People are just realizing Wi-Fi router speed is killed by secret ‘bandwidth shaping’ – check if it’s happening to you
IF your Wi-Fi speed is slow and you’ve tried everything possible to fix it at home, you could be dealing with a case of bandwidth shaping.
Bandwidth shaping is a technique that internet providers use to deliberately slow down your Wi-Fi speed.
This can happen if you exceed your monthly limit of data usage.
It often happens without a customer being informed and you may need to contact your provider to find out if it’s happened to you.
Fortunately, bandwidth shaping isn’t common and only happens to heavy data users.
Your internet supplier may subject you to it if they detect you’re using filesharing applications, according to Make Use Of.
The best thing to do is take note of what your standard Wi-Fi router speed should be.
If you find it’s much slower than expected, ask your internet provider about potential bandwidth shaping or throttling.
Throttling is similar to bandwidth shaping and also slows your speed when you hit your data usage.
If either of these things is to blame, there are two things you can do.
Firstly, try and cut down on your data usage.
A good way to do this is to close streaming and music apps when you’re not using them.
You should also avoid using too many devices at the same time on your network.
Adding a password and extra security is another good idea so you can stop strangers from stealing your Wi-Fi without you knowing.
Secondly, you can switch to a different internet service provider.
You may find one with a better deal and data limits that suit you.