Your internet is slow, your video calls are choppy, and streaming keeps buffering — but you’re not sure what the actual problem is. Is your plan outdated? Is your router the issue? Or are you just expecting too much?
It’s a common dilemma. Many people assume that if the connection isn’t working well, they need to upgrade their internet plan. But often, the router — not the speed — is the real problem. Before you start calling your provider, ask yourself: Is 200 mbps fast enough for what you do online, or is your home setup simply not keeping up?
Here’s how to tell whether it’s time to pay for faster speeds, or whether a few simple tweaks could solve everything.
First: What Are You Actually Paying For?
Let’s start with the basics. Check your current internet plan:
- What’s your advertised download and upload speed?
- Is your plan NBN, cable, fibre, or something else?
- Does your provider show “typical evening speeds”?
Now, run a speed test using a wired (Ethernet) connection if possible — not Wi-Fi. This gives you the best baseline for your actual connection, without interference from your home network.
If the test results are significantly below what you’re paying for, your first call should be to your provider. But if your speeds seem fine on paper and still feel slow day to day, the issue may be your equipment — not your plan.
When It’s Probably the Router
Even with a solid internet plan, poor performance is almost guaranteed if your router can’t handle modern demands.
Signs your router may be the issue:
- Wi-Fi signal drops in certain rooms
- Speeds are fast near the router but terrible elsewhere
- Devices disconnect randomly or struggle to load content
- Your router is more than 4–5 years old
Old routers often don’t support newer Wi-Fi standards (like Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6), which limits how many devices they can manage effectively. And if you live in a large or double-storey home, even a decent router may not cover the whole area well.
Signs You Might Actually Need Faster Internet
That said, sometimes you’ve simply outgrown your plan. This is more likely if:
- Your household has 3+ people using the internet heavily at once
- You work from home with frequent video calls or cloud syncing
- You game online or stream in HD/4K across multiple devices
- Speeds drop significantly during peak evening hours
If your current plan is under 50 Mbps and you’re trying to do all of the above, upgrading might genuinely improve your experience — especially if you’re stuck with frequent buffering or download delays.
Don’t Forget Upload Speed
Download speed gets all the attention, but upload speed matters more than most people think — especially if you:
- Send large files or emails regularly
- Back up photos or documents to the cloud
- Work remotely using video conferencing
- Livestream or game competitively
Even some “high-speed” plans only offer 5–10 Mbps upload speeds, which can cause lag or dropped connections during calls. Before switching plans, make sure you’re checking upload performance too.
How to Troubleshoot Before Upgrading
Before spending money on a new plan, run through this checklist:
Reboot Your Router
It sounds basic, but restarting your router once a week can fix temporary glitches.
Move Your Router
Place it in a central, open location. Avoid cupboards, corners, or near appliances like microwaves.
Use a Wired Connection
For critical tasks (like work or gaming), plug in directly with Ethernet whenever possible.
Check for Interference
Walls, metal, and other electronics can affect Wi-Fi. Try changing the channel or frequency band in your router settings.
Limit Background Usage
Cloud syncing, software updates, and idle smart devices can chew through bandwidth. Disable or schedule them outside peak hours.
Upgrade Your Router
If it’s old or budget-tier, upgrading to a modern dual-band or mesh router may solve your problems without touching your internet plan.
Final Tip: Monitor Real-World Usage
Ask yourself:
- Are your devices getting consistent speeds?
- Does the internet lag only during certain times or in certain spots?
- Do problems happen even when no one else is using it?
If your connection is inconsistent across the board — not just slow — it’s likely a hardware or coverage issue. But if everything slows down during high-demand periods or you’re constantly hitting usage limits, your plan may be too basic for your household needs.
The Bottom Line
You don’t always need to throw money at a faster internet plan. Often, a better router (or better placement of it) can deliver the reliable speeds you were promised in the first place.
But if your plan is genuinely too slow for how you live and work, don’t be afraid to upgrade. The key is knowing where the real bottleneck is — and now, you’ve got the tools to figure it out.