Why Your Internet Feels Slow (Even When the Speed Test Says It's Fast)

Published by: VEENET AFRICA

Category: Internet Performance Tips – Kenya Edition.

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes.

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Introduction.

You’re on a 100Mbps plan. The speed test confirms it.
But somehow... YouTube buffers, Zoom lags, or file downloads feel slower than they should.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone  and the issue might not be what you think.

In this article, we’ll break down why your internet may feel slow even when it’s technically fast  especially in a Kenyan context and what you can do about it.

Understanding Speed vs. Performance.

Let’s begin with the basics:

• Speed (Mbps): This is the size of your digital “pipe.” It measures how much data can move per second.

• Performance: This is how efficiently your data moves from one place to another affected by more than just pipe size.

Think of it like a highway: A wide road (100Mbps) is great  but if there’s traffic (congestion), potholes (poor routing), or bad directions (DNS issues), your journey is still delayed.

Why High Speed Doesn’t Always Mean Fast Experience.

Here are the most common reasons Kenyan users might experience slow internet despite high speeds:

a) Router Quality & Age.

• Many homes and offices use basic Tenda, TP-Link, or D-Link routers that are outdated.

• These can’t handle more than 5–10 active devices at a time without struggling.

Tip: Check your router specs — older models max out at 50Mbps on Wi-Fi, even if your plan is 100Mbps.

b) Device Overload.

• If your laptop or phone is running many apps in the background — Dropbox, updates, cloud backups — your connection gets divided.

• A speed test only runs for a few seconds, but your real usage is constant.

Solution: Close unused tabs/apps. Reboot your device weekly. Disable background auto-sync when not needed.

c) Background Bandwidth Hogs.

Some common culprits:

• Windows updates (can consume 40–100Mbps silently)

• Netflix streaming on other devices

• Phones auto-uploading to Google Photos

Quick Test: Pause or disconnect all other devices, then test your main device alone.

d) Wi-Fi Signal Weakness.

Walls, distance, and interference from other networks degrade Wi-Fi signal quality.

Tip: Use Ethernet cable for work devices or place router centrally at home.

e) Routing & DNS Latency.

Even if your provider gives you full speed, if your data takes the “long road” to reach a global service like Zoom, Google, or Facebook, delays occur.

• Local Latency (Kenya): 5–20ms

• International Latency: 120–250ms (depends on upstream quality)

Ask your ISP if they peer locally (e.g., via KIXP) and what upstream providers they use.

Real Case: What the Numbers Say.

Test Scenario	Speed Test	YouTube Streaming	Zoom Call
Device near router, no background apps	98 Mbps	Smooth HD	No lag
Same device, background updates on	95 Mbps	Buffers every few minutes	Audio cuts off
Device far from router (Wi-Fi signal weak)	40 Mbps	Constant buffering	Video freezes

As you can see, the speed test doesn’t reflect real-world use cases unless your entire setup