How VPNs Prevent ISP Throttling And Boost Speeds

Having a stable and fast internet connection is important for most people. There is nothing more frustrating than struggling with slow internet or videos that keep buffering. Perhaps you have noticed that during peak hours, your internet might not be performing as it should. Is your internet being throttled?

 

What Is a VPN, And How Does It Work?

 

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that helps create security and anonymity for your online data and activities.

A VPN routes your encrypted data through a secure tunnel, keeping your data and online activities safe from prying eyes, such as your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or hackers. By routing data through their remote servers, it is possible to mask your IP address, meaning people like your ISP cannot see your location or online activities.

 

 

What Is ISP Throttling?

 

ISP throttling refers to the action of your ISP deliberately reducing your internet bandwidth due to your online activities. This can cause your internet to be very slow, which can be frustrating.

Throttling is also implemented to reduce a specific type of traffic, usually ones that require a lot of bandwidth, such as streaming or gaming.

 

Why Do ISPS Throttle Your Bandwidth?

 

There are various reasons why ISPs slow down your internet. Some of these reasons include:

• Congestion: By reducing bandwidth during peak hours, it can help prevent network overload.
• Data Cap: When you have reached your monthly usage limit, your ISP will slow down your internet or stop it completely.
• Traffic Shaping: ISPs might reduce the bandwidth for activities like streaming and gaming, giving priority to low-bandwidth actions such as browser searches.
• “Fast Lane” Contracts: Some ISPs have fast-lane contracts with certain businesses, such as Netflix, meaning bandwidth will be prioritised for Netflix but not for other services like Disney+.

 

How To Tell If Your ISP Is Throttling Your Internet?

 

There are various ways to determine if your internet is being throttled. If your internet speed drops for no reason, it is most likely that you are being throttled. You can also perform speed tests to see if your internet speed is different when using different services, such as streaming sites.

Follow these steps to determine if you are possibly being throttled:

1. ISPs like to throttle connections for activities like streaming, gaming, or high downloads. So, perform a speed test while using one of these services, such as a streaming site.
2. Connect a VPN.
3. Measure your internet speed again for the same service, such as a streaming site, and see if your internet speed is higher now that you’re using a VPN.
4. If your internet speed is significantly higher with a VPN, it is possible that your bandwidth is being throttled.

 

Is ISP Throttling Legal?

 

In 2017, the Net Neutrality rules established by the FCC were revoked, meaning ISPs have the freedom and right to throttle internet connections.

There are still many efforts in place to try and reinstate net neutrality. However, none of these efforts have been successful.

 

 

Can a VPN Help With Internet Throttling?

 

A VPN can significantly help with avoiding ISP internet throttling. Since the goal of VPNs is to encrypt your data and online activity, as well as hide your IP address, it makes it very difficult for your ISP to see what you are doing. This will help reduce the chance of being the first person to be throttled.

However, while VPNs can help, they won’t prevent things like your ISP throttling the internet during peak hours.

 

Can VPNs Boost Speeds?

 

This is a bit of a complex question to answer with a simple yes or no. But VPNs can help you get closer to your promised internet speed if you are being throttled, meaning a VPN can “increase” your internet speed if you are being throttled.

However, VPNs do not have the ability to increase internet speeds directly; they can help mask your data from ISPs, leading to higher internet speeds since throttling might not occur.

It is also important to remember that since VPNs reroute encrypted data through remote servers and secure tunnels, they might have an effect on the speed of your internet connection. But this slight delay will be worth it if your internet is being throttled.

 

Best VPN Against ISP Throttling

 

There are a few factors to consider when choosing a VPN that offers significant support against unethical ISP throttling:

• Speed: Choose a VPN provider that offers fast and reliable servers with minimal reduction in your internet connection.
• Encryption: Choose a VPN provider with the latest and most robust encryption protocols.
• No-Log Policy: Choose a VPN that is transparent and honest about not keeping logs of your internet history and does not sell it to third parties.
• Multiple Servers: Choose a VPN that offers various servers in multiple locations.

 

 

How to Set Up a VPN to Prevent ISP Throttling

 

You can follow these simple tips for the best VPN setup:

1. VPN Provider: Choose the best VPN provider that offers great speed, security, and privacy.
2. Set Up: Go through the installation process for setting up your VPN on your devices.
3. Use Your VPN: Connect to the server that offers the best speed and use your VPN when doing large bandwidth activities, such as streaming, to prevent bandwidth throttling.

 

Is a VPN Necessary to Avoid ISP Throttling?

 

ISPs like to throttle internet speeds for activities such as streaming and gaming that use large amounts of bandwidth. This throttling usually happens in cases of data cap management, peak hours, traffic shaping, and “fast lane” contracts. ISPs are allowed to throttle your internet legally.

Using a VPN to disguise your IP address and online activities is very helpful in overcoming bandwidth throttling. This is the best way to combat and slightly improve ISP throttling.