Factors That Affect Good Internet Speed
It is generally accepted that Internet speed of between 10 and 25 megabits per second is considered to be good, according to RS Web Solutions. Lower speeds may result in buffering and longer download time.
Data Allowance Depending on the type of Internet package a household or business has, Internet service providers may put a cap on ones download allowance. When this happens, the provider automatically reduces the Internet connection so this limit is not exceeded, thus affecting the browsing and download or upload speed. To combat this, customers can sign up for an Internet package that better meets their needs, such as one that allows for unlimited downloads.
Server Settings Every time one connects to the Internet, the server has to translate the domain name into an Internet protocol address. Internet service providers typically assign a default setting to a network but it may not be the fastest. With a little know-how it can be advantageous to tweak the settings on a device to a faster server, thus increasing the Internet speed.
Hardware and Software A good Internet speed also depends on the efficiency of the device’s hardware and software. If the hardware cannot support the Internet speed one requires, a system upgrade should be considered. Often this is something as simple as downloading the latest firmware from the operating system’s website. Software can also affect Internet speeds, such as the type of web browser that is being used. Disabling automatic software updates can alleviate lagging while browsing or downloading content to a device.
Traffic on the Network It stands to reason that if several people are connected to a network at once, the Internet speed will slow. Nowadays, gaming devices, smartphones, Internet-enabled televisions and laptops or tablets are a big part of people’s lives so having these simultaneously connected to the Internet can pose problems in connectivity. An Internet speed of between 25 and 40 megabits per second is considered to be good for multiple users and frequent streaming, as stated by RS Web Solutions. For heavy online gamers and very frequent browsing, streaming and downloading, 40+ megabits is recommended.
Viruses The importance of having a good anti-virus program installed on Internet-enabled devices cannot be underestimated. The fact is, the Internet is awash with different types of viruses and spyware that can affect the speed of one’s Internet connection. Running regular scans on a computer or laptop will decrease the risk of such viruses playing havoc with a browsing experience.
Web Design Even if one generally has good Internet speed, some web pages can stick or seem slow to load, particularly if there are lots of graphics or plugins and different types of content on the page. Clearing the browser’s cache on a regular basis can help pages to load faster.
Browsing History Websites that have been accessed recently will be quicker to load than those that have never been visited, or were accessed a long time ago. This is because the files may still be in the browser’s cache system. Clearing temporary files and deleting cookies cuts down on the amount of work the computer needs to do, making for a faster Internet speed.
Limit Background Programs There may be programs running silently in the background upon starting up a computer or laptop, and these can eat into the systems memory, causing it to run slower than usual. Limiting which programs one requires to run and disabling the rest upon startup can significantly affect the Internet speed in a good way.
