7 Signs Your Business Is Experiencing Bandwidth Throttling
Sluggish internet can deal a massive blow to your company’s operational efficiency.
Frequent fluctuations in Wi-Fi speed and availability are particularly detrimental to processes that rely on stable internet connectivity, such as video conferencing and data storage. This may cause your business untold financial losses and reputational damage.
When facing spotty internet connectivity, most people will intuitively change their router’s position, optimize their website’s load speeds, or reduce the number of connected devices. But while these interventions may be handy in certain circumstances, they won’t make a significant difference if the problem is beyond your immediate control, such as bandwidth throttling.
Read below for a comprehensive guide to bandwidth throttling and the tell-tale signs that your business is being throttled.
Understanding Bandwidth Throttling
Bandwidth throttling is a term used within the internet service sector to denote the intentional reduction of internet connection speed by internet service providers (ISPs).
Throttling is more common than internet users can imagine. Since the downtimes typically last a few minutes, most businesses don’t feel compelled to investigate them.
However, the economic and reputational impact of losing internet connectivity for just a minute can be far-reaching. That underscores the imperative of seeking recourse when your business is suffering from bandwidth throttling, particularly if the company is internet-dependent.
Exploring the Reasons Behind Bandwidth Throttling
Various factors can necessitate bandwidth throttling.
For starters, most internet service providers will throttle your bandwidth to regulate congestion within their networks. This is common during peak usage times.
Throttling also aims to foster fair internet usage for all an ISP’s clients. The idea is to optimize performance by preventing heavy subscribers from utilizing excessive bandwidth at the expense of other customers.
Other common reasons for bandwidth throttling include;
1. Preventing Network Abuse
Your business may suffer bandwidth throttling if you engage in activities that can potentially harm a network’s reputation, such as excessive downloading and streaming.
2. Contractual Arrangements
Some companies may request their ISPs to throttle their bandwidth at certain times, such as coffee breaks and lunch hours, to moderate internet usage during office hours.
3. Maintenance and Upgrades
When ISPs undertake routine infrastructural maintenance and upgrades, it’s natural to expect spotty connectivity.
4. Regulatory Compliance
State authorities may require ISPs to throttle bandwidth at certain times to manage network traffic.
5. Cost Management
Although not an ethical reason, some internet service providers will regulate the bandwidth your business consumes as a cost management strategy. It helps the ISP balance between expenses and returns.
Signs Your Bandwidth Is Being Throttled
1. Regular Interruptions in Internet Connectivity
Frequent interruptions in your internet’s speeds are the biggest sign of bandwidth throttling. That’s particularly true if your connections become slower at specific times of the day or during peak business periods.
You can utilize network monitoring software to track fluctuations in your internet speeds and identify specific patterns, then take it up with your ISP.
2. Erratic Performance Patterns
Internet speeds naturally slow down from time to time due to router or modem issues, driver problems, wireless interference, or malware. However, erratic connections may happen systematically when your ISP throttles your bandwidth.
One minute, your streams are super fast, but the next minute, the internet begins to buffer. Whether this happens regularly or intermittently, you must contact your ISP immediately.
3. Wi-Fi Breaking or Giving a Choppy Signal
Checking the Wi-Fi signal on your connected devices is one of the fastest ways to audit your internet connectivity. During periods of unstable internet, you’ll realize that your Wi-Fi signal drops in and out.
However, sluggish connectivity may also be due to outdated drivers or viruses.
4. Slow Download Speeds
Are your browsing speeds comparatively faster than your download speeds? If yes, then it’s almost a given that you’re being throttled.
Most ISPs throttle download speed because most online activities require more bandwidth for downloads than streaming, uploads, and browsing.
5. Some Websites Are Blocked
Numerous factors could restrict your access to certain websites, and bandwidth throttling is one of them.
As mentioned, internet service providers may block traffic to sites they deem potentially malicious or illicit. Classic examples include adult websites, file-sharing apps, and dark web platforms.
When restricted access is the reason, you can easily bypass throttling using a virtual private network (VPN).
6. Unusual Patterns Picked By Network Monitoring Tools
If your network monitoring tool reports frequent bandwidth drops and latency spikes, there’s a high chance your ISP is throttling your connection.
Some high-end network monitoring software also tracks the CPU and disk performance of connected devices, as well as issues with external servers.
7. Your Network Monitoring Tools Not Working At All
Network monitoring software works around the clock, during which they gather volumes of data on abnormal patterns in malfunctioning network infrastructures.
However, some network trackers may jam when bandwidth throttling becomes excessively frequent and aggressive.
Wrap Up
Bandwidth throttling can spell doom for your business if it goes unaddressed. While most internet service providers will throttle your internet connectivity occasionally, throttling often happens without warning. And that makes it potentially devastating to your operational efficiency.
The quickest way to address bandwidth throttling is to take up the matter with your ISP. Let them know how limiting your internet connectivity is affecting your business. You may also upgrade to higher plans if need be.
If the problem persists, explore more extreme measures like changing ISPs or pursuing legal redress.
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