Understanding Internet Speeds: What’s Delivered vs. What You Experience
Internet service providers (ISPs) promise specific speeds with their plans — you might have noticed them listed on the new "Consumer Broadband Labels" that ISPs are now required to display. These numbers represent the speeds you should be getting, at least in theory. But for many users, the connection they experience might tell a different story. Maybe your video calls keep freezing, your game is lagging, or web pages are loading at a crawl. Even when you run a Speedtest®, you might notice your results don’t match the speeds you’re paying for.
This disconnect between promised and actual performance isn’t uncommon, and understanding why this gap exists is key to optimizing your internet experience. The reality is that internet performance has two distinct aspects: what your provider delivers to your home, and what you actually experience on your devices. At Ookla, we’re uniquely positioned to measure both sides of this equation — from the point your internet service connects to your home to the actual speeds you experience during real-world usage.
In this article, we’ll explore why these numbers can differ, examine the crucial role of your gateway — the device that brings internet service into your home — and break down the factors that can affect your actual internet experience. You can also download our full infographic to dig deeper into the journey from promised speeds to those actually experienced by users.
The Gateway: Where Internet Service Enters the Home
The gateway is a critical point in your internet setup — it’s where an ISP’s network ends and your home network begins. Typically, it’s a modem or modem/router combination device that serves as the entry point for internet service.
Think of it as the foundation of a home network — everything that happens after this point, from Wi-Fi connections to how your devices perform, starts with the quality of service at this handoff. That’s why measuring performance at the gateway is so critical; it helps establish a clear baseline of the service that ISPs are actually delivering to homes, separate from the various factors that might affect performance once the signal enters a home network.
As we’ll explore in the next section, numerous factors can impact the user experience after the gateway, which is why understanding gateway performance is just one part of the story.
From the Gateway to the Consumer’s Device: Why Experiences May Vary
Once internet service passes through the gateway, several factors can affect the speeds users actually experience on their devices. While an ISP might be delivering the speeds to the gateway that it promises on its Consumer Broadband Labels, the journey from that point to a user’s device can introduce various challenges that impact performance. Let’s look at some of the key factors that can affect internet performance beyond the gateway:
Equipment Age & Capabilities
The age and capabilities of your networking equipment - from routers to phones, tablets, and laptops - can significantly impact your internet performance. While older Wi-Fi routers might have been perfect for streaming Netflix a few years ago, they may struggle with today’s higher-speed internet plans. For example, if you’re paying for a 500 Mbps connection but using an older router that only supports speeds up to 100 Mbps, you’ll never experience your plan’s full potential.
Network Equipment Type
Your home network setup can use different types of equipment — from a simple router to more complex combinations of modems, routers, range extenders, and ethernet switches. Each has its benefits and limitations. Mesh Wi-Fi systems, for example, are excellent for extending coverage throughout your home, but they can sometimes impact speed. Conversely, a traditional router with ethernet connections might offer faster speeds but with more limited wireless coverage area.
Router Location
Router placement is crucial for optimal Wi-Fi performance. Walls, especially those containing metal or concrete, can significantly weaken Wi-Fi signals. Even everyday items like large mirrors or metal filing cabinets can create dead zones. The further you move from your router, the weaker your connection becomes — similar to how a radio signal fades as you drive farther away from the station.
Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet
While Wi-Fi is convenient and essential for mobile devices, a wired ethernet connection typically provides the most reliable and fastest speeds. However, many modern devices like smartphones and tablets only support Wi-Fi connections. Even laptops are increasingly shipping without ethernet ports, making Wi-Fi the primary way most users connect to the internet.
RF Interference
Modern homes are filled with devices that can interfere with Wi-Fi signals. Microwave ovens operate on frequencies similar to Wi-Fi and can temporarily disrupt your connection. Baby monitors, cordless phones, and even Bluetooth devices can create interference. Even your neighbor’s Wi-Fi network can impact your performance if you’re both using overlapping or adjacent wireless channels.
Speed Matters: Making the Most of Your Internet Connection
Understanding the path your internet takes — from your ISP to the gateway to your device — helps explain why experienced internet performance might not always match the speeds promised on a provider’s Consumer Broadband Label. While ISPs might be delivering promised speeds to the gateway, the real-world experience on devices can vary significantly beyond the gateway in a home, based on equipment, connection type, router location, and potential interference sources.
At Ookla, we sit at the intersection between the service providers tasked with designing and optimizing networks and the consumers that make use of those networks every day. Our unique position allows us to see both what providers deliver to the gateway and what users actually experience on their devices. This comprehensive view of internet performance helps both providers and users make more informed decisions about service optimization and consumption.
If your Speedtest results show you’re not getting the speeds you pay for, try placing your router in a central location away from any sources of interference, while also making sure your equipment can handle your plan’s speeds. Some ISPs and mesh Wi-Fi systems even allow you to run speed tests directly from your gateway, which can help isolate whether speed issues are occurring before or after that point.
For more on troubleshooting your connection, check out our guide on how to make sure you’re getting the internet service you’re paying for, and download our infographic to learn more about the journey from promised to experienced speeds.
