When your connection feels sluggish, it's easy to assume your broadband provider is to blame. But in many cases, the line coming into your building is fine, it's the Wi-Fi inside that's slowing things down.
Wi-Fi and broadband aren’t the same thing.
Your broadband service delivers a fixed speed to your router, but Wi-Fi is what carries that connection to your devices, and that’s where performance often drops.
A lot of people confuse Wi-Fi speed with internet speed, but they’re very different things.
Imagine your broadband connection as a motorway with a 500 Mbps speed limit. That’s the maximum speed your provider delivers to your router.
Once the signal goes wireless, every device on your network becomes a different vehicle sharing that same road. Some can hit top speed; others simply can’t.
Older laptops, phones, and tablets might only manage 100 Mbps, while newer ones can go much faster.
And if your Wi-Fi access point or router isn’t built to handle those higher speeds, it creates a bottleneck, slowing everything on your network down, even the fastest of devices.
A common reason for slow Wi-Fi is simply old hardware.
Wi-Fi technology moves fast. The latest standard, Wi-Fi 7, is faster than most broadband connections could ever use, but as of 2025, very few devices support it.
Most people are still using Wi-Fi 5, and some routers are even older.
If your router only supports an older standard, it limits every device connected to it. Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 is a cost-effective fix. It offers better speeds, longer range, and handles more devices at once. In the real world, Wi-Fi 6 can often reach close to one gigabit per second which is more than enough for most businesses.
And for devices where reliability matters most (think servers, workstations or laptops) plug in a cable. A wired Ethernet connection removes wireless interference entirely and gives you the full speed of your line.
Even with good equipment, Wi-Fi has to share the air with a lot of noise.
Most routers use two frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band travels further but is crowded with other signals such as Bluetooth gadgets, microwaves, baby monitors, even your neighbours’ routers.
In flats and busy offices, those overlapping networks compete for the same few channels. That means slower speeds, higher latency, and random drop-outs.
You can often fix this by opening your router’s settings and switching to a less congested channel. Use the 5 GHz band for devices that need speed and stability; it’s faster and cleaner, though it doesn’t travel as far through walls.
The key is finding the right balance between range and reliability.
Wi-Fi signals don’t like solid materials. Concrete, brick, metal, and mirrored glass all block or weaken them. Even water, such as underfloor heating or a large fish tank, can absorb signal strength.
If you have weak spots or dead zones, try moving the router to a more central, elevated location away from walls and electrical appliances.
Larger properties or multi-floor buildings often need additional access points or a mesh Wi-Fi system to give consistent coverage.
If you’re still struggling, a Wi-Fi heatmap survey can show exactly where your signal drops and where new access points should go. It’s a simple, practical way to make sure your coverage matches the space you actually use.
Every device on your network shares the same wireless bandwidth, including phones, laptops, TVs, printers, security cameras, even smart speakers.
When several are streaming, downloading, or on video calls at the same time, everyone’s experience slows down.
Modern routers handle this better using features like MU-MIMO and OFDMA, which let them talk to multiple devices simultaneously.
If yours doesn’t support these, an upgrade will often make a noticeable difference without changing your broadband plan.
A quick test can show whether the issue is Wi-Fi or broadband.
Connect a computer directly to your router with an Ethernet cable and run a speed test.
Then run the same test over Wi-Fi from the same device.
If the wired test is fast but the wireless one is slow, your broadband line is fine and the bottleneck is your Wi-Fi.
If both are slow, it’s worth talking to your provider or running further diagnostics.
Fast broadband doesn’t guarantee fast Wi-Fi. Your router, your building, and even the devices you use all play a part in how your connection feels day to day.
Upgrading older equipment, managing interference, improving coverage, and wiring in key devices can all make a huge difference — often without touching your broadband contract.
A stable, well-planned Wi-Fi network lets your internet connection perform the way it should. Fix the wireless side, and you’ll feel the speed you’ve been paying for.
For more information, visit our Managed Networks page or contact us with your questions.
