the IP address that providers use to identify you, so if your VPN speed test is faster That without the VPN, that may mean that your ISP is targeting your IP address to speed up.
Well, this is the hard part. Even if you find that your provider is throttling your Internet access, there may not be much you can do. Many people in the US live in regions with ISP monopolies or duopolies, so you may not be able to find a better provider. But here are some suggestions that we hope will be useful:
- If you do If you have options, consider switching to a better provider in your area. Not only will you potentially miss out on speed boosting, but you could also end up with faster speeds and a better deal. Check out our top picks for ISPs and high-speed ISPs in 2024.
- Use your VPN to maintain more consistent speeds. A VPN can’t solve a bad connection or other reasons behind your slow service, but it can mitigate the limitations imposed by unscrupulous ISPs.
- Call your provider and threaten to change providers if they don’t stop throttling your Internet. This may seem old-fashioned and does not guarantee lasting results, but some providers have responded positively to these types of tactics.
If your provider doesn’t limit your bandwidth and you’re experiencing slower speeds than expected, check out our tips to learn how to optimize Wi-Fi in your apartment.
Bandwidth Throttling FAQ
What is bandwidth throttling? Is it legal?
If you notice long buffering time when trying to stream your favorite TV show, you may be experiencing bandwidth throttling. This happens when your ISP intentionally slows down your Internet speed by controlling your bandwidth. Unfortunately, it is still legal and common. However, the FCC voted to move forward with net neutrality rules in late 2023, which would regulate ISPs and prohibit throttling. Efforts were also made in the past when President Joe Biden signed an executive order in 2021 to ban bandwidth throttling.
Why do ISPs limit bandwidth?
There is no exact answer as to why ISPs limit some people’s connections and not others. If a network is congested and you’re using a lot of Internet bandwidth, your provider may slow down your service to encourage you to pay for more data. Or, if you have a data limit and notice a slow connection, your ISP may be throttling your service when you’re near the end of the limit.
How can I check if my ISP is throttling my bandwidth?
If you’ve tested your Internet speed over an Ethernet connection and your results still haven’t improved, you may want to check to see if your provider is to blame. By using a simple connection speed test, like the one run by M-Lab, you can see if your ISP provides consistent performance no matter what content you access.
How do I stop my ISP from throttling my bandwidth?
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a good solution to help combat Internet throttling. Since VPNs can hide your identity, your provider can’t use your IP address to slow down your connection, helping you maintain more consistent speeds. In addition to using a VPN, consider switching to a new provider for faster speeds and possibly a better deal.
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