What Causes Slow Download and Upload Speeds?

Slow upload and download speeds are all too common of a problem and can hamper both business and personal operations. This can be a frustration that keeps you from doing everyday tasks at home and at work.

Today, people expect to be able to send and receive whatever they would like from any device. And now, more and more downloads and uploads are happening via cellular connections. 

There can be many reasons for slow download and upload speeds on both desktop and mobile devices, and Wilson has identified some of the most common culprits. 

Slow Internet Speed

There are many causes of slow Internet speeds. Some of the most common include: 

1. The age of your computer. Many older devices lack the memory to achieve the best download and upload speeds, even when the Internet connection and service are strong and robust. 
2. Connection to the website/browser you're using. The speeds you can achieve when downloading or uploading documents, files or photos are affected by the distance from your computer to a website, as well as the path, speed and capacity of the website's connection to your own network.
3. Website traffic. Popular websites may be the most difficult when it comes to achieving higher speeds. Often, this isn't even a problem with your connection, but the result of an overloaded website. 
4. Viruses. If there are viruses or unnecessary software running in the background on your device, it can reduce processing power as well as the speed available for sending and receiving data across the Internet. 
5. Software. When is the last time you updated your computer or phone's operating system and other software? If you're running an older operating system, you may not achieve the highest speeds when downloading or uploading. 

Signal Obstruction

For both desktop and mobile connectivity alike, it makes a difference where the cellular signal is coming from. If you're in your home on your desktop or laptop computer, where is your router or WiFi gateway located? If you're using your cellular phone anywhere, where is the nearest signal originating? 

It's important to understand that most common building materials are notorious cellular signal blockers. When a signal is obstructed, it can certainly impact upload and download speeds on your mobile devices. Concrete, brick and LEED-certified windows can all cause obstructions to the strong signal that enables fast connectivity and speed. 

What You Can Do

If your business or residential space is plagued by slow upload/download speeds, a cell signal booster can provide significant improvement. Cell signal boosters use a passive distributed antenna system - or passive DAS - to bring strong, unimpeded outdoor cell signal indoors where you need it. Using a passive DAS booster, the strong signal is amplified and broadcast throughout your indoor space. 

The number of antennas and amplifiers needed to increase upload and download speeds will depend on the size of the interior space and the materials obstructing the signal. Wilson offers a variety of cell signal boosters to help you improve your upload and download speeds.

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