Table of Contents
Data Throttling refers to the procedure by which an ISP deliberately slows down an internet user’s data transmission.
There are many reasons why ISPs throttle your internet. These are the top four reasons to throttle your internet.
- Network congestion
- Data caps
- Prioritization paid
- Prohibited activity
Network congestion
ISPs can throttle internet access in an area if there is a lot of internet usage. This allows all customers to access at least a portion of the network, rather than some homes having no service at all and others with perfect service. Peak use hours are between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. This is the most common time this happens.
Data caps
You might notice slow internet speeds towards the end of the month if you have reached your data limit. You may be subject to bandwidth throttle if you exceed the data cap set by your ISP.
Every online activity, from loading a website to streaming your favorite shows on Netflix, uses internet data. Most ISPs offer an online portal that allows you to monitor how much data you use. This will allow you to keep track of your usage and ensure you don’t overuse data at the beginning.
Every ISP with a data cap must include this information in their service agreement. If you are experiencing throttling please review your contract or contact customer service.
What can I do to stop the throttle?
VPNs are back! VPNs can be used to bypass paid prioritization throttle that causes your connection to slow down.
You need to make sure that you are using the correct VPN. VPNs add an extra layer between you and your data. This can lead to slow internet speeds and latencies. Some ISPs may throttle your bandwidth if you use a VPN, but some VPNs can ignore this. The wrong VPN could make your internet throttling problems worse.
Data caps
A VPN will not help with network congestion or data caps overages. In these cases, the ISP is restricting bandwidth and not a specific type of data.
There are four options if your throttling problems stem from data caps overages:
- Reduce your monthly usage.
- You can pay to get more high-speed data.
- Upgrade to a plan that offers unlimited data or a higher data limit
- Switch to a provider that doesn’t have data caps
Network congestion
Try shouting at your neighbors to disconnect from the internet if you are experiencing network congestion. It’s a joke. It’s better to upgrade to a faster plan, or use the internet during off-peak times. If you require all the bandwidth for large file downloads, you should do it in the morning or at night to avoid traffic jams.
It is important to keep track of your internet upload, downloading, and ping speeds, especially if bandwidth throttling is a frequent occurrence. You should contact your ISP if you are not receiving the speed you paid for. You might not get the speed you pay for, but it is possible to get a free upgrade.
