Slow Internet Connection? Here’s How to Fix It

There’s no doubt that plenty of places in the UK experience slow internet speeds. In terms of 5G connectivity, we have the worst average download speeds out of all G7 countries. That’s not an issue limited to rural areas, either. Even cities like Manchester and London placed 82nd and 76th, respectively, in terms of world broadband rankings.

If you’ve experienced this at home, you’ll know that slow internet isn’t just something that can make it frustrating to do anything entertaining, like download a new video game or binging Netflix in HD. It can cost remote workers hours of productivity—enough to fill up to two working days a year—and small businesses can lose out on as much as £28 billion annually. If you’re homebound and looking to access critical services, it’ll even be harder to do simple tasks like booking an NHS appointment online.

Regardless of why you need a faster internet connection, the good news is that there are a few things you can try at home to fix that lag.

Restart your router (or modem)

If you’ve ever talked to one of your internet service provider’s (ISP) customer service representatives for some troubleshooting advice, this is probably the first thing they asked you to try. That’s no surprise, as a quick reboot can fix a whole host of issues. It can help resolve blocked internet access to certain websites, for one. Similarly, it might fix a slow connection.

That’s because restarting your router or modem essentially refreshes your network settings and clears up any temporary data that may have been causing your internet to slow down. As we’ve previously noted, you’ll want to unplug your router or modem if they don’t come with a power switch or button, and—this is important—keep them off for at least a minute for the best effect. If restarting doesn’t help, try more involved solutions, like the following:

Check for network congestion

If your internet is slow, it might simply be because there are too many devices using your home network. With your bandwidth spread thin, there’s not enough to facilitate fast internet speeds. Some easy fixes for network congestion include disconnecting superfluous devices, only doing data-heavy tasks when other people in your household aren’t using the internet, and setting up a guest network for visitors. However, these steps may not be feasible for everyone.

If you need to have all your home devices connected to a network, live with a lot of people, or do data-heavy tasks for work, it’s worth upgrading to a full fibre broadband plan. Zzoomm’s plans promise gigafast connections without data limits, ensuring symmetric upload and download speeds without lag. Their speeds range from 200 to 2000Mbps, so selecting an upgrade based on the size of your household and the internet tasks you usually do can help eliminate slow connections caused by network congestion.

Update cables and drivers

Slow connections may also result from the state of your internet infrastructure itself. Start by quickly examining your ethernet or fibre optic cables. Make sure they’re firmly connected to your modem and router (as well as any devices, like computers, that don’t use a wireless internet gateway). Fix loose connections by making sure they audibly click when you plug them in. If you don’t hear anything, their clips may be damaged and need replacing. You’ll also want to replace these cables if you spot any visible signs of damage, like kinks, bite marks from your pet, or general wear and tear.

Otherwise, it might be your devices that are the issue. That’s especially true if you use older gadgets, which may not be designed to handle the faster internet speeds offered by today’s ISPs. In this case, you’ll want to see if their network drivers need an update. Operating systems like Windows usually have a dedicated Device Manager in the control panel, where you can check for and install those updates. Make sure to restart your device after so they can take effect.

Test for ISP throttling

Even if you’re on an unlimited data plan, your ISP may throttle your internet speed to prevent congestion across its overall network. The UK’s ISPs are legally allowed to do so for this reason, though some international providers, like Starlink, have previously received criticism for throttling connections without disclosing why. To check for throttling, you can use speed tests from websites like HighSpeedInternet.com to compare the speed promised by your ISP with your actual internet speed.

You can fix the slow internet speeds caused by throttling by using a virtual private network or VPN. NordVPN is currently the most popular in the UK for its ability to create a private connection to the internet hidden from ISPs. That allows you to mask how much data you’re actually using, helping you bypass throttling altogether. Of course, most Brits also use this VPN for its advanced cybersecurity features, which may be helpful in your case given that cyberattacks can cause your network to malfunction and slow your internet connection.

For more tips on how to fix the most common internet issues, keep reading here on Compuchenna.

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