{"id":320770,"date":"2025-11-11T13:58:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T18:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?p=116665"},"modified":"2025-11-11T13:58:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T18:58:14","slug":"increase-internet-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/increase-internet-speed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Increase Your Internet Speed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you ever tried streaming something on Netflix only to have your episode of \u201cThe Office\u201d&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2016\/study-slow-buffering-movies-stress-us-suspense-drama\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interrupted by a buffering screen<\/a>? What about that YouTube viral video everyone\u2019s talking about that just won\u2019t finish loading? Maybe you\u2019ve just been trying to download a video of your granddaughter\u2019s first communion and it\u2019s taking forever. Before you change anything, run a few wired tests and measure more than just Mbps: check single- and multi-connection throughput, plus responsiveness\/latency under load to spot bufferbloat. Useful options include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ookla Speedtest<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/radar.cloudflare.com\/adoption-and-performance\/speed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cloudflare Radar Speed<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.measurementlab.net\/tests\/ndt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">M\u2011Lab NDT<\/a>, and Apple\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT212313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">networkQuality<\/a> (reports \u201cresponsiveness\u201d under working conditions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slow internet can be a real drag in a world where the internet is everywhere and integral to so much in our lives. So, what do you do when your attempts to have movie night with Netflix or Hulu are thwarted by slow internet speeds? Or when you\u2019re left out in the cold at the office water cooler because your internet isn\u2019t fast enough for you to see the latest viral YouTube video? You need to increase your internet speed. But how? In the U.S., providers now publish \u201ctypical\u201d speed and latency on standardized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Broadband Consumer Labels<\/a>, which you can compare against your own tests to see if your line is underperforming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Bogging Down Your Internet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing you should do is diagnose the problem. Start with a wired Ethernet test to isolate your access line from Wi\u2011Fi, then compare results over Wi\u2011Fi in the same room. Run tests at different times of day (peak and off\u2011peak) and use multiple methods: a multi\u2011connection test to gauge total capacity and a single\u2011connection test (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.measurementlab.net\/tests\/ndt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">M\u2011Lab NDT<\/a>) to reveal transport or middlebox limits. Measure \u201clatency under load\u201d\/responsiveness with tools like Apple\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT212313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">networkQuality<\/a>. Ookla explains why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">single- vs multi-connection results differ<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/research-and-data\/telecoms-research\/broadband-research\/home-broadband-performance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ofcom\u2019s panel methodology<\/a> shows how to exclude in\u2011home variables when verifying an ISP link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142948\/bogging-down.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142948\/bogging-down-1024x859.jpg\" height=\"859\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116683\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The weather<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Weather can affect internet performance, but how depends on the access technology. Rain attenuation (\u201crain fade\u201d) increases rapidly at higher radio frequencies. Engineering models from the ITU show that heavy rain can add roughly 1\u20133+ dB per km of loss at 26\u201339 GHz (5G\/mmWave), which can force links to step down modulation and reduce throughput; at sub\u20116 GHz, rain loss is typically negligible over cell\u2011site distances. Satellite services in Ku\/Ka bands can see 10\u201320+ dB of slant\u2011path attenuation in intense rain, which operators counter with adaptive coding\/modulation and power control. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/rec\/R-REC-P.838-3-200503-I\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ITU\u2011R P.838 (rain attenuation model)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/rec\/R-REC-P.618\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">P.618 (Earth\u2011space links)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/rec\/R-REC-P.676\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">P.676 (atmospheric gases)<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/rec\/R-REC-P.840\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">P.840 (cloud\/fog)<\/a>. By contrast, fiber is essentially immune to rain\/fog attenuation; cable\/DSL aren\u2019t attenuated by rain in the air but can suffer from moisture ingress and storm damage. National operators describe these impacts and mitigations for HFC\/DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbnco.com.au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NBN Co<\/a>). Many real\u2011world slowdowns during storms are actually due to power\/infrastructure outages, which you can see reflected in measurements like Cloudflare\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/radar.cloudflare.com\/outage-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Outage Center<\/a> and regulator reviews such as Ofcom\u2019s post\u2011storm resilience analysis (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/publications-and-updates\/review-of-telecoms-resilience-following-storm-arwen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Storm Arwen<\/a>). For indoor Wi\u2011Fi at 2.4\/5\/6 GHz, outdoor rain has little direct effect; perceived changes are usually indirect (power blips, interference), though 60 GHz WiGig is strongly attenuated by atmospheric oxygen per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/rec\/R-REC-P.676\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ITU\u2011R P.676<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techwalla.