A lot of technology sits between you and the internet content you desire.
Consider it a chain of links, with each link responsible for some component of performance. There are some links in the chain you can't do much about, but others you can strengthen and improve to put you in the optimal position for better broadband performance.
Research shows some links are more likely to affect your broadband experience than others. There are four key areas where some simple steps may improve your broadband speed:
Get a faster connection Upgrading your broadband connection is the quickest way to a better internet experience and 60% of New Zealand homes and businesses have a better broadband option available to them they aren't utilising.
Fibre is your best choice, with the 100 Mpbs+ plans delivering best performance. But if fibre isn't yet an option for you, VDSL is next in line, delivering an immediate speed increase from an ADSL option. Visit the Chorus website to see what your connection options are.
Update and tweak your home network Your home network links the point where the internet enters your home with your device. A fixed network using cables will give you the fastest speeds and the greatest reliability, but it's not flexible and that's why most choose a wireless home network.
Your Wi-Fi is controlled by your router, which can vary in speed, the latest are 100 times faster than models that were produced in 2014 or prior.
Wi-Fi signals travel a limited distance. They can't pass through some materials, so you may find the performance varies in different parts of your house. In some cases other electronic devices, especially cordless phones and microwave ovens, can interfere with Wi-Fi.
If you don't get all the speed you expect, try moving the Wi-Fi router to another position.
Check your devices The device you are connecting to the internet on can have a huge impact on broadband performance. The average PC in New Zealand is more than three years old and aged product can struggle to keep up with large amounts of incoming data.
Even the best devices can only do so much. You may see poor online performance if you've got a lot of apps running on the same device at the same time.
You may be able to get a better internet experience simply by updating your browser to a new version. If that doesn't work try switching to Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Also check that you don't have lots of browser extensions installed, these can slow your connection.
Find the right service provider While, on the surface, they offer similar plans at similar prices, there is a variation in the performance of New Zealand internet service providers. Different service providers make different investment decisions about backhaul, handover, routing and peering. These are all to do with how your connection travels from the local exchange or cabinet to the rest of the internet.
There are ways to find out which service providers do the best job. TrueNet, the independent broadband measurement service, makes regular comparisons of major service providers. It also provides data used by the Commerce Commission to monitor performance.
This article was provided by Chorus.
