It takes less than five minutes for users to notice that their Internet service is not working, and to start complaining.
Comparethemarket.com carried out an experiment to reveal just how dependent we are on the internet, and how long it takes for us to freak out if our WiFi drops.
Households were asked to turn off their broadband throughout one week at different times of the day and log how long, on average, it took for another member of their household to notice they couldn’t access the WiFi.
It only took 3,5 minutes, on average, for people to notice the WiFi was down and kick up a fuss. Surprisingly, it takes households with children 4,1 minutes to notice.
Comparethemarket.com shares some tips for improving your broadband speed at home:
* Move your router away from other devices. Keep your router as far away as possible from other electrical equipment and devices that emit wireless signals, such as cordless phones, baby monitors, and computer speakers. Try to place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor and keep it switched on.
* Turn off WiFi on devices you’re not using. If you have multiple devices such as tablets and smartphones running in the background, it can slow down your broadband, so try switching WiFi off on these when you’re not using them. You should also avoid carrying out data-heavy tasks like HD streaming, gaming, or video calls at the same time as others in your household.
* Give your computer a spring clean. Many applications on your PC could affect your broadband speed, some without you even realising it. A few simple quick fixes include making sure your anti-virus software is up to date, making sure you’re using the latest version of your web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge, and clearing your cache and browser history.