Busting the Myth: Why Higher Mbps Doesn’t Always Mean Faster Browsing
High Mbps doesn’t always translate to a smooth internet experience. There are several other factors that play a bigger role
It is more common that people end up upgrading their internet plans after experiencing slow internet connection. They upgrade their internet plan from 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps, expecting a blazing-fast experience. No more buffering, no more lag—just smooth, uninterrupted browsing. But then reality hits. Zoom calls still freeze. YouTube videos still buffer. Downloads don’t feel any faster. Frustrated, one wonders: Wasn’t higher Mbps supposed to fix all this?
This is one of the most common internet myths. Many people believe that higher Mbps (megabits per second) automatically means faster browsing, but that’s only part of the story. In reality, several hidden factors determine how fast (or slow) your internet is.
If you’ve ever wondered why your internet still lags despite having a high-speed plan, here are the real reasons behind slow browsing and what you can do to fix it.
Understanding Mbps vs. Browsing Speed
Mbps measures bandwidth, or how much data can be transmitted at once. Think of it as a highway: More Mbps means more lanes for data to travel through, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the cars (your data packets) will move faster.
Now several factors beyond Mbps influence real browsing speed. For instance, latency and ping determine how quickly data travels between your device and a server — high latency can lead to delays, especially during gaming and video calls. Network congestion is another culprit; if multiple users in your home or neighborhood are consuming bandwidth simultaneously, it can slow down your connection. Router performance also plays a crucial role — an outdated router or poor placement can create bottlenecks, weakening signal strength and reducing efficiency. Additionally, DNS and server response time can impact browsing speed; sometimes, the slowdown isn’t due to your internet but rather the websites or services you’re trying to access, as overloaded or slow servers can cause frustrating delays.
Why More Mbps Doesn’t Always Solve the Problem
Imagine you’re on a six-lane highway, but there’s a traffic jam ahead. Even though you have multiple lanes, you’re still moving slowly. Similarly, increasing your Mbps won’t help if other internet factors are causing slowdowns.
Common mistakes users make include upgrading Mbps without optimizing router placement or upgrading to a better router, not considering latency and network congestion, which impact browsing more than raw Mbps, and using an overloaded Wi-Fi network instead of a wired connection for critical tasks.
The Real Solution: How to Ensure a Faster Browsing Experience
Instead of blindly upgrading your Mbps, focus on these key optimizations to truly enhance your internet experience:
Upgrade Your Router
Many internets speed issues stem from outdated routers or poor Wi-Fi coverage. If your router is several years old, it may not support the latest Wi-Fi standards, leading to slower speeds and weaker signals. Upgrading to a modern router with Wi-Fi 6 can significantly improve performance and you can get increased speeds, better coverage and improved efficiency.
Switch to a Mesh Wi-Fi System for Better Coverage
For larger homes or offices, Wi-Fi signals can weaken significantly as they travel further from the router, leading to dead zones where internet connectivity is unreliable due to poor Wi-Fi signal range. Walls, furniture, and even appliances can obstruct Wi-Fi signals, further hindering coverage. To overcome these challenges, mesh Wi-Fi systems utilize a network of interconnected nodes or extenders strategically placed throughout the home and strong connectivity in every room. As you move around your home or office, your devices automatically switch between nodes, maintaining a consistent and uninterrupted connection. This eliminates dead zones and provides reliable Wi-Fi access for all your devices, regardless of their location.
Use a LAN cable for Latency-Sensitive Tasks Like Gaming and Video Calls
A wired Ethernet connection (LAN) offers a more stable and consistent internet connection, eliminating lag and reducing packet loss. If possible, connect critical devices like gaming consoles, smart TVs, or work laptops directly to the router via Ethernet for the best performance. While Wi-Fi is convenient, it’s prone to interference from Microwave, Cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, or any electronic devices using wireless technologies, and other networks. This can result in high latency, which is especially problematic for activities like online gaming, video conferencing, and live streaming.
Reduce Background Network Activity by Managing Bandwidth-Heavy Apps Running in the Background
If your connection feels slow, check what’s running in the background. Apps like cloud backups, auto-updates, video streaming, and large file downloads can quietly consume bandwidth, slowing down your primary activities. You can use tools like Wi-Fi analyzer which help with your network diagnostics You can also go to settings on your router to prioritize devices. Also, disable unnecessary background applications and downloads to free up bandwidth for real-time usage. Router vendor app
Check Your ISP’s Quality—Low-Latency Providers with Strong Peering Agreements Provide a Better Browsing Experience
Not all ISPs are equal when it comes to speed and reliability. Some providers offer high Mbps but suffer poor quality of experience, leading to buffering or slow browsing issues even through VPN. Ideally, your latency should be somewhere between 20-40 millisecond. In today’s time ACT Fibernet is provides latency of approx. 10 milliseconds.
Research your ISP’s latency, uptime, and network peering agreements—a provider with strong infrastructure and innovative technology can offer a noticeably smoother browsing experience, even at the same Mbps level.
Conclusion: Busting the Myth
Higher Mbps doesn’t always mean faster browsing. While good speed is important, factors like latency, network congestion, and router performance play a bigger role in your actual experience. So before upgrading your internet plan, diagnose what’s really slowing down your connection. A smarter approach to your network setup can save you money—and frustration.
(The views expressed in this article are by – Mr. Naveen Nahar, Vice President of Marketing, ACT. Technuter.com doesn’t own any responsibility for it.)
