How to Prevent Bandwidth Throttling with a VPN

Imagine you’re in the middle of a compelling Netflix show and it suddenly starts buffering. This is because your ISP is throttling your internet. Internet throttling has become a common practice for ISPs lately. Watching popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime on HD, and 4K demands unlimited data consumption, and ISPs wouldn’t allow it because of specific reasons. 

However, if you’re a media consumer who’s always watching captivating shows such as Stranger Things, You, How to Get Away with Murder, Gilmore Girls, Virgin River, The House of Dragons, you can use the Fastest VPN to prevent ISP and bandwidth throttling.

Read more to find what bandwidth throttling actually is, what are the reasons for bandwidth throttle, and how to prevent bandwidth throttling with a VPN.

What is Bandwidth Throttling?

Bandwidth throttling is the act of limiting your data consumption, and slowing down your internet speed intentionally. ISPs do it to manage network traffic, and prevent congestion. ISPs throttle bandwidth to offer the same broadband speed to all the users, or punish the users for not paying the bill on time. Additionally, Internet Service Providers prioritize different forms of media, and offer fastest speed to the ones they consider more important or have affiliations with. 

What is the reason for Bandwidth Throttling?

ISPs throttle your internet for many reasons including; if you’ve run out of your monthly data limit, or have not paid your subscription fee. You can notice if you’re watching a high bandwidth consuming movie, or playing a game on 4K; you will witness buffering more than usual. 

If you’re streaming Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video, your ISP will throttle your data more than usual because of the contracts they have signed up with Hulu, or Max. Contacting your ISP would do nothing but leave you with an old excuse saying that networks are crowded with the hefty traffic so you need to be patient for a while. 

Nevertheless, there are effective ways to prevent ISP throttling and enjoy games, shows, or sports without compromising your bandwidth.

How to Get Rid of Bandwidth Throttling by Using a VPN

You can connect to a VPN which encrypts your data and masks your IP address to prevent you from bandwidth throttling. Here’s is how to get rid of bandwidth throttling by using a VPN:

1. Choose a reputable VPN provider. There are many VPN providers available, but not all of them are created equal. Some VPN providers may throttle your speeds themselves, so it’s important to choose a provider that is known for its speed and reliability.
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device. Once you’ve chosen a VPN provider, download and install the VPN app on your device. VPN apps are available for all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
3. Create an account with the VPN provider and sign in. Once you’ve installed the VPN app, you’ll need to create an account with the VPN provider and sign in. This will give you access to the VPN’s servers.
4. Connect to a VPN server. Once you’re signed in, you can connect to a VPN server. VPN servers are located all over the world, so you can choose a server that is close to your location for the best possible speeds.
5. Once you’re connected to a VPN server, your traffic will be encrypted and routed through the VPN’s tunnel. This will hide your IP address and make it impossible for your ISP to throttle your bandwidth.
6. To enjoy unlimited bandwidth, simply keep your VPN connection active at all times.

How to Prevent Bandwidth Throttling Using a VPN?

Using a VPN is the most effective way to beat ISP and bandwidth throttling. A VPN encrypts your data and route it through a secure VPN tunnel which is disguised from the eyes of the ISPs. That said, when your ISP cannot see where your web traffic is going, he cannot monitor your web activities, neither can he see what type of content you are watching or playing.

Once you connect to a VPN server, it disguises your IP address, and your ISP can only see you’re using a VPN. Hence, he cannot inspect the kind of content you’re consuming since a VPN disguises it. Additionally, a VPN also protects your data from snooping third-parties.

How to find out if your ISP is Throttling Your Internet

To check if your ISP is throttling your internet, you can use online tools like speed tests to measure your internet speed at different times. Consistent, significant drops in speed, especially during specific activities or times of day, may indicate throttling. 

Additionally, using a VPN can sometimes bypass throttling, providing a comparison of speeds with and without it. Keep in mind that network congestion and other factors can also influence speed variations.

How Does a VPN helps in Preventing Bandwidth Throttling

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help prevent bandwidth throttling by encrypting your internet traffic and making it more difficult for your ISP to monitor or control specific types of data. Throttling often targets certain types of content or online activities, such as streaming or file sharing.

When you use a VPN, your ISP can see that you’re connected to a server, but they can’t easily distinguish the specific sites or services you’re accessing. This can make it challenging for them to selectively throttle your connection based on your online activities. However, it’s important to note that using a VPN may not always guarantee complete prevention of throttling, as ISPs may employ more sophisticated methods.

Keep in mind that while a VPN can be effective in some cases, it may introduce other factors that impact your speed, such as the distance to the VPN server and the server’s own capabilities. 

Bottom Line

In conclusion, utilizing a VPN serves as a practical strategy to avoid bandwidth throttling by encrypting internet traffic and rendering it challenging for ISPs to selectively target specific online activities. While not foolproof, a VPN enhances online privacy and security while offering a potential means to counteract ISP-imposed speed restrictions and maintain a more consistent and unrestricted internet experience. VPN will help you too unblock any streaming channel like Hulu.