Is your ISP restricting your bandwidth at certain times, and you’re getting frustrated by it?
It’s frustrating when your ISP regularly limits your speeds, disrupting your online activities like streaming and gaming.
But don’t worry! Follow this guide to learn how you can bypass bandwidth throttling by your ISP and enjoy uninterrupted network speed.
What is Bandwidth Throttling or ISP Throttling
“ISP Throttling” or “bandwidth Throttling” refers to ISPs imposing limits on connections and reducing the average Internet speeds without warning. The main reasons for internet throttling are excessive load and bandwidth distribution challenges.
These Internet Service Providers not only throttle your internet speed, but they also monitor your online activity and have control over your network, enabling them to analyze your data packets.
Why Do ISPs Throttle User Bandwidth?
The primary reason is data caps. If you have a monthly bandwidth restriction that you exceed, your ISP will slow down your connection.
ISPs also limit customer bandwidth during peak traffic hours to avoid network congestion, allowing them to improve their services without investing in additional storage equipment or bandwidth.
Some ISPs prioritize services that pay them more, giving those users priority and avoiding throttling. This is especially common with streaming services like Amazon, Netflix, HBO, and Hulu Plus. Conversely, if the streaming provider doesn’t pay the ISP more money, they experience deprioritization.
Finally, your bandwidth may be throttled if you’re engaging in activities your ISP doesn’t approve of, such as downloading torrents.
How To Tell If You’re Being Throttled
One indicator is when you notice your speed decreasing at regular intervals during the day, especially in the evening or at night when server traffic is high.
You can test your upload and download speed using tools like “Speedtest by Ookla” and notice the fluctuations. If you consistently notice lower speed at certain times, you may be experiencing throttling.
Follow these steps to check if your ISP is throttling you:
- First, ensure your Internet plan is still active, as delinquent accounts may experience reduced service.
- Disconnect all users from the WiFi router and conduct speed tests simultaneously.
- If you download torrents, you will likely experience ISP throttling.
- Use a reliable VPN provider like Astrill VPN, and repeat the speed tests (with and without VPN).
As soon as you start noticing that your ISP is throttling your bandwidth, move on to the solutions we will discuss next:
How to Bypass Bandwidth Throttling
The best way to bypass bandwidth throttling is by using a VPN. When connected to a VPN, your traffic is encrypted, preventing your ISP from controlling your bandwidth or tracking your activity.
When you connect to a VPN server, your IP and DNS are masked, and your ISP loses control over your bandwidth. However, your ISP can still detect that you are using a VPN.
VPN servers are optimized to provide seamless service for activities such as streaming and gaming. They offer unlimited bandwidth and low ping, enhancing your overall experience in addition to bypassing bandwidth throttling.
Follow these steps to bypass bandwidth throttling:
- Subscribe to a VPN provider with highly optimized VPN servers.
- Download and install the VPN client or app.
- Sign in to the app using your credentials.
- Connect to a server from the region that you want to access.
- Once the connection is established, you can use the web without worrying about ISP throttling.
Is it Possible to Bypass Throttling Without VPN?
Without a VPN, bypassing throttling is not as effective. Some alternative methods to bypass throttling without a VPN are:
Using a Tor Browser
The Tor Browser encrypts traffic passing through it and through different nodes, preventing the ISP from throttling bandwidth and tracking user activity. However, using Tor for bypassing throttling may result in a slow browsing experience and is less effective for other applications and streaming services.
Contacting your ISP
Contacting your ISP directly and requesting them not to throttle your bandwidth is an option, but the effectiveness of this approach may be limited.
Switching to a new ISP
Switching to an ISP that provides better service may be an option, but it’s unlikely to find an ISP that does not engage in bandwidth throttling.
Can I use a Free VPN to bypass ISP Throttling?
Free VPNs are not recommended for bypassing ISP throttling due to various reasons such as keeping user-activity logs, inadequate security protocols, low speed, and poor connectivity.
Conclusion
Using a VPN is the best solution to bypass ISP throttling, while other methods like Tor are not as effective for this purpose. It’s important to prioritize online privacy and security, especially in the face of cyber threats. By using a VPN, you not only bypass ISP throttling but also protect your online privacy.
Image Credit: by Yan Krukov; Pexels; Thank you!
