
YouTube’s minimum requirement for 4K streaming is a 20 Mbps connection.
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It should come as no surprise, as many streaming services specify a minimum speed of 5 Mbps to watch 1080p online video. This connection handles 1080p 60fps streaming on YouTube with no buffering.

MyBroadband tested a Cell C data SIM in a Huawei B618 router with an Ethernet connection to ensure the best possible speed.Ĭonsecutive speed tests gave us an average download speed of 9.69 Mbps, an average upload speed of 3.95 Mbps, and latency of 27.8 milliseconds.
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However, many ISPs still implement some form of shaping to manage the quality of service on their networks, especially on resource-constrained connections like LTE and 5G.Ī typical example is Rain 5G limiting streaming services to 720p or 1080p on some of its cheaper products.

With the advent of fibre-to-the-home, many ISPs started selling unthrottled and unshaped broadband services. Throttling is when an Internet service provider (ISP) limits data speeds below a connection’s advertised maximum to manage how much bandwidth users consume.Ī less restrictive form of throttling is “shaping”, which limits speeds over specific protocols or websites.Īggressive shaping used to be common, especially on peer-to-peer downloads like BitTorrent. Learn more about other topics related to internet freedom.MyBroadband received complaints from Cell C subscribers that they are throttled when streaming videos on YouTube, but our investigation showed no evidence of throttling. Lack of competition among ISPs and broadband providers means that companies can even get away with overcharging customers for faster internet. Some ISPs have forced Netflix to pay a fee to escape throttling, allowing the ISP to avoid paying for much-needed upgrades. Some ISPs already have the capability to handle the extra data but choose to throttle content providers’ traffic because it competes with their own streaming content libraries. If your internet speed improves with the use of a VPN, there's a good chance your ISP is throttling your internet connection. A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your internet traffic, shielding your online activity from your service provider. The best way to know if your internet speed is being throttled is by running an internet speed test-with and without a VPN.
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How to tell if your internet is being throttled

Finally, ISPs in countries with heavy censorship throttle on some sites to frustrate users, discouraging them from visiting that content without outright blocking it. And during periods of network congestion, ISPs might throttle connections to balance their network speeds, helping as many users as possible get decent service. Streaming sites use a lot of bandwidth, so ISPs tend to start throttling when they notice you streaming. If you’ve used a certain amount of data in a certain period of time, your ISP might start throttling your connection so you’ll use less data. There are several reasons for ISP throttling. ISPs claim this is to reduce congestion on their networks, but the truth is more complicated. With the rise of streaming video services like Netflix, HBO Max, and even YouTube that demand high bandwidth, ISPs have begun inspecting your data and restricting your download speed if they detect packets from those services. Throttling is when an internet service provider (ISP) intentionally slows down your internet based on what you’re trying to do online.