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Techwalla claims water droplets can absorb the radio frequency<\/a>&nbsp;associated with Wi-Fi signal, thus partially blocking the signal. Of course, since most home Wi-Fi is deployed in the home, it seems strange that rain would hurt a typical person\u2019s internet performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22143028\/trivia-weather1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22143028\/trivia-weather1-1024x325.jpg\" height=\"325\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"trivia-weather1\" class=\"wp-image-116685\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the destination is the problem. Even large platforms have outages\u2014YouTube\u2019s global incident shows that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/is-youtube-down-on-tuesday-night-2018-10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">no one in the world could access it<\/a> for a period. If one site is slow but others are normal, it\u2019s likely not your connection. Check a few unrelated services (e.g., an image\u2011heavy site like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/imgur.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Imgur<\/a> and a text\u2011heavy forum) and, if you suspect a broader issue, look for corroboration on Cloudflare\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/radar.cloudflare.com\/outage-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Outage Center<\/a>. This helps you separate a website\/CDN hiccup from an ISP or home\u2011network bottleneck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142806\/trivia-site.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142806\/trivia-site-1024x258.jpg\" height=\"258\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116677\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The device<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You might just&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/tag\/android-phone-specs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have a slow phone<\/a>. Outdated OS\/browser versions, limited Wi\u2011Fi radios, and saturated storage\/CPU all hurt browsing and streaming. Update your OS\/apps, remove unnecessary extensions, and test with another device and a wired connection to the router to rule out in\u2011home Wi\u2011Fi. If a single device is slow but wired tests are fine, the issue is local. To understand whether single\u2011stream performance is the limiter, run a single\u2011connection test such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.measurementlab.net\/tests\/ndt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">M\u2011Lab NDT<\/a> alongside a multi\u2011connection test. For multi\u2011gig service tiers, make sure your computer and cables support 2.5 Gbps or better to avoid client\u2011side caps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142847\/trivia-device.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142847\/trivia-device-1024x218.jpg\" height=\"218\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116680\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The number of users<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Shared capacity is the core issue: when many people and devices use the same access link or Wi\u2011Fi airtime, everyone\u2019s throughput falls and latency rises. Regulators consistently observe lower speeds at busy times than over 24 hours (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/research-and-data\/telecoms-research\/broadband-and-mobile\/broadband-speeds\/home-broadband-performance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ofcom<\/a>), and mobile busy\u2011hour traffic continues to outpace average traffic growth (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ericsson.com\/en\/reports-and-papers\/mobility-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ericsson Mobility Report<\/a>). Theoretically, most individual wireless routers can&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifewire.com\/how-many-devices-can-share-a-wifi-network-818298\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">support up to 250 connected devices<\/a>, according to Lifewire, but it\u2019s certainly not ideal. Practical remedies: wire stationary devices with Ethernet; use modern Wi\u2011Fi (6\/6E\/7) with features that improve multi\u2011user efficiency; and enable Smart Queue Management\/Active Queue Management (e.g., FQ\u2011CoDel) to control bufferbloat. Emerging low\u2011latency approaches like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rfc-editor.org\/rfc\/rfc9330\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">L4S<\/a> are being deployed by operators and can reduce latency under load without sacrificing throughput\u2014see an operator example <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.comcast.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/radar.cloudflare.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cloudflare Radar<\/a> also shows predictable diurnal traffic spikes that align with the performance dips many households feel during prime time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142835\/trivia-party.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142835\/trivia-party-1024x258.jpg\" height=\"258\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116679\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The presence of a virus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re experiencing slow speeds on a desktop PC or a laptop, you should consider the possibility of a computer virus. Malware and potentially unwanted applications (PUA) can chew CPU, memory, and network bandwidth (adware, cryptomining), hijack DNS\/proxy settings, or enlist devices in botnets that saturate your uplink. We recommend scanning your computer daily and there\u2019s a plethora of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/roundup\/267984\/the-best-free-antivirus-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free, reputable anti-virus programs<\/a>&nbsp;to consider. For specifics: botnets commonly leverage compromised IoT\/SOHO gear and can generate heavy background traffic (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudflare.com\/learning\/ddos\/what-is-a-botnet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cloudflare<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.cloudflare.