What can affect my broadband performance?

If you’re on the copper network, the further away you are from the cabinet or exchange, the slower your broadband speed. We can deliver VDSL services over the copper network within approximately 800 metres of the cabinet; ADSL 2+ within two kilometres of the cabinet and ADSL within six kilometres of the cabinet. Fibre broadband is not affected by distance. Check if you can get fibre.

Broadband capacity is affected by the number of people online, also known as congestion. The time of day you use the internet can affect your broadband speed – we see the traffic on our network peak in the afternoon when school finishes and at the end of the work day.

Backhaul, or how your property is connected to our core network, is another factor that can affect capacity. Your broadband provider will be able to investigate this.

If your speed drops suddenly and you’ve been downloading lots of content, you may have exceeded the data limit attached to your plan. Increasing your data allocation or switching to an uncapped plan will fix this.

Video update: Fibre Pro (900 Mbps) - formerly Gig broadband - is available everywhere fibre is installed. Ask your broadband provider for a faster fibre plan.

If your router (sometimes called a modem) is five years or older this could be affecting your broadband performance. Like all technology, age is a factor, so it is best to upgrade routers every few years to stay up to date with advancements in broadband and wifi technology.

Your router needs to be compatible with your broadband package. Some routers can only reach maximum speeds of 100, 200 or 500Mbps, so ask your broadband provider whether your router can handle the required speeds.

Poor or aged wiring is one of the leading causes of broadband speed issues. If your wiring has not been looked at for a number of years, it’s possible the wiring and jack points in your property were installed to deliver a good phone service rather than high speed broadband. Filters can be added to your jack points to improve broadband speed.

Old computers and software can affect your broadband performance and slow things down. Ensure you:

• Upgrade old mechanical hard drives to SSD drives
• Upgrade your PC's memory for added performance
• Keep your internet browser up to date
• Clean out old software you no longer use
• Use less memory-heavy software while browsing
• Update your security software

The quality of the copper line delivering your broadband can affect speed. Your broadband provider will be able to investigate and confirm the quality of your line using diagnostic tools.

The age and layout of your wifi set up can affect the experience you have when accessing the internet using your home wifi network. You should also make sure your router is positioned where you are using your internet the most. Larger houses may need a mesh system, Powerline Adapter or wifi extender, which boost your signal to ensure you have an optimal experience no matter where in the house you are. Your electronics retailer will be able to give you advice here.

Connecting a number of devices to your wifi simultaneously can slow your broadband speed if you have limited capacity.

Ethernet cables can deliver data many times faster than wifi
A correctly installed wired connection will provide a more consistent and faster internet experience, so where possible use an ethernet cable to plug your computer into your modem.

One factor out of your control is who you are connecting to and how they are connected. International connections, the capacity of their line and the content you are accessing, can all affect the quality of your broadband experience.

Gigabit Passive Optical Networks (GPON) technology uses a light signal to transmit data over a fibre optic cable to and from your house. It provides ultra-fast and ultra-consistent speeds because light signals are not impacted by distance or interference.

ADSL and VDSL technology use an electrical signal to transmit data over a copper cable to and from your home. The speed is impacted by both distance and interference. VDSL is a newer technology and provides much faster speeds than ADSL.

If the hardware or operating system on the smartphone, tablet or computer you’re using are out of date or an older version, they could have trouble processing high-speed broadband. Check that your computers, laptops and devices have the capacity for ultra-fast broadband technology and have updated software and protection against viruses or malware.

The sites that you are connecting to online might not be able to respond at the same rate as your broadband. If you’re connecting to a website, their server could slow you down based on where in the world it’s located and the technology that site is using, even if your broadband connection is top notch.

Discover more: Learn how we get the internet to you 

Chorus provides a broadband connection between your address and your service provider’s network. From there your service provider delivers your broadband to you. The capacity of the provider’s network can affect your ultimate experience.

Learn more: Find the right broadband provider