What Does Low Network Bandwidth Mean & How to Fix It

Network performance is critical for everything from streaming videos to running cloud applications. But what happens when your network feels sluggish, and tasks that should take seconds suddenly take minutes? The culprit could be low network bandwidth. In this article, we’ll break down what low bandwidth means, how it affects your network, and actionable steps to fix it.

Bandwidth is one of those tech terms that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? In simple terms, bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection in a given time. Think of it as a pipeline: the wider the pipe (higher bandwidth), the more water (data) can flow through it at once.

For less experienced users, imagine trying to fill a bathtub with a garden hose versus a fire hose. The garden hose (low bandwidth) will take much longer to fill the tub, while the fire hose (high bandwidth) gets the job done quickly. In the same way, higher bandwidth allows data to move faster, making everything from streaming videos to downloading files feel seamless.

For IT pros, bandwidth is a critical metric that directly impacts network performance. It’s measured in bits per second (bps), with modern networks typically operating in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). For example, a 100 Mbps connection can transfer 100 million bits of data every second, while a 1 Gbps connection can handle ten times that amount.

In a business setting, bandwidth is the backbone of productivity. Whether you’re running a small team or managing a large enterprise, insufficient bandwidth can lead to frustrating bottlenecks that disrupt operations. Here’s how the amount of available bandwidth in your network plays a role in everyday business scenarios, affecting key applications and services

• Cloud Applications: Tools like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, or Google Workspace rely on consistent bandwidth to function smoothly.
• Video Conferencing: Platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams require stable, high bandwidth to deliver clear audio and video.
• File Transfers: Sending large files, such as design prototypes or video edits, can take forever on a low-bandwidth network.
• Customer-Facing Services: For businesses with online platforms, low bandwidth can lead to slow website load times, payment processing delays, or even downtime – all of which can harm customer satisfaction and revenue.

Low bandwidth isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a network bottleneck that can disrupt productivity, frustrate users, and even harm your business. When your network bandwidth is low, it means the available data transfer capacity is insufficient to handle the demands placed on it. This limitation creates a domino effect, impacting everything from internet speeds to the performance of critical applications.

Let’s break down how low bandwidth affects your network in real-world terms:

The most obvious symptom of low bandwidth is slow Internet. Tasks that should take seconds – like loading a webpage, sending an email, or downloading a file – suddenly feel like they’re moving at a snail’s pace.

Bandwidth Requirements for Home Internet:

• Below 25 Mbps (download) and 3 Mbps (upload) is considered low, as it may struggle with streaming, gaming, or video calls.
• 10 Mbps or less is often insufficient for HD streaming and multiple users.

Bandwidth Requirements for Business Internet:

• Less than 50–100 Mbps for small offices may lead to slow cloud applications, VoIP issues, and laggy video conferencing.
• Large enterprises typically need 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps+ for smooth operations.

For Businesses, slow Internet can delay day-to-day operations. For example, an e-commerce company might struggle to update its online store, or a remote team might waste valuable time waiting for files to upload.

For Users, employees and customers alike become frustrated when they can’t access the resources they need quickly.

Streaming videos, whether for training, marketing, or entertainment, requires a steady flow of data. Low bandwidth disrupts this flow, causing buffering, lag, and poor video quality.

Bandwidth Requirements for Streaming:

• Below 25 Mbps (download) and 3 Mbps (upload) is considered low, as it may struggle with streaming, gaming, or video calls.
• 10 Mbps or less is often insufficient for HD streaming and multiple users.

For Businesses, a sales team trying to stream a product demo for a client might face embarrassing pauses or pixelated video, damaging their professional image.

For Users, employees relying on video tutorials or webinars for training may miss critical information due to constant interruptions.

Screenshot from Obkio's Speed Test Tool

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Slack are essential for modern communication. However, these applications are highly sensitive to bandwidth limitations.

Bandwidth Requirements for VoIP & Video Calls:

• Less than 1.5 Mbps per call can cause poor audio/video quality and dropouts.
• Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet recommend 3–4 Mbps for HD video calls.

For Businesses, dropped calls, jittery audio, and frozen video during client meetings or team huddles can lead to miscommunication and lost opportunities.

For Remote Workers, they may struggle to stay connected with their teams, leading to inefficiencies and frustration.

Many businesses rely on cloud-based software and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications like Salesforce, Google Workspace, or QuickBooks. These tools require consistent bandwidth to function properly.

Bandwidth Requirements for Cloud Applications & Remote Work:

• Bandwidth below 10–20 Mbps per user can lead to slow file transfers and delays in SaaS applications.

For Businesses, low bandwidth can cause delays in accessing customer data, processing transactions, or collaborating on shared documents. For example, a finance team might experience lag while updating budgets in real-time, slowing down decision-making.