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DDoS trends<\/a>); enable PUA protection to block adware that slows devices (<a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Microsoft<\/a>); use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">protective DNS<\/a>; and harden home routers per <a href=\"https:\/\/media.defense.gov\/2023\/Apr\/06\/2003190977\/-1\/-1\/0\/CSI_SECURE_HOME_NETWORKS.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NSA best practices<\/a> (auto\u2011update firmware, change defaults, disable remote admin\/UPnP unless required).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22143017\/trivia-virus.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22143017\/trivia-virus-1024x363.jpg\" height=\"363\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116684\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 Ways to Increase Your Internet Speed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve looked at some of the more common causes (and potential fixes) for slow downloads and streaming, let\u2019s talk about how to increase your internet speed. There are quite a few things you can do that can help kick your network into a higher gear. We\u2019ll start with the less intensive tips and work our way up. As you make changes, re\u2011test using both multi\u2011 and single\u2011connection methods and check \u201clatency under load\u201d to confirm you\u2019re improving responsiveness\u2014not just raw Mbps (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ookla<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT212313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142933\/increase-speed.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142933\/increase-speed-1024x717.jpg\" height=\"717\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116682\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Update your internet browser<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Believe it or not, part of the problem could be with your internet browser. Rendering engines, extensions, and site optimizations change over time, and mismatches can hurt page load speed\u2014see the past case where a Mozilla engineer explained differences in how a major site behaved in certain browsers&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cpeterso\/status\/1021626510296285185\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">regarding YouTube and the Firefox internet browser<\/a>. Keep your browser up to date, trim heavy extensions, and try another browser to isolate whether the slowdown is app\u2011specific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, if the pages aren\u2019t loading or your download is taking too long, it could be worth trying a different browser. Also ensure hardware acceleration is enabled where appropriate, and confirm security tools or VPNs aren\u2019t intercepting traffic in ways that cap throughput. Modern browsers auto\u2011update, but a manual check can catch stalled versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Change the ethernet cable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ethernet cables are those cords that almost look like phone cables, but are slightly wider at the plug-in component. They plug into the back of the modem and the wireless router and different types work better or facilitate different speeds. Sometimes the problem with slow internet speeds could be with the cable, especially if you\u2019re using&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/210326\/not-all-ethernet-cables-are-equal-you-can-get-faster-lan-speeds-by-upgrading\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an older type<\/a>. For gigabit plans, Cat5e is usually sufficient for short runs; for multi\u2011gig (2.5\u201310 GbE) or longer runs, prefer Cat6\/Cat6A. Try replacing the existing ethernet cable with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/computing\/best-ethernet-cables\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a newer version<\/a>. Also verify your computer\u2019s NIC and the router\u2019s ports support your plan\u2019s top speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Move the router<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes it\u2019s literally as simple as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/295986\/the-easiest-way-to-fix-wi-fi-issues-move-your-router-seriously\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moving the router<\/a>. Walls and floors attenuate signals; higher\u2011frequency bands (5 GHz and especially 6 GHz) deliver higher peak rates but don\u2019t penetrate as well as 2.4 GHz. Place the router centrally and elevated, and connect bandwidth\u2011hungry stationary devices by Ethernet to free up Wi\u2011Fi airtime. If you have 6 GHz\u2011capable gear (Wi\u2011Fi 6E\/7), confirm 6 GHz is authorized where you live (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/countries-enabling-wi-fi-6e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wi\u2011Fi Alliance<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Update the firmware on the router<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All routers come with firmware that, on occasion, will need to be updated. This is done manually and most routers come with detailed instructions on how to determine your router\u2019s information and finding the necessary updates. However, if you are having trouble with this or don\u2019t know where to begin, we found&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Update-Router-Firmware\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this detailed wikiHow guide<\/a>&nbsp;to be extremely helpful. By updating the router\u2019s firmware, you can improve the connectivity and, perhaps more importantly, keep your wireless network secure from unwanted visitors. If available, enable automatic updates; also look for SQM\/AQM options in the firmware to reduce latency under load, which can dramatically improve video calls and gaming responsiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Purchase a new router<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Routers can become obsolete long before the physical parts begin to fail. As wireless networking standards continue to improve, devices that were better suited for older standards start to show their age. In situations such as these, there might be nothing for it but to purchase a new router. In our review of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best-wireless-router\/\">the best wireless routers<\/a>, we considered 136 models before arriving at our top picks. Today\u2019s premium devices support Wi\u2011Fi 7 (802.11be) with Multi\u2011Link Operation, 320 MHz channels on 6 GHz, and 4K\u2011QAM for higher throughput and lower latency, alongside multi\u2011gig Ethernet ports\u2014see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wi\u2011Fi Alliance<\/a>. Examples include the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netgear.com\/home\/wifi\/routers\/rs700\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Netgear RS700S<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netgear.