That’s not to say all ISPs provide the same connection speeds and overall connection quality. When you see Internet speeds advertised by an ISP, they are describing the maximum speeds you can expect to receive when connecting to the ISP, not the speed between your device and the Internet.Īs we previously discussed, the method of access the Internet has the greatest influence over Internet speeds, so ultimately the speeds you receive will be limited by the connection method used within your home, more than the ISP you are subscribed to. Instead of connecting directly to the Internet, you first connect to your ISP using one of the access methods described above, who then connect you to the Internet.
The method used to access the Internet has probably the greatest influence on the Internet speeds you can expect to receive.Įxamples of access methods include 3G, 4G, or 5G, mobile hotspots, modem or dial-up broadband, cable, satellite, DSL (digital subscriber line) and fiber.Ī fiber-based connection is going to offer considerably faster download and upload speeds in comparison to a 4G connection on your smartphone. There are several factors that can influence your internet speeds:
