What affects internet download speeds?

Download speed is one of the most important performance metrics for an internet connection. A slow download speed can make even everyday digital tasks take forever, while a fast download speed is critical for streaming, gaming, remote work, and other elements of the 21st-century digital lifestyle.

So, what affects internet download speeds? These are some of the most important factors you should know about.

Some types of connections can also slow down when many people are trying to use them at once. This is especially common with cable internet, where many households or businesses may share the same last-mile internet infrastructure. At peak usage times, such as the hours between 7 and 9 PM, you might notice slower internet speeds.

It’s also possible that the Wi-Fi network in your home or business itself is experiencing congestion if too many people are using high-bandwidth devices at the same time. For example, a house where one person is gaming online, one person is working from home, and another person is streaming 4K video simultaneously might experience slow download speeds.
 

Fiber internet is much less prone to congestion than either cable or DSL internet due to its high bandwidth. If you’re struggling with network congestion, consider Brightspeed Fiber internet plans for more reliable speeds.

When your devices transmit data using electronic signals, those signals have to physically travel through the transmission medium, such as phone lines or fiber-optic cables. Thus, your download speeds might be slower if:
 

1. You’re far away from your ISP’s service node.
2. You’re far away from the server you’re downloading files from.
   
   

Brightspeed offers high-speed internet in counties across America, including rural areas where broadband availability might be otherwise limited. See if Brightspeed is available near you.

If you’re not sure why your download speeds are moving slowly, our guide to troubleshooting slow internet can help, with practical advice on how to find and fix the source of your slow internet.

Questions about your internet speed, or want to upgrade to a faster plan? Browse all of Brightspeed’s available internet plans, or talk to one of our customer service professionals today.