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Orbi 970 mesh<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tp-link.com\/us\/home-networking\/deco\/deco-be95\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TP\u2011Link Deco BE95<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/rog.asus.com\/networking\/rog-rapture-gt-be98-model\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asus GT\u2011BE98<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/eero.com\/shop\/eero-max-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eero Max 7<\/a>. Match the router to your plan and home: mesh for larger\/multi\u2011story homes, single routers for smaller spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Consider a Wi\u2011Fi extender<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We already mentioned how helpful simply moving your router can be. However, if this is inconvenient or not feasible and you\u2019re still left with Wi\u2011Fi dead zones, the next best step could be to look into a Wi\u2011Fi extender. Just like it sounds, these handy devices can be plugged into power outlets and catch Wi\u2011Fi signal, and then release it with minimal interference.&nbsp;<a href=\"\/utilities\/internet\/best-wifi-extender\/\">In our review<\/a>, we covered two of the best models on the market with our focus primarily on reliability. For best results, avoid legacy single\u2011radio repeaters (which can halve throughput on shared wireless backhaul). Prefer tri\u2011band designs or Wi\u2011Fi 6E\/7 extenders that can use a clean 6 GHz backhaul, and use wired\/Ethernet backhaul if possible. Standards\u2011based multi\u2011AP systems like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/discover-wi-fi\/wi-fi-easymesh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wi\u2011Fi EasyMesh<\/a> improve steering and backhaul management; Wi\u2011Fi 7 adds Multi\u2011Link Operation for more reliable, lower\u2011latency links (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wi\u2011Fi 7 overview<\/a>). Early Wi\u2011Fi 7 extenders like TP\u2011Link\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tp-link.com\/us\/home-networking\/range-extender\/re800be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RE800BE<\/a> show strong performance when paired with compatible routers (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">independent review<\/a>). For whole\u2011home coverage and seamless roaming (look for 802.11k\/v\/r support), a mesh system generally beats stacking multiple extenders (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/wirecutter\/reviews\/best-wi-fi-extender\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wirecutter<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PCMag guide<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Internet Speed FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does the U.S. have the fastest internet in the world?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not the fastest, but also not the slowest! Fixed broadband and mobile rankings are separate and change every month. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/global-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ookla\u2019s Speedtest Global Index<\/a>, the U.S. has generally been a top\u201110 country on fixed broadband in recent months, while on mobile it typically ranks below top 5G leaders like the UAE and Qatar. Always cite the latest month\u2019s medians (download, upload, latency) from the Global Index. For additional perspective on mobile experience, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensignal.com\/reports\/2025\/04\/global\/mobile-network-experience\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OpenSignal\u2019s 2025 Global Mobile Network Experience Awards<\/a>. Annual fixed broadband comparisons based on M\u2011Lab\u2019s open data are also available via Cable.co.uk\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cable.co.uk\/broadband\/speed\/worldwide-speed-league\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Worldwide Broadband Speed League<\/a> (note that methodologies differ across these sources), and country performance can be sanity\u2011checked with <a href=\"https:\/\/radar.cloudflare.com\/adoption-and-performance\/speed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cloudflare Radar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To interpret speeds in practice: providers advertise megabits per second (Mbps) while files are sized in megabytes (MB). Convert by dividing by 8 (Mbps \u00f7 8 = MB\/s). For example, a 600 MB file on a 400 Mbps connection downloads at about 50 MB\/s in ideal conditions (~12 seconds), while single\u2011connection throughput may be lower than the multi\u2011connection peak depending on the app and network path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I tell what speed my internet provider is charging me for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to do this would be to review your bill when it comes in the mail or, if you\u2019ve gone paperless, access your account online. Most internet providers give you this option, especially those that are enabled for online bill pay. In the U.S., many plans now include standardized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Broadband Consumer Labels<\/a> showing typical download\/upload speeds and latency. In the EU, the <a href=\"https:\/\/oim.public.berec.europa.eu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BEREC Open Internet Measurement<\/a> tool provides a standardized way for consumers to verify contracted speeds under prescribed test conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is the internet service provider (ISP) to blame?