Have you ever wondered why your internet connection slows down right after you cross the data limit?
It’s like your internet just suddenly stops working, and once the next month starts, your speed goes back to normal? The reason may be that your internet connection is being throttled by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), which they slow down your internet connection on purpose for better data management.
However, there are a couple of reasons that can contribute to your internet connection being throttled, and it is essential that you keep yourself educated so that you can avoid the horrors of a slow internet connection, especially when you need it most.
Here is everything that you need to know.
Network Congestion
One of the many reasons why your internet connection may be throttled is that there may be a lot of network congestion in your area, meaning a lot of people might be using an internet connection from the same internet service provider in your area.
In such cases, ISPs usually throttle internet speeds during peak hours (such as evenings) so that they can effectively distribute data among all their customers.
The cost of this is that a lot of people have to use a relatively slower internet connection until the congestion clears up and data travels more efficiently.
Crossing Data Caps
As I mentioned earlier, crossing data limits can also lead to your internet connection being throttled. You can think of it as a precautionary measure that your ISP takes to manage data.
However, you can prevent this issue if you opt for a provider that gives you a connection without a data cap, which is also unlimited data. For instance, Xfinity internet comes without a data cap, which rids you of the worry of having your internet connection throttled if you exceed the data limit.
This way, you can carry out all your favorite online activities, such as streaming in 4K, online gaming, playing music, and a lot more, without having to worry about your data running out.
Activity-Based Internet Throttling
If you tend to do a lot of data-intensive activities, then your internet service provider can throttle your internet connection as well. Most internet service providers can detect the type of activities you do and how much data you take up, due to which they can slow down certain activities so that they can help you with your data management, and it also helps them manage the load on their own servers.
Some data-intensive activities include streaming in 4K and downloading large games or files. Once your internet connection slows down in between, you can understand that your internet connection is being throttled.
If you wish to check if your internet connection is being throttled or not, you can compare your internet speeds during peak hours and off-peak hours using a speed test tool. If the difference is a lot, then it is very likely that your internet connection is being throttled. You may also run a regular speed test and run the same test while you’re connected to a VPN (Virtual Private Network). If the internet works faster while connected to a VPN, then chances are that your internet has been throttled.
How to Prevent Throttling
The first thing that you should do to avoid throttling is to connect to a VPN, since it encrypts your traffic. Since your ISP cannot see what you are doing (even data-intensive activities), it cannot selectively throttle your internet connection or even your activities.
Similarly, you should always monitor your data usage and keep an eye on how much you consume. If you are nearing your plan’s data limit, then you should try to minimize heavy downloads. To save yourself from the hassle in the long run, you should consider shifting to an internet service provider that gives you unlimited data and an internet connection without a data cap.
Next up, you should try switching your DNS server, since the ISP uses the default DNS to keep track of your traffic and throttle certain domains. If you switch to a public, credible, and secure DNS, such as Cloudflare or Google, you can bypass this tracking process and save yourself from getting throttled.
Lastly, you can try switching to a better ISP that gives you better internet speed at an impressive price, and it also comes without a data cap, ensuring that you can use the internet to your heart’s content, without the risk of having it slowed down on purpose due to throttling.
This was everything you needed to know about throttling and how you can prevent or bypass it so that you make the most out of your internet speed. Just make sure you take all these factors into account so that you don’t have to compromise on your internet.