For Employees, they may find themselves waiting for applications to load or updates to sync, wasting valuable time and reducing productivity.

In today’s connected world, networks often support dozens (or even hundreds) of users and devices simultaneously. Low bandwidth means there’s simply not enough capacity to go around. The more users and devices connected to a network, the more bandwidth is consumed. Streaming, video calls, cloud applications, and large downloads all compete for bandwidth, leading to slow speeds and network congestion.

If multiple people in your home or office are struggling with lag and buffering, your bandwidth may be too low to handle the demand.

Bandwidth Requirements for Bandwidth Needs per User:

• Browsing & Email: 1–5 Mbps per user
• Streaming (HD Video): 5–10 Mbps per stream
• Streaming (4K Video): 25 Mbps per stream
• Video Calls (Zoom, Teams, etc.): 3–5 Mbps per call
• Online Gaming: 3–10 Mbps per player
• Large File Downloads/Cloud Apps: 10–50 Mbps per user

Bandwidth Requirements for Multiple Users & Devices:

• Small Household (2–4 users): 50–100 Mbps
• Larger Household (5+ users): 100–500 Mbps
• Small Office (10+ users with mixed usage): 200 Mbps – 1 Gbps
• Enterprise Networks: 1 Gbps+ depending on usage

In an office setting, multiple employees sharing a low-bandwidth connection can lead to congestion, making it difficult for anyone to work efficiently.

For Home Users, a family trying to stream, game, and work on the same network may find that no one can get a reliable connection.

• Small Business: A marketing agency with 10 employees shares large design files and hosts daily client video calls. If their bandwidth is too low, designers struggle to upload files, and video calls become choppy, making the agency appear unprofessional.
• Enterprise: A retail company with hundreds of employees relies on cloud-based inventory management software. Low bandwidth causes delays in updating stock levels, leading to overselling and frustrated customers.
• Remote Work: A remote team working from different locations depends on VoIP calls and cloud collaboration tools. Low bandwidth results in dropped calls, slow file sharing, and missed deadlines.

Network Speed vs. Bandwidth vs. Throughput: Understanding Network Performance Metrics

Learn about the differences between network speed, bandwidth & throughput. Find out why your business should measure them and how!

Learn more

If you’re experiencing any of the issues above, low bandwidth could be the culprit. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Consistently slow Internet speeds, even during off-peak hours.
• Frequent buffering during video streaming or conferencing.
• Delays in accessing cloud applications or shared files.
• Complaints from multiple users about network performance.

To confirm, you can use tools like Obkio’s Network Bandwidth Monitoring Tool to measure your network’s performance and identify bandwidth-related issues in real-time.

Obkio’s Bandwidth Monitoring Tool enables you to set a maximum bandwidth threshold and run on-demand or scheduled speed tests to compare your actual network performance with the bandwidth you’re paying for. This powerful tool eliminates guesswork, helping you confirm whether you’re receiving the bandwidth you were promised – and if not, pinpointing the exact reasons behind the discrepancy.

• 14-day free trial of all premium features
• Deploy in just 10 minutes
• Monitor performance in all key network locations
• Measure real-time network metrics
• Identify and troubleshoot live network problems

Low network bandwidth can feel like a mystery – one moment, your network is running smoothly, and the next, everything slows to a crawl. But low bandwidth doesn’t happen without a reason. Understanding the root causes is the first step toward fixing the problem and preventing it from happening again.

Let’s dive into the most common causes of low network bandwidth and how they impact your network:

Imagine a highway during rush hour: too many cars trying to use the same road at once leads to traffic jams. Similarly, network congestion occurs when too many devices or users are competing for the same bandwidth.

How does network congestion cause low bandwidth?

In a busy office, dozens of employees might be streaming videos, downloading files, or attending video calls simultaneously. This surge in demand can overwhelm your network’s capacity. This leads to slower speeds for everyone, increased latency, and potential timeouts for critical applications.

Even if your network is designed to handle a certain number of users, unexpected spikes in traffic can strain your bandwidth.

How does high user traffic cause low bandwidth?

During peak hours – like the start of the workday or during a company-wide webinar – your network might experience a sudden surge in activity. This can cause temporary slowdowns that can disrupt productivity and frustrate users.

Not all applications are created equal. Some, like video conferencing, cloud backups, and large file transfers, consume significantly more bandwidth than others.

How do bandwidth-hungry applications cause low bandwidth?

Applications like Zoom, Dropbox, or Netflix can hog bandwidth, leaving little for other tasks. This can cause these critical business applications to become sluggish or unresponsive.

Your network is only as strong as its weakest link. Outdated or inadequate hardware can bottleneck your bandwidth, even if your internet plan is robust.

How do hardware limitations cause low bandwidth?

