How to Tell If Your ISP is Throttling Your Internet

While using the internet, have you ever come across the dual nature of internet speeds? This means you have tremendously fast loading speeds for a few pages and low downloading or uploading speeds for other platforms after a while. Usually assumed as a server error or an issue with the signal reception, it can be caused by your ISP. Ever considered that possibility? 

If not, it’s time you understand this sudden switch of internet speeds can happen due to internet throttling by the ISP. This is why even after replacing routers and equipment to support the high-bandwidth internet, the same problem is faced. 

If you hear this for the first time, you must learn about Internet throttling and the practices you should use to fix it. 

What is Internet Throttling? Why is it Done?

Managing internet bandwidth is one of the many things your ISP can do. This allows the internet service provider to play around with internet speed & keep you in the bandwidth you opt for. It is fair, as you can consume the limited bandwidth you paid for. 

However, things become disappointing when your ISP is throttling your internet, despite you paying for unlimited high-speed internet bandwidth. Unfortunately, most users do not even realize that their internet is being throttled & they blame the router and other things for it. But why does ISP limit the speed? 

From the service providers’ point of view, they have to manage multiple factors to ensure the services they offer are seamless. One of the major aspects is to ensure that there’s no downtime in their services. 

Must Read: 5 Common VPN Myths Debunked!

The way broadband works are quite simple. Every network that provides internet has a line that passes through your ISP. Depending on the stature of your ISP, the bandwidth limit is allotted to them. Let’s say your current ISP has a bandwidth of service 1000 connections at high speed. 

To earn more revenue, your ISP broke down the internet connection into three tiers, tier 1 gets unlimited and pays more, and tier two gets limited high-speed and a little less than tier 1. The tier 3 users get what’s left.  

Now there are three reasons why an ISP would have to resort to throttling – 

• Reason 1 – If the number of connections is higher than 1000+ ( the most an ISP can offer), there are chances of network congestion. To avoid this congestion, your ISP will try to throttle the speed of high-bandwidth connections to manage speeds.
• Reason 2 – Another factor that comes into play concerning the above situation is opening a revenue stream. Your ISP sells more connections than the bandwidth can support to earn more revenue.
• Reason 3 – Last but not least, there is also paid prioritization.

What is paid prioritization?

Well, website and online business owners want a seamless experience on their platform. And throttling can help them through your ISP. Companies reach out to ISPs and pay them to ensure that their services load faster on a particular network than their competitors. 

Internet throttling is real and might be why you are facing lower internet speed. If you are still determining if your ISP is doing the same with you, there are ways you can check.

3 Ways to Know if Your ISP is Throttling Your Internet

Way #1: Check Your Internet Speed

When you run an internet speed test on your PC, it tests the actual bandwidth of the connection you have and not what you are getting. This means if, at any point in time, you experience a lower speed, simply run the test. It will help understand if the current speeds are due to low bandwidth or the internet service provider throttling it. 

Running a speed test is simple. All you have to do is – 

1. Go to your Google search page and type internet speed test.
2. You will have multiple tools listed; choose any from the top results (as they are more accurate and trusted)Let the speed test run, giving you results in just a few seconds.
   

The internet speed test gives you complete access to your upload speed and download speed,; some even test your ping. It can help determine the basic internet speed of your bandwidth so you can compare it to what you are getting.

Way #2 – Compare the Speeds With & Without a VPN

VPN is the best way to stay connected while avoiding your ISP’s supervision. Internet throttling by your ISP is often based on your activity. They can track what you are doing and accordingly manipulate your experience. However, when you are using a reputed VPN, like Systweak VPN, they have no control over your activity, so they can not throttle the speed.

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Simply connect to a VPN, experience your internet speed, and then disconnect it; this will give you an idea of the differences. Sometimes when not connected to the VPN, the internet speed might differ due to a server change. However, if there is a significant difference, chances are your ISP is throttling your internet connection. 

Way #3 – Compare Website Speeds with Mobile Networks.

If you are using a mobile network different from your internet connection, you can compare. 

All you have to do is open a website that loads the slowest on your PC and load the same on your mobile network. Even if there is paid prioritization, it will only work with a specific connection. Hence, having two service providers for your mobile internet and broadband service can help you easily understand the difference. 

Please note that it will only work if your service providers differ in mobile connectivity and internet connection. 

How to Avoid Internet Throttling? Use Systweak VPN!

You might think that the only way to avoid internet throttling is to ensure your ISP can not monitor your online activity. If you are troubled by the unnecessary data cap or speed throttling on your internet, using a VPN is the best alternative. 

Systweak VPN offers a private experience with no activity log or monitoring that allows you to experience your internet in its purest form. You have no limits to what you can access, as multiple servers allow you to overcome even the geological restrictions.

To avoid ISP throttling on your current connection, follow the steps 

1. Download Systweak VPN from the link below.
   

2. Install it on your computer and create an account. 
3. Once logged in, you can choose a specific server to connect to or simply connect with a single click. 
4. After connecting, try using the internet and loading pages slowly.
5. You will realize that the speed has recovered, and you are no longer under internet throttling.

That is how easy it is to overcome ISP throttling. A VPN can also help you with many aspects of improving your internet experience. 

And with that, we have reached the end of this post. I hope you found your query related to ISP throttling resolved. If you have any questions, please drop them in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you! 

Thanks for reading. Good luck!

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