Does Spectrum throttle your internet? A guide on how to stop spectrum from throttling.

With the advent of the digital age, a fast internet connection has become a downright necessity. More often than not, users get deprived of this right by internet throttling.

Imagine you are just at the climax of your favorite Netflix series and BOOM! There is that annoying little buffering loop. At this point, that is the symbol of pure misery. Have you ever wondered why? Among many others, bandwidth or internet throttling is one of the reasons. The question is: Why do many internet service providers like Spectrum throttle your internet?

But before accusing our ISPs of such a heinous crime, let us understand what internet throttling is:

What is ISP throttling?

Your internet connection is managed by your ISP (Internet service provider). While ISPs aim to deliver fast-speed connections, that’s hardly the reality. Many internet service providers, such as Spectrum, utilize bandwidth throttling. 

In simpler words, whenever there is high bandwidth congestion, your ISP would deliberately slow down your internet. A VPN helps in such situations by masking activity and providing security.

The science behind internet throttling:

Let us consider an example of a freeway:  internet traffic bears an uncanny resemblance to traffic on a freeway. Assume there is a lot of traffic on this path today while your torrent file is also in the lane.

Since your ISP regulates the traffic, they must make sure it keeps moving.  So, they see your torrent file peacefully downloading and realize it is taking up a lot of space (bandwidth). Since the ISP would try to free up the bandwidth, your torrent file experiences a setback. That’s internet throttling.

Why is Spectrum throttling your internet anyway?

That is one great question. We are happy to report that your ISP does not have a personal grudge against you. Or even your favorite Netflix show for that matter. Spectrum, acquired by Charter Communications, is one of the top ISPs. It has more than 32 million subscribers. That sure is a lot of traffic.

 ISPs have to be the bad cop at times to regulate such massive numbers. Throttling your internet is a means for the greater good. Here are some reasons for Spectrum throttling: 

• Net neutrality principle (treating all customers equally).
• To prevent traffic congestion at peak hours.
• To free up bandwidth.
• To prevent downloads of large files.
• To increase network capacity.
• To handle exceeded data caps.

Is Spectrum throttling illegal?

To be fair, it is not illegal. An ISP, such as Spectrum, throttles the internet to provide better connections and regulate traffic on a larger scale. 

If our ISPs weren’t involved in the process with their zapping stick, perhaps a buffer loop is all we would see. Hence it is perfectly legal for Spectrum to throttle the internet to ensure stable connections for all.

How to check if Spectrum is throttling your internet?

It is necessary to know when you are getting throttled. If you are downloading massive torrents, you would probably be facing a slow internet connection. The reason is that streaming in HD and torrenting generally take up a lot of bandwidth. 

So next time, do the following to ensure that Spectrum is throttling your internet.

• Run speed tests: There are a lot of applications available for the purpose. It is highly recommended to run speed tests to check the speed of your connection a few times throughout the day. Spectrum is throttling your internet if you observe continuous fluctuations and slow connections.

• Perform internet health tests: This test is of high priority.  Various sites offer tests to verify the health of your network. Do so from a few different sources. If the results differ massively, that is a sign that Spectrum is throttling your internet.

• Check your internet plan: If you think that your connection speed is far less than what you paid for, look it up in your internet plan. If your suspicions are confirmed then Spectrum is throttling your internet.

Read More: Best VPN for Spectrum: Protect Your Privacy & Avoid Throttling

How to stop Spectrum from throttling your Internet?

VPN (Virtual Private Network):

A VPN is by far the best solution for ISP throttling. A VPN or virtual private network encrypts your data and hides your activity on the internet. It helps our cause to stop Spectrum throttling. An ISP might detect if you are running an internet health test. A VPN encrypts connections and prevents test manipulations so that Spectrum or any other ISP wouldn’t be able to throttle your connection. 

• A VPN secures your data.
• A VPN jumps in to save you against ISP or Spectrum throttling.
• If your ISP’s firewall fails, a VPN has multiple backup options to keep you secure.
• They allow you to surf sites otherwise impossible to connect.
• VPN helps to protect your identity on the internet.
• It prevents ISP throttling all while keeping you safe from hackers or spam.
• A VPN saves you from location-specific pricing discrimination.
• VPN prevents Spectrum from limiting your internet activity via encryption.
• Masks your IP to prevent IP-based web tracking.

Data limits/caps:

You can also verify your network cap or data limit. If you have exceeded your data cap, you can try the following to prevent Spectrum from throttling your internet.

• Upgrade your internet plan.
• Find a provider that does not implement data limitations.
• Buy more bandwidth.
• Try to limit your usage.

Does Spectrum block VPNs?

While some ISPs do that, Spectrum does not block your VPN. Thus, you can freely use a VPN to surf or stream without any limitations or fear of Spectrum throttling.

How to Install a VPN to stop Spectrum from throttling your internet?

As we have discussed, a VPN is the best solution out there against Spectrum throttling. With its security ensuring protocol and encryption techniques, A VPN helps you avoid ISP throttling with ease.

You can easily follow the guide to download and run the VPN of your choice to stop Spectrum from throttling your connection.

• Subscription: Get a subscription for a VPN by signing up for a pricing plan that works for you.
• Install VPN: Within the dashboard, enter the verification code for the VPN. Now download the application and install it on your system. 
• Sign Up: Enter credentials to sign up on the application.
• Connect to server: Select a server to connect to.

Now the fun begins. Connect to locations from around the globe for streaming, torrenting, or surfing without the fear of Spectrum throttling your internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal for ISP to throttle?

To be fair, it is not illegal. An ISP, such as Spectrum, throttles the internet to provide better connections and regulate traffic on a larger scale. 

Will a VPN stop throttling?

Yes! Using a VPN can potentially reduce throttling by hiding your internet activity from your ISP.

How to stop Spectrum from throttling my internet?

The best solution for ISP throttling is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that encrypts your data, hides your activity on the internet, and secures your connection from throttling by Spectrum or any other ISP. Additionally, you can also verify your data limit and try to stay within the limit to prevent throttling.