Also known as data or bandwidth throttling, learn what ISP throttling is & how to stop your Internet provider from throttling your speeds with Glo Fiber.
It’s frustrating when your Internet feels slow or bogged down. What’s even more frustrating is when your Internet service provider (ISP) slows your Internet on purpose. That’s called ISP throttling, and it can be very annoying – especially when you’re dying to start a new episode of your favorite show or need to download an important file from work ASAP.
If you’re tired of having to deal with a sluggish connection that ought to be fast, keep reading. We’ll go over what ISP throttling is, why it happens, and what you can do to prevent it from happening again.
ISP throttling, Internet throttling, and data slowdowns all mean the same thing: when your Internet service provider deliberately limits the bandwidth of your Internet connection. When your ISP throttles your Internet, they prevent your connected devices from downloading or uploading data as quickly as normal.
For example, imagine you have Internet service from a company that provides gigabit speeds. However, that ISP decides to throttle your Internet, reducing your bandwidth far below the gigabit speeds you're used to. The result? Slow downloads, stuttering streams, and an overall poor online experience.
Not all, but many do.
ISPs might decide to throttle the Internet of their customers for a few different reasons:
Regardless, ISP throttling is frustrating and often unfair. That’s why many people try to avoid Internet throttling by signing up for a service that never imposes it.
Internet throttling sounds similar to data caps. They both kick in for the same reason: using more data than your monthly allowance provides. But they’re actually distinct.
Data caps are thresholds beyond which you could face overage charges from your ISP. Essentially, if your ISP has data caps but not throttling, they won’t slow down your Internet speeds if you use more data than you expect. But you could need to pay a little extra when your next utility bill shows up in the mail.
The benefit? Data caps never result in your Internet slowing down (at least not from your ISP!). They give you the flexibility to pay for additional data if you really need it without worrying about losing Internet quality.
If you’ve already experienced Internet throttling, you know just how annoying it can be when you want to stream your favorite show, finish a work project, or browse social media. Fortunately, you can stop Internet throttling through several possible fixes.
By far, the best way to stop Internet throttling is to never have to deal with it in the first place. And you can do that by choosing the right ISP.
A stellar Internet provider won’t ever throttle your Internet, even during high-traffic times like the evenings or weekends. Is your current ISP throttling your Internet far too often? Start looking for a new service provider that specifically notes they don’t throttle Internet bandwidth under any circumstances.
As a bonus, switching to an Internet provider that doesn't throttle Internet probably nets you other great perks, too, like excellent customer service, fast speed, and more!
Since many ISPs throttle the Internet connections of their customers when those customers use a large amount of data, it stands to reason that watching your data usage could help you avoid more frequent throttling incidents. For instance, don't stream a show on your mobile device without being connected to a WiFi network, or don't binge-stream a dozen episodes at once.
It may also help to regularly check your monthly data usage on your phone or computer. The settings menu of your device should have this information for you to find within a few clicks or taps. If you’re approaching your ISP’s monthly data limit or warning threshold, pull back on your Internet usage for a few days until the next billing cycle begins.
In some cases, your Internet network could be used for dubiously or flatly illegal Internet activity, surfing during high-traffic periods, or streaming a lot of data at once, but without you knowing it. If your WiFi network is compromised – say, by a neighbor who guesses your network password – they could be the culprits behind Internet throttling since your ISP can't make a distinction between your activity and someone else’s.
So, if you’re experiencing frequent data throttling but haven't used the Internet nearly enough to warrant it, check your WiFi network activity and consider changing your network password to kick out any freeloaders. Securing your WiFi network is a good general practice, too, since it keeps your personal data secure. For the best results, change your WiFi password every month and keep it stored somewhere only you can access.
You can possibly circumvent Internet throttling from your ISP by using a VPN or virtual private network. When you connect to the Internet via a VPN, you send and receive Internet data through a separate private network, so your ISP doesn't know when you're online or where you surf.
The result is that your ISP is less likely to throttle your traffic specifically – for example, if you're using a lot of data to stream a show and you’ve already hit your data limit for the month. However, it's important to note that using a VPN can sometimes slow down your Internet speed[MM1] due to the extra processing and encryption. This ISP bandwidth throttling solution won't necessarily protect you if your Internet is being slowed as part of a larger group of subscribers, but it's still worth checking out (and the privacy benefits of using a VPN certainly don't hurt).
The best ISPs are those that don’t limit your surfing, streaming, and other online activities. At Glo Fiber, we never throttle your speeds, ever. Our fiber optic network delivers exceptional bandwidth and capacity, ensuring you can enjoy seamless streaming, gaming, and more without ever slowing down. Plus, all Glo Fiber internet plans include unlimited data, so there’s even less of a need for throttling.
Speed, security, and service you can count on. That’s what Glo Fiber brings to your home when you sign up today.