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Slow Download & Upload Speeds: Causes and Solutions

Today, most businesses rely on the internet for their daily operations. With numerous new capabilities ranging from video chat to cloud communications, the internet is more important today than it ever has been. Even with these advances, there are still companies that struggle to maintain a fast, reliable internet connection. Slow upload and download speeds can cause a variety of problems for businesses in every industry, leaving them at a competitive disadvantage.

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Poor Upload and Download Speeds: What Is the Problem?

First, there are two different ways that companies can use the internet. These include:

  • Downloading Information: This refers to the process of taking information from the internet and downloading it to the network. This might include anything from visiting a website to downloading files into specific folders on the server.
  • Uploading Information: Uploading information refers to taking information from the server and uploading it to the internet, such as a cloud database, so that others can see it.

In almost all cases, we see asymmetrical download and upload speeds. This means that some companies might enjoy 300 MBPS (megabytes per second) in download speed but struggle with only 10 or 20 MBPS in upload speed. Many internet users deal with this issue because networks tend to prioritize download speeds. This works for the average user who is just primarily consuming content off the web but not for businesses.

In today’s business world, it is critical to have fast download and upload speeds Asymmetrical download and upload speeds can affect critical operations and beyond.

 

Who Can Experience Issues Related to Slow Upload and Download Speeds?

Just about any company can experience issues with download and upload speeds, however, these can be more marked in some industries that rely on having real-time data. These include:

  • Financial Institutions: Financial institutions regularly upload and download files to their secure servers so that all branches have access to the same information. Slow upload speeds can cause analysts, consultants, and branch managers to fall behind.
  • Healthcare Organizations: Hospital and physician offices regularly have to upload patient information to secure servers so that all doctors have access to this information in the event the patient is transferred. If these files are not uploaded quickly, doctors might end up making decisions without having access to all of the information.
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Why Do Slow Upload and Download Speeds Happen?

There are a few reasons why slow upload and download speeds might happen. These include:

  • Rapidly Expanding Businesses: Sometimes, businesses expand rapidly and forget to scale up their IT services in the process. If a business adds a new department or doubles in size, then this increases the demand on the business’s networks and servers. This can throttle upload and download speeds, causing the company to fall behind.
  • Outdated Equipment: Sometimes, companies might end up using equipment that is outdated. While internet technology has come a long way, file sizes have also increased. If these files are being transmitted using outdated equipment, then this could lead to slow upload and download speeds.

These issues could cause businesses to develop a backlog of data. If they cannot upload everything in a single day, this gets added to the next day along with the data that was already going to be uploaded. If a natural disaster strikes or other catastrophic event happens, businesses could end up losing weeks or more of data. Fortunately, there are ways to address these issues.

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How Can Slow Upload and Download Speeds Be Fixed?

These are a few ways that slow upload and download speeds can be fixed. These include:

  • DIA: Also called a dedicated fiber connection, this is advanced circuitry that can immediately lead to faster upload and download speeds. While this is an effective solution, it can also be expensive. This is the most direct solution but might not work for businesses with a tight budget.
  • SD-WAN Secondary Circuit: Some companies might have a contract with a specific company and that they cannot afford to break. Instead of switching circuits, a second circuit can be added using SD-WAN. In this solution, when one circuit is overloaded, the second circuit picks up the slack and keeps the company on schedule.
  • SD-WAN Monitoring: Finally, businesses can also use SD-WAN to monitor the existing network and see when problems arise. Then, data can be collected and it can be sent to those managing the network, where they can address the specific issue.

Streamline Your Network with Coeo Solutions

At Coeo Solutions, our team of network experts can help you address slow upload and download speeds quickly. If you are facing these issues, contact us today for an audit of your existing network.

 
 
 
 
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Get in touch at 844.300.2636(COEO)