Network congestion, outages and damaged equipment can all cause your internet connection to slow down.
We've narrowed down six reasons for slow internet speeds and possible fixes further down in the guide.
In most cases, a slow connection is due to internet congestion.
The cables that make up the NBN have limited capacity, like lanes of traffic on a highway. The more connections you have at the same time – or cars on the highway – the slower everything moves.
During peak hours, when large numbers of people are online at once, your connection will slow down simply because other people are clogging the network with their uploads and downloads.
If you're on a Wi-Fi connection like most people, the further you are from your modem, the weaker your signal.
Wi-Fi signals can become weak and patchy due to distance or blocking objects (like walls) between you and the modem. Weak signals mean slow or unreliable connections.
Outdated or damaged modems and cables may not support fast signals.
Outdated software or network drivers can lead to compatibility issues between your device and your hardware.
Internet bandwidth works a bit like a water pipe.
The more people using your connection at the same time, the slower it gets for everyone.
If your connection has a maximum bandwidth of 50Mbps and three people are streaming video, they have to share that bandwidth, meaning each one only gets a portion.
The more data-intensive their activities, the greater the strain on your connection.
Background applications can act like another user and hog your bandwidth, slowing down your connection.
Programs like Windows Update or game launchers may automatically download patches or updates without asking you, hurting your Internet speed.
Having too many devices with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth all looking for the same signal can cause interference and prevent that signal from properly reaching any of them.
It can be caused by devices in your own home or even your neighbour's house if they have Wi-Fi on the same channel as yours.
While there are plenty of potential causes for slow internet, you don't have to sit there and accept it.
There are a lot of ways to make your internet faster, which we'll cover in detail shortly.
If your internet usage has increased, you're connecting more devices, or multiple people in your household are online at once, you might need a faster plan. In that case, check out broadband plans on Finder, or start by looking at recommended speed tiers based on your household size and internet habits.
Start by running a speed test to check your download and upload speeds.
Then, compare these results to the expected speeds for your internet plan.
If you know what speed tier you're on, you can also check your provider's typical evening speeds (7-11pm) to see if they match what you're getting.
If you aren't sure what plan you're on, it should be listed on your most recent internet bill or your online account with your provider.
Here's a look at typical evening download speeds for fixed-line NBN plans in our database:
| Speed tier | Average typical evening speed on Finder | Minimum speed | Maximum speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 (Basic I) | 11Mbps | 10Mbps | 12Mbps |
| NBN 25 (Basic II) | 24Mbps | 18Mbps | 25Mbps |
| NBN 50 (Standard) | 48Mbps | 38.5Mbps | 50Mbps |
| NBN 100 (Fast) | 95Mbps | 77Mbps | 100Mbps |
| NBN 250 (Superfast) | 241Mbps | 205Mbps | 250Mbps |
| NBN 1000 (Ultrafast) | 780Mbps | 600Mbps | 930Mbps |
Just as there are many causes for a slow connection, there are plenty of possible fixes. Here are six steps that might help:
Run a speed test on several devices in the same room to see if all of them have the same issue.
If only one of them is having problems, then the issue is likely with that device. However, you could always try turning your modem on and off again as a hail mary. Quick resets help sometimes.
If the internet is slow on all your devices, the issue could be with your modem.
Check for damaged cables or loose connections, and consider upgrading your modem if it's outdated or not compatible with higher NBN speed tiers.
Try improving your Wi-Fi signal
Wi-Fi can be a hassle, but you can improve your signal by moving your modem closer to your devices, ensuring a clear line of sight, and reducing interference.
If that doesn't help, try changing your Wi-Fi channel or connecting your device directly with an ethernet cable for a more reliable connection.
When your connection is running slowly on a single device, try closing background apps or programs, checking for viruses or updating your drivers.
Drivers are the software responsible for making your hardware work properly.
Newer network drivers will help your device cope better with Wi-Fi than outdated ones.
Sometimes, the problem isn't at your end but your provider's.
Give them a call and explain what's going on. It might be a fault line to your house or something going wrong with how your network is set up.
Are you happy with your internet speed?
31% of Australians are extremely satisfied with their broadband speeds and 47% are somewhat satisfied, according to our consumer sentiment tracker (November 2024). Tasmanians had the highest number of people very satisfied with their internet speed (32%). Somewhat surprisingly, 33% of people in regional locations were extremely satisfied with their internet speeds compared to only 30% in metro areas.
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Kind of useless, my ISP has acknowledged the congestion and just said that there are no plans of an upgrade. They’re just leaving it as is, only problem is. the congestion isn’t just peak hours of the night its from about 8am-2am through the week, and pretty much all hours of the weekend. I’m on the maximum priced 100/40 plan and their offer to fix it, is to discount me $20 from one bill….
Hi Christopher,
Sounds quite frustrating. What kind of speeds are you seeing for uploads and downloads? If you can’t reach a solution past a $20 credit with your provider I would recommend contacting them via their Facebook or Twitter. You’re much more likely to get a speedy response, and hopefully, resolution that way.
All the best,
Brodie