Older routers, switches, or cables may not support higher speeds or handle multiple devices efficiently, which can lead to reduced performance, even if your ISP provides sufficient bandwidth.

Sometimes, the issue isn’t on your end – it’s with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Bandwidth throttling occurs when your ISP intentionally slows down your connection, often during peak usage times or if you exceed data caps.

How does ISP bandwidth throttling cause low bandwidth?

ISPs may throttle bandwidth to manage network traffic or encourage users to upgrade to more expensive plans. This will lead to sudden, unexplained drops in speed that affect all users on the network.

Improperly configured network settings can also lead to low bandwidth. For example, incorrect Quality of Service (QoS) settings might prioritize less important traffic over critical applications.

How do misconfigured network settings cause low bandwidth?

IT teams may overlook settings that allocate bandwidth efficiently, leading to imbalances, causing essential applications like VoIP or cloud tools to not receive the bandwidth they need to perform as they should.

Sometimes, low bandwidth is caused by processes running in the background that you might not even be aware of.

How do background processes cause low bandwidth?

Automatic updates for software, operating systems, or antivirus programs can consume significant bandwidth without warning. This can lead to sudden slowdowns that are difficult to diagnose.

Physical problems with your network infrastructure, such as damaged cables or faulty equipment, can also reduce bandwidth.

How do physical network issues cause low bandwidth?

Wear and tear, environmental factors, or improper installation can degrade network performance over time. This can cause intermittent connectivity issues and reduced speeds.

By understanding these root causes, you can take targeted steps to diagnose and resolve the issue, ensuring your network runs smoothly and efficiently.

Low network bandwidth can be a silent productivity killer, but the good news is that it’s often detectable and fixable. The key is to identify the issue before it spirals into a major problem. Whether you’re an IT professional managing a corporate network or a small business owner troubleshooting your own connection, knowing how to spot low bandwidth issues is the first step toward resolving them.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to identifying low network bandwidth issues:

Speed tests are the simplest and quickest way to check your network’s performance. They measure your current download and upload speeds, giving you a snapshot of your available bandwidth.

• How to Do It: Use online tools or integrated speed test features in network monitoring tools like Obkio to run on-demand or scheduled speed tests. On-demand speed tests can give show you if your network is experiencing low bandwidth at a certain moment in time, but we recommend scheduling speed tests at regular intervals to identify low bandwidth issues as soon as they happen, even when you least expect. You can also schedule speed tests to run during peak hours and off-hours in your network to monitor the difference.
• What to Look For: Compare your results to the speeds promised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). If your actual speeds are significantly lower, low bandwidth could be the issue.

Low bandwidth isn’t always constant—it can fluctuate based on network usage. Monitoring your network traffic helps you identify patterns and pinpoint when and why slowdowns occur. There are two primary ways to monitor network traffic:

This method involves capturing and analyzing real network traffic as it flows through your network. Traditional tools can be used to inspect packets, providing detailed insights into traffic patterns, bandwidth usage, and potential bottlenecks. However, this approach can be resource-intensive and may not always be practical for continuous monitoring.

Screenshot from Obkio's Network Bandwidth Monitoring Tool

This method generates simulated traffic to measure network performance. Tools like Obkio create synthetic traffic that mimics real-world applications (e.g., VoIP, video streaming, or file transfers) to proactively monitor bandwidth, latency, and packet loss. This approach is less intrusive and provides real-time insights without impacting actual network operations.

For a comprehensive approach, consider using a dedicated network performance monitoring tool like Obkio. These tools provide real-time insights into your network’s health, making it easier to identify and troubleshoot low bandwidth issues.

• How It Helps: Obkio continuously monitors your network, alerting you to performance issues before they impact users.
• What to Look For: Trends, anomalies, and detailed reports on bandwidth usage, latency, and packet loss.

Low bandwidth often goes hand-in-hand with other network issues like packet loss and high latency. These problems can further degrade performance, making it essential to check for them.

• How to Do It: Use Network Monitoring tools to continuously monitor network performance and measure key network metrics like packet loss and latency and understand if they're affecting the available bandwidth in your network. Obkio’s monitoring tool continuously monitors your network to detect packet loss and latency issues for you.
• What to Look For: Packet loss above 1-2% or latency higher than 100 ms can indicate underlying problems.

Screenshot from Obkio's Network Monitoring Tool

Some applications or devices consume far more bandwidth than others. Identifying these “bandwidth hogs” can help you manage your network more effectively.

• How to Do It: Use network monitoring tools to analyze which applications, devices, or users are using the most bandwidth. Use Obkio to examine your throughput to detect any congestion or resource issues. If congestion isn't the culprit, use Obkio’s Visual Traceroute Tool to identify potential bottlenecks further along the network, possibly within your ISP's infrastructure.
• What to Look For: Streaming services, cloud backups, or large file transfers are common culprits.

