Bandwidth throttling entails your Internet Service Provider intentionally slowing down your Internet connectivity. The measures are often taken as a way to mitigate against congested traffic. Most ISPs tend to be less prepared for increasing traffic, forcing them to adopt throttling to distribute Internet access equitably. However, that ought not to be the case.
Why you should avoid throttled Internet
It would be best to keep off ISPs that exercise Internet throttling because the practice negatively affects your Internet experience. When on a throttled Internet, you may notice that your upload and download speeds significantly reduce. Streaming videos on platforms such as Netflix and YouTube become a pain as you frequently face buffering issues. Besides, you may not have a good time using BitTorrent protocols and file-sharing options.
For those working from home and regularly need to hold video calls with colleagues, you may have a fair usage towards the first few days of the month. However, as the month draws to a close, you are likely to start having a hard time joining meetings since this is the period when most ISPs implement the throttling effect.
How throttling works
When an Internet Service Provider throttles your connectivity, they implement a filter that splits your traffic into two portions:
- Unthrottled lane – The fast lane comprises access to things such as Google, social media, and general browsing.
- Throttled lane – Slow lane, which is activated when you try to access platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and BitTorrent.
Why ISPs throttle your Internet
Unscrupulous Internet Service Providers often have tons of excuses for why they throttle Internet connections. The four most common reasons given include:
- Data caps
- Forbidden activity
- Network congestion
- Paid prioritization
This is a practice we frown upon at Nomad Internet. We believe in providing value for what you paid for.
How to detect throttled Internet
Your ISP can never make the mistake of informing you right away that they have throttled your connectivity. It is up to you to run tests to know whether or not you are a victim. Here are two common tests for this purpose:
- Internet Health Test
The free web-based application measures protocols such as p2p, video, among others, to gauge your performance on backbone networks like YouTube and Netflix. The goal here is to look for any bottlenecks. Keenly evaluate the results to spot any instances of slowing down when connecting to specific platforms. If that is the case, then there is a chance your ISP has implemented throttling effecting for that particular service.
- Manual YouTube Test
This is a simple test that involves playing a 4K video to gauge whether or not it buffers more than once. If it does, reduce the resolution and check the buffer status. Continue doing this until you arrive at a quality where there is no buffering. When successful at the test, you will have known your sufficient video quality.
How to stop Internet throttling?
You can stop Internet throttling by:
- Using a VPN
- Switching to an ISP that does not throttle
This is an informative article on how the throttling works. I learnt the most common reasons of throttling, and while data caps and paid prioritization are quite obvious, I didn’t know network congestion can cause it, too. It is nice to know that there are ways of finding out whether you are a victim of throttling or not. I liked the idea with manual youtube test, it even seems fun. Overall, the author touched the important topic for many people who struggle with internet problems.
Bandwidth throttling can be a frustrating issue for anyone using the internet for work or play, especially when they’re paying for unlimited data. This article does a great job of explaining what bandwidth throttling is and how it can affect your browsing experience. However, as someone who has experienced bandwidth limitation first hand, I would like to add that it is not only about understanding the problem, but also about finding a solution.
While the article mentions that you can avoid bandwidth throttling by using a VPN or by switching to a different ISP, these solutions may not be practical for everyone. In some cases, using a VPN can slow down your connection even more, and changing providers may not be possible if you are in a remote, restricted area. Also, many ISPs advertise “unlimited” data plans, but these plans often have hidden restrictions, such as limits on how much data you can use before it’s capped.
To really avoid bandwidth throttling, it’s important to do your research and carefully evaluate your options. Read the fine print on your internet service plan, research alternative providers, and ask other RV residents or travelers in the area about their experiences. The key is to be proactive and not just rely on your current ISP to give you the Internet experience you need.