Why Your Internet Feel Fast Until it Doesn’t

And what you can do about it (without throwing your laptop out the window).

We’ve all been there. Your internet feels fast: Instagram loads instantly, YouTube’s crisp, even your Takealot shopping sprees run smooth. But the second you try to jump on a video call or connect to your office system remotely… everything dies.

Suddenly, your screen freezes mid-sentence. You’re “breaking up.” That important file won’t sync. You’re ready to toss your laptop, and your router, out the window. Here’s the thing: it’s probably not your internet speed. It’s (usually) how your internet is being used.

1. Not All Internet Is Equal

Speed tests are like car speedometers. They tell you how fast you can go, once. But they don’t tell you how your car handles traffic, potholes, or a long road trip with kids screaming in the back. Your internet might be rated at 100Mbps, but if half the office (or household) is streaming, backing up files, syncing cloud storage, and watching cat videos, your line’s doing overtime.

2. Upload vs Download

Most connections are asymmetrical, meaning that you get way more download speed than upload. That’s fine for Netflix. But video calls? Upload-heavy. Sending files? Upload. Cloud apps? You guessed it: upload. If your upload speed sucks, your Teams call will too.

3. WiFi Is Only as Strong as Its Weakest Point

You might have a fibre connection, but if your router’s in the next room behind a fridge and two concrete walls, your device is crawling. And no, a range extender usually doesn’t help, it just spreads the slowness. Dead zones (areas where you’re walking around, phone in the air, trying to find any WiFi) can happen. In these situations, looking at the deployment and design, and adding Access Points is usually the solution.

If you can afford it, Mesh WiFi or professionally placed access points can really make a difference in overall connection quality.

4. Smart Devices

Security cameras, “smart” TVs, even your fridge can be chatting to the cloud non-stop. If they’re on the same network, they’re competing with your work traffic. Prioritize work devices. Segment traffic. Or just unplug the smart kettle.

5. What can I do?

Use a wired connection for important calls if you can. It’s not glamorous, but it’s solid. Schedule heavy syncs and backups after hours. Talk to your IT guys (hi!) about better Wi-Fi setups if you’re struggling at home or the office. Consider upgrading your router if it’s old, as newer models can significantly enhance your internet speed and reliability.

TL; DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)

Fast internet doesn’t mean reliable internet. And when it matters, like during a call with your biggest client or trying to hit a deadline, that reliability is everything. Still struggling? That’s what we’re here for. Stop the endless buffering.

Richard