Bandwidth issues often become more apparent during peak usage times. Testing your network during both peak and off-peak hours can help you determine if congestion is the problem.

• How to Do It: Run on-demand or scheduled speed tests and monitor network performance at different times of the day. You can scheduled speed tests to run off peak hours using Obkio's Speed Test feature
• What to Look For: Significant differences in performance between peak and off-peak hours.

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with your internal network but with your ISP. Regularly reviewing your ISP’s performance can help you determine if they’re delivering the promised bandwidth.

• How to Do It: Compare your speed test results to your ISP’s advertised speeds. You can also run traceroutes to identify a bandwidth issue in your ISP's network. If you find an issue on their end, contact your ISP using proof from your speed test and traceroute results to open a support case and escalate your issue.
• What to Look For: Unexplained drops in speed or frequent outages.

Outdated or faulty devices can bottleneck your network, even if your ISP provides sufficient bandwidth.

• How to Do It: Check your routers, switches, and cables for signs of wear or outdated technology. For more in-depth analysis, use SNMP Device Monitoring to monitor the performance of your network devices and identify if they're using large amounts of bandwidth or missing bandwidth availability.
• What to Look For: Older equipment that doesn’t support higher speeds or handle multiple devices efficiently.

Screenshot from Obkio's Network Bandwidth Monitoring Tool

Sometimes, low bandwidth is caused by background processes that consume resources without your knowledge.

• How to Do It: Check devices for automatic updates, cloud backups, or other background activities.
• What to Look For: Unexpected spikes in bandwidth usage that coincide with slowdowns.

Once you’ve identified that your network is suffering from low bandwidth, which is negatively impacting your applications, services, and users, it’s time to take action. The steps you take will depend on the root cause of the issue – whether it’s an internal problem within your network or an external issue stemming from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). By addressing the specific cause, you can effectively resolve the problem and restore optimal network performance.

Let’s explore actionable strategies to fix low bandwidth and get your network running smoothly again.

Sometimes, the simplest solution is the most effective. If your current internet plan doesn’t meet your needs, upgrading to a higher bandwidth package can make a world of difference.

• How It Helps: More bandwidth means more data can flow through your network at once, reducing congestion and improving speeds.
• When to Do It: If your speed tests consistently show lower speeds than what your business requires, it’s time to contact your ISP.
• Example: A small business with 20 employees might upgrade from a 100 Mbps plan to a 500 Mbps plan to support video conferencing, cloud applications, and file sharing.

Quality of Service (QoS) is a network management feature that prioritizes critical traffic over less important data. By implementing QoS policies, you can ensure that essential applications get the bandwidth they need.

• How It Helps: QoS ensures that high-priority tasks like VoIP calls or video conferencing aren’t interrupted by lower-priority activities like file downloads.
• How to Do It: Configure your router or network hardware to prioritize specific types of traffic.
• Example: A call center might prioritize VoIP traffic to ensure clear, uninterrupted customer calls, even during peak hours.

Outdated routers, switches, or cables can bottleneck your network, even if you have a high-speed internet plan. Upgrading your hardware can unlock your network’s full potential.

• How It Helps: Modern hardware supports higher speeds, more devices, and advanced features like QoS and traffic prioritization.
• How to Do It: Replace old routers and switches with newer models that support gigabit speeds and multiple devices.
• Example: A company using a 10-year-old router might upgrade to a modern, business-grade router to support faster speeds and more users.

Proactively monitoring your network can help you identify and address bandwidth issues before they impact users. Tools like Obkio provide real-time insights into your network’s performance.

• How It Helps: Continuous monitoring allows you to spot trends, detect anomalies, and troubleshoot issues quickly.
• How to Do It: Deploy a monitoring tool like Obkio to track bandwidth usage, latency, and packet loss.
• Example: If Obkio detects a sudden drop in bandwidth, you can investigate and resolve the issue before it affects your team.

The key takeaway? Low bandwidth can really slow things down, whether it's causing buffering during video calls, lag in gaming, or delays when trying to access cloud apps. If you're noticing slow speeds or constant interruptions, it's likely that low bandwidth is to blame.

The good news? By continuously monitoring your network’s performance, identifying bandwidth hogs, and addressing bottlenecks, you can ensure a fast, reliable, and efficient network that supports your business needs.

Ready to take the next step? Start by identifying and resolving low bandwidth issues with Obkio’s Network Bandwidth Monitoring Tool. With real-time insights, easy deployment, and powerful troubleshooting features, Obkio helps you stay ahead of network problems before they impact your users.

• 14-day free trial of all premium features
• Deploy in just 10 minutes
• Monitor performance in all key network locations
• Measure real-time network metrics
• Identify and troubleshoot live network problems