Even if telephony operators now offer more and more advantageous internet subscriptions, the situation of the internet in Italy is not yet in a position to be able to ensure the speed of online data uploading, file transfers, downloads and uploads are not slow. Furthermore, even for those with the fastest internet connection, there may come a time when there is a problem and the internet is slow, even when opening normal websites like this.
Both when the problem is structural and congenital, and when it is sudden, you can try to remedy it, understand why the Internet is slower than usual or compared to what was written in the contract signed with the network provider.
Let's see, below, the most common causes for the Internet is slow and how to remedy the situation when network slowdowns occur to return to fast surfing.
1) The device is connected via Wi-Fi.
In most cases, the wireless connection to the router reduces the internet speed due to signal interference that can come from neighbors' wifi networks, walls, other electronic components (especially microwaves).
If you want to surf as fast as possible, it is best to use a wired connection using an Ethernet cable.
In another article, however, we explained why WIFI is slow and how to solve it.
2) Hardware problems in devices that are slowing down the network .
The more time you surf with the same router, the slower it can become, thus creating a problem that does not depend on the service provider.
For some types of VPN in Wifi the problem may depend on the reception equipment, the antenna or the cable modem.
As with any electronic device, a router can have age problems and the internet could be slower than some time ago, constantly.
In two other articles we have seen, in this regard:
- What slows down the network speed (wifi or wired) and the internet connection.
- Which wifi router to buy for the wireless home network "> reset the router, you can press the hidden button on the back, usually the one you press with the tip of a pen.
4) You are connected via an extender.
Devices to extend a Wi-Fi network are an inexpensive way to amplify the range of a wireless signal, perfect if the router cannot reach every corner of the house.
However, these devices generally reduce the bandwidth in half because of the wireless traffic management mechanism, dividing the bandwidth between receiving (from the router) and sending data (to computers).
On this we have written a complete guide, to understand how the wifi repeater or "Range Extender" works and which one to buy.
5) The ISP (i.e. the network provider) is having technical problems.
The Internet may be slow due to technical problems.
A quick search on Twitter could give evidence of the problem in the area while a report on the website of the network provider can open a ticket to the support.
You can also call the network provider's call center and complain to one or more operators, phoning until you find an operator who understands that our problem does not depend on us and is resolved by restarting the router (which is usually the first suggested solution).
6) Virus on PC
One of the most common causes of an obvious change in network speed is a malicious program that communicates with the open Internet, using bandwidth before it even starts.
Scanning your computer for antivirus should solve the problem.
7) Congestion of the central router or of a zone repeater used by the internet provider which makes surfing slowly .
The ISP (called ISP) has several routers and repeaters at various corners of the city which form the network infrastructure .
The local router is shared with all the neighbors and the inhabitants in the street.
If too many people at the same time try to download at high speeds, perhaps using programs such as Emule or BitTorrent, it is possible to find slight decreases in the performance of the line.
This traffic congestion is natural and frequent for cheaper network providers who do not have enough local routers or repeaters to keep all subscribers alive and fast.
Sometimes, however, it is not the fault of the ISP if the infrastructure is overloaded with huge amounts of traffic during working hours.
Depending on the place where you live, the ISP may have problems upgrading its infrastructure due to local bureaucracy or because of Telecom, which owns the telephone lines.
In these cases you can try to complain to a petition signed by the whole neighborhood so that the provider provides a better line or it is better to change the provider and pay some extra money for a more serious and reliable internet provider.
8) The ISP is limiting the network manually
Even if it is never publicly admitted, it is known that some internet providers limit the connection of those who want to download on peer-to-peer protocols with programs such as UTorrent or Emule.
Those who think they are victims of this forced limitation can perform a speed test with Speedtest.net and compare this measurement with the download speed from p2p networks.
Keep in mind that the unit of measurement is the mbps (megabit per second) different from MegaByte per second (MBps).
9) The ISP allows you to download faster from national sites and servers or belonging to its network .
Some internet service providers not only give an internet connection in people's homes but also provide the line to large companies.
In some cases it can happen that if you connect to a website or a download server that is connected to the same network provider you download data faster.
With Speedtest then try to measure the local download speed and that from a foreign server to see if there are differences.
Note also how Fastweb, in addition to providing the fastest download speed of all, also allows you to download anything from Emule Adunanza using only subscribers to its service.
10) The internet plan and the provider that you pay for surfing is cheap and low level
Sometimes the internet is slow simply because you are paying for a low level service.
Also from Speedtest check the data download speed and check if the numbers are those stated in the contract or if they are much lower.
If the ISP does not help us or has clearly deceived us, since it cannot be reported because in the contract it says that the internet speed can be even lower than what was declared, then it is worth canceling the subscription and going to the competition.
In another article there is the ranking of Italian providers with faster ADSL internet .
11) Avoid using programs or applications that use too much bandwidth
If everything seems to be in order and if the provider cannot work miracles anyway, it may be that the internet is slow due to some program that remains running in the background such as BitTorrent, Emule, other clients of P2P networks and synchronization or updating of video games.
12) Change DNS
When entering an address in the browser such as navigaweb.net the computer sends a DNS call to translate that name into the IP address of the computer to connect to.
The DNS Server is provided by the same network provider only that sometimes this server may not function as it should.
In another article the guide to optimize the internet by changing the DNS servers
13) Optimize the web for a slow connection
In the meantime, while waiting to solve the slow internet problems, you can surf in order to transfer as little data as possible.
For example, if you surf using the wifi of a bar, where there is nothing you can do to speed up the network, then you have to lighten the websites and surf in order to compress the data and take advantage of the mobile versions of the websites.
You can then change user agent on the browser to see sites in a mobile version or take advantage of the compression mode of Chrome.
In other articles we have also seen:
- How to Optimize your internet connection to surf faster.
- How to speed up the internet connection with 5 Windows tricks.
Both when the problem is structural and congenital, and when it is sudden, you can try to remedy it, understand why the Internet is slower than usual or compared to what was written in the contract signed with the network provider.
Let's see, below, the most common causes for the Internet is slow and how to remedy the situation when network slowdowns occur to return to fast surfing.
1) The device is connected via Wi-Fi.
In most cases, the wireless connection to the router reduces the internet speed due to signal interference that can come from neighbors' wifi networks, walls, other electronic components (especially microwaves).
If you want to surf as fast as possible, it is best to use a wired connection using an Ethernet cable.
In another article, however, we explained why WIFI is slow and how to solve it.
2) Hardware problems in devices that are slowing down the network .
The more time you surf with the same router, the slower it can become, thus creating a problem that does not depend on the service provider.
For some types of VPN in Wifi the problem may depend on the reception equipment, the antenna or the cable modem.
As with any electronic device, a router can have age problems and the internet could be slower than some time ago, constantly.
In two other articles we have seen, in this regard:
- What slows down the network speed (wifi or wired) and the internet connection.
- Which wifi router to buy for the wireless home network "> reset the router, you can press the hidden button on the back, usually the one you press with the tip of a pen.
4) You are connected via an extender.
Devices to extend a Wi-Fi network are an inexpensive way to amplify the range of a wireless signal, perfect if the router cannot reach every corner of the house.
However, these devices generally reduce the bandwidth in half because of the wireless traffic management mechanism, dividing the bandwidth between receiving (from the router) and sending data (to computers).
On this we have written a complete guide, to understand how the wifi repeater or "Range Extender" works and which one to buy.
5) The ISP (i.e. the network provider) is having technical problems.
The Internet may be slow due to technical problems.
A quick search on Twitter could give evidence of the problem in the area while a report on the website of the network provider can open a ticket to the support.
You can also call the network provider's call center and complain to one or more operators, phoning until you find an operator who understands that our problem does not depend on us and is resolved by restarting the router (which is usually the first suggested solution).
6) Virus on PC
One of the most common causes of an obvious change in network speed is a malicious program that communicates with the open Internet, using bandwidth before it even starts.
Scanning your computer for antivirus should solve the problem.
7) Congestion of the central router or of a zone repeater used by the internet provider which makes surfing slowly .
The ISP (called ISP) has several routers and repeaters at various corners of the city which form the network infrastructure .
The local router is shared with all the neighbors and the inhabitants in the street.
If too many people at the same time try to download at high speeds, perhaps using programs such as Emule or BitTorrent, it is possible to find slight decreases in the performance of the line.
This traffic congestion is natural and frequent for cheaper network providers who do not have enough local routers or repeaters to keep all subscribers alive and fast.
Sometimes, however, it is not the fault of the ISP if the infrastructure is overloaded with huge amounts of traffic during working hours.
Depending on the place where you live, the ISP may have problems upgrading its infrastructure due to local bureaucracy or because of Telecom, which owns the telephone lines.
In these cases you can try to complain to a petition signed by the whole neighborhood so that the provider provides a better line or it is better to change the provider and pay some extra money for a more serious and reliable internet provider.
8) The ISP is limiting the network manually
Even if it is never publicly admitted, it is known that some internet providers limit the connection of those who want to download on peer-to-peer protocols with programs such as UTorrent or Emule.
Those who think they are victims of this forced limitation can perform a speed test with Speedtest.net and compare this measurement with the download speed from p2p networks.
Keep in mind that the unit of measurement is the mbps (megabit per second) different from MegaByte per second (MBps).
9) The ISP allows you to download faster from national sites and servers or belonging to its network .
Some internet service providers not only give an internet connection in people's homes but also provide the line to large companies.
In some cases it can happen that if you connect to a website or a download server that is connected to the same network provider you download data faster.
With Speedtest then try to measure the local download speed and that from a foreign server to see if there are differences.
Note also how Fastweb, in addition to providing the fastest download speed of all, also allows you to download anything from Emule Adunanza using only subscribers to its service.
10) The internet plan and the provider that you pay for surfing is cheap and low level
Sometimes the internet is slow simply because you are paying for a low level service.
Also from Speedtest check the data download speed and check if the numbers are those stated in the contract or if they are much lower.
If the ISP does not help us or has clearly deceived us, since it cannot be reported because in the contract it says that the internet speed can be even lower than what was declared, then it is worth canceling the subscription and going to the competition.
In another article there is the ranking of Italian providers with faster ADSL internet .
11) Avoid using programs or applications that use too much bandwidth
If everything seems to be in order and if the provider cannot work miracles anyway, it may be that the internet is slow due to some program that remains running in the background such as BitTorrent, Emule, other clients of P2P networks and synchronization or updating of video games.
12) Change DNS
When entering an address in the browser such as navigaweb.net the computer sends a DNS call to translate that name into the IP address of the computer to connect to.
The DNS Server is provided by the same network provider only that sometimes this server may not function as it should.
In another article the guide to optimize the internet by changing the DNS servers
13) Optimize the web for a slow connection
In the meantime, while waiting to solve the slow internet problems, you can surf in order to transfer as little data as possible.
For example, if you surf using the wifi of a bar, where there is nothing you can do to speed up the network, then you have to lighten the websites and surf in order to compress the data and take advantage of the mobile versions of the websites.
You can then change user agent on the browser to see sites in a mobile version or take advantage of the compression mode of Chrome.
In other articles we have also seen:
- How to Optimize your internet connection to surf faster.
- How to speed up the internet connection with 5 Windows tricks.
