Have you noticed your internet crawling during video calls or grinding to a halt while uploading files? Your connection may not be the problem – it could be your internet service provider (ISP). ISP throttling is a common but frustrating issue that can impact your business's productivity, efficiency, and bottom line. But what exactly is throttling, and how can you detect and fix it?
In this blog, we’ll break down what ISP throttling is, how to run an internet throttling test, and, most importantly, how you can stop ISP throttling from affecting your business operations.
ISP throttling happens when your internet provider intentionally slows down your connection. It’s a technique ISPs use to manage network traffic, usually during peak hours or when users exceed certain data thresholds.
Throttling isn’t always malicious. Sometimes, ISPs do it to prevent network overload. But for businesses that rely on consistent, high-speed internet for cloud apps, video conferencing, or large file transfers, throttling can be a major disruption.
Internet throttling essentially means a reduction in speed that targets specific types of internet traffic. For example, you might experience slower speeds when streaming or downloading large files, while regular browsing feels unaffected.
There are several reasons why ISPs throttle connections, including:
For your business, this can mean unreliable access to essential services, poor VoIP quality, and long wait times for file uploads or downloads.
Before you can stop throttling, you need to know it's happening. Luckily, there are a few easy steps you can follow to perform an internet throttling test and identify slowdowns.
Start with a basic speed test using a popular tool like Speedtest.net or Fast.com, which will give you a snapshot of your current upload and download speeds. Make sure to run the test multiple times throughout the day to check for inconsistencies.
Next, connect to a virtual private network (VPN) and run the speed test again. If your internet performs faster while using the VPN, your ISP is likely throttling your connection based on content or destination.
If specific services like cloud backups feel slow, test them individually. Try downloading a large file or streaming a video through a VPN and without one. A noticeable difference in performance could mean your ISP is throttling specific types of content.
Use network monitoring tools to track your organization’s internal bandwidth usage. This can help confirm that the slowdown isn’t coming from your own devices or network configuration.
Once you’ve confirmed that ISP throttling is happening, there are a few ways you can reduce its impact or eliminate it altogether. Here are our top tips:
Many ISPs offer business internet packages that come with higher speeds, priority support, and no throttling clauses. These are specifically designed to meet the demands of commercial operations and often include SLAs for uptime and performance.
If your current provider is throttling traffic or enforcing data caps, upgrading to a business plan may solve the issue.
A VPN encrypts your internet activity and hides the type of traffic you’re sending or receiving. Since your ISP can’t see what you’re doing, it’s less likely to throttle specific types of content.
While helpful for combating throttling, VPNs come with a few caveats:
For businesses, a commercial-grade VPN with strong privacy policies is best. Unlike consumer VPNs, commercial-grade options typically offer dedicated IP addresses, advanced encryption protocols, and higher connection limits for multiple employees.
Even without ISP throttling, internal bandwidth congestion can mimic the symptoms. If multiple employees back up data or run large downloads at the same time, your available bandwidth can be maxed out.
Traffic management tools can help you:
These tools won’t stop throttling from the ISP, but they can help your teams optimize your internal network for performance.
If you suspect throttling and have data to back it up, reach out to your ISP. Some providers may lift restrictions if you negotiate a better plan or point out inconsistencies in service quality.
Keep in mind that not all ISPs will admit to throttling, and some may have it written into their terms of service.
Learning how to fix ISP throttling permanently usually comes down to choosing the right internet provider. Not all ISPs use throttling equally, and some may be more transparent about their policies.
Here are some long-term strategies you can follow to avoid throttling:
If your organization relies on fast, stable internet connections every day, putting your resources into quality infrastructure and partnering with a provider who understands your needs will save you countless headaches down the road.
Whether you run a small office or a growing enterprise, slow speeds caused by ISP throttling cost your business valuable time and money. From laggy video calls to slow file uploads, even minor delays add up quickly, especially if you’re in an industry that depends on real-time collaboration, cloud tools, or high-volume data transfers.
At Fatbeam, we deliver high-speed connectivity that never lets you down. Our business fiber services come with guaranteed speeds, 99.99% network availability, and zero throttling – so you can trust your connection to be there when you need it.
Tired of slowdowns throwing off your workday? We’re here to help. Contact the Fatbeam team today to learn more about how our suite of services can keep your business performing optimally.