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While it is certainly a possibility that the problem could be with your ISP, we recommend doing everything you can on your end first to rule out any other causes or issues. Test over wired Ethernet to the router\/gateway, pause other downloads\/streams, and run multiple tests at different times. Use a mix of tools and methods: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ookla Speedtest<\/a> (supports multi\u2011 and single\u2011connection), <a href=\"https:\/\/radar.cloudflare.com\/adoption-and-performance\/speed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cloudflare Radar Speed<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.measurementlab.net\/tests\/ndt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">M\u2011Lab NDT<\/a>. Measure responsiveness\/latency under load to detect bufferbloat with <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT212313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">networkQuality<\/a>. Using more than one test and checking latency under load gives a fuller picture of user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do find yourself needing to call the ISP, they will likely ask you a series of questions and provide you with some actions you can take to try and improve the problem. They might refer to this process as troubleshooting. The ISP will test the signal coming into your home and compare that with the plan (and the speed) you\u2019re enrolled in. If the signal is strong in your home based on the ISP\u2019s signal test, then the fault lies in your home possibly with the equipment. Be ready to share wired results and steps you took to isolate Wi\u2011Fi vs access\u2011line issues. In the U.S., compare your results to the plan\u2019s \u201ctypical speeds\u201d on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FCC label<\/a>. Regulators and independent reports use router\/probe\u2011based methods to remove in\u2011home variables (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/research-and-data\/telecoms-research\/broadband-research\/home-broadband-performance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ofcom<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FCC Measuring Broadband America<\/a>), which is the gold standard for verifying ISP performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If All Else Fails<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If, after all this, your internet is still too slow or doesn\u2019t feel fast enough, it might be time to look at either upgrading your package or switching to another service provider. We\u2019ve reviewed&nbsp;<a href=\"\/utilities\/internet\/best\/\">the best internet service providers<\/a>&nbsp;as well and that list might be a great place to start shopping for another plan if all else fails. When upgrading, prioritize higher\u2011capacity and resilient access (fiber where available; next\u2011gen cable\/FTTP) and modern CPE that supports SQM\/AQM; if you rely on satellite or mmWave\/Ku\/Ka\u2011band links, expect performance reductions in heavy precipitation and plan around severe weather (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/rec\/R-REC-P.618\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ITU\u2011R P.618<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbnco.com.au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NBN Co<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fast Facts About Slow Internet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142914\/trivia-all-infographic.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/03\/22142914\/trivia-all-infographic.jpg\" height=\"4964\" width=\"1401\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116681\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever tried streaming something on Netflix only to have your episode of \u201cThe Office\u201d&nbsp;interrupted by a buffering screen? What about that YouTube viral video everyone\u2019s talking about that just won\u2019t finish loading? Maybe you\u2019ve just been trying to download a video of your granddaughter\u2019s first communion and it\u2019s taking forever. Before you change [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":116683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[21563],"tags":[],"post_author":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Increase Your Internet Speed - Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Using this guide you can understand How to Increase Your Internet Speed\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/increase-internet-speed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Increase Your Internet Speed - Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Using this guide you can understand How to Increase Your Internet Speed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/increase-internet-speed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Reviewscom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-11T18:58:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/bogging-down.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1174\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Reviews Staff\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Reviews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Reviews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Reviews Staff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/increase-internet-speed\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Increase Your Internet Speed\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\",\"name\":\"Reviews.com\",\"description\":\"Your Guide to the Best Services\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Increase Your Internet Speed - Reviews.com","description":"Using this guide you can understand How to Increase Your Internet Speed","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/increase-internet-speed\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Increase Your Internet Speed - Reviews.com","og_description":"Using this guide you can understand How to Increase Your Internet Speed","og_url":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/increase-internet-speed\/","og_site_name":"Reviews.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Reviewscom\/","article_published_time":"2025-11-11T18:58:14+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1400,"height":1174,"url":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/bogging-down.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Reviews Staff","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Reviews","twitter_site":"@Reviews","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Reviews Staff","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/increase-internet-speed\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Increase Your Internet Speed"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/","name":"Reviews.com","description":"Your Guide to the Best Services","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320770"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/345"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320770\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=320770"},{"taxonomy":"post_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_author?post=320770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}