7 Ways to Increase Your Internet Speed

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The United States has the 12th-fastest internet speed in the world, lagging behind countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Sweden. If you need fast internet for work, however, there are a number of things you can do to optimize your connection.

Here’s how to increase your internet speed in your business.

1. Get Closer to Your Router

This one is simple: Move your devices closer to your Wi-Fi router. Whether you use a desktop, laptop or mobile device, you can fix plenty of Wi-Fi-related issues just by moving your router.

Oh, and keep your router in a central place to improve signal quality.

Related: Your Daily Dose of Fiber [Infographic]

“You probably want to hide your router behind a shelf, or in a closet,” says How-To Geek. “That might be a good choice aesthetically, but it’s a bad one in terms of signal. You’re putting more barriers between you and your router, meaning you’re degrading the signal before it even gets into the room.”

2. Clean Your Wi-Fi Router

Dirt, dust, grime — all of these things can slow down your internet speeds at work by worsening their cooling properties. In turn, this can cause them to overheat and malfunction, causing them to come to a crawl.

Maintaining your Wi-Fi router and modem on a regular basis, therefore, is really important. Make sure you clean these items every couple of months. Not only will this improve signal quality, but it will prevent your equipment from overheating.

3. Restart Your Wi-Fi Router

See that small power button on your Wi-Fi router? This resets your internet connection — it’s a life-saver if you’re having internet problems. If you experience slow speeds or are struggling to connect to the internet, press this button and start over. A fresh new connection might just instantly solve your problem.

4. Use Anti-Virus Protection

Believe it or not, an internet virus can seriously slow down your connection. That’s why it’s imperative to use anti-virus protection on your computer. Once malware affects your system, it can cause programs and applications to run slowly or not at all and could impact your Wi-Fi connection.

Related: Cybersecurity: What to Know and Where to Start

“Malware uses up your bandwidth allocation, causing your computer and your network to slow down,” says ComboFix. “Run a regularly updated antivirus program and enable its auto-update feature.”

5. Check Your Cables

Poorly-fitted or loose cables can also slow down your internet speeds. Check the cables that run from your Wi-Fi router to your wall socket, and replace them if they’re damaged. Why? Cables often deteriorate over time. Even if they’re not worn, they can intermittently disconnect, causing great frustration.

Related: How Fiber Internet Is a Lot Like Sailing

6. Check Your Internet Speed Online

A good way to discover whether you are getting the best internet speeds is to use an online speed checker. Websites like DoSpeedTest and TestMy estimate your internet speed in just a few seconds.

Related: Google Fiber and the Internet Arms Race

These can often suggest things to increase your speed. Without getting too technical, they analyze where your traffic is being routed to (and they offer solutions on how to route it better).

7. Get a Better Internet Circuit

Sometimes, you just need a better internet circuit. A premium internet connectivity product which utilizes fiber technology provides your business with loads of benefits. Fiber internet gives you faster upload and download speeds, so you can maximize day-to-day tasks in the office.

You’ll also get a much better browsing experience.

And what if you are looking for super-fast internet? It might be time to invest in a better internet circuit through fiber internet. We can help you set up a circuit that will speed you up and keep your data secure in the meantime, too.