Internet congestion explained
Just like road traffic, internet congestions happens when too many people are using the same connection. Only so much internet data can be transferred at one time, and things get slower when there's congestion.
Here's what you need to know about the different types of internet congestion and some tips to avoid it.
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Network congestion
Network congestion is temporary, and it depends on the current usage of the entire network. When we say 'network', this can mean any part of the physical network infrastruture that connects the internet outside your house, across Australia, and worldwide.
Sometimes network congestion can be a result of an outage or planned maintenance on this infrastructure. Websites like Is It Down Right Now? will help you check. If you're particularly tech-savvy, running a traceroute can show you which servers are running slow.
You're most likely to have experience network congestion in the evenings, when everyone is more likely to be at home and using their internet.
Network congestion isn't a 'you' problem and one person's usage can't make or break a whole network in terms of congestion, so don't worry too much about how you use your internet service. We're always working to improve performance on parts of the network that are within our control.
Local congestion
Local congestion is all about the connections between your devices and your modem.
If too many devices are apps are running at the same time, there may not be enough internet speed (or bandwidth) to go around. Think of bandwidth like a pizza - if you cut it in half, the slices are massive. If you cut it into ten slices, the slices are little.
Note: Realistically, the size of the pizza slices will vary depending on the abilities of the connected device or the type of app its running, but you get the idea.
If you're worried about local congestion, try these tips:
- Try to schedule big downloads or game patches to run overnight or anytime you're not using your internet for other stuff.
- Close any unnecessary background apps and turn off any internet-connected devices you're not using.
- Check our website or give us a call to see if there's a faster internet plan or a faster type of interent service available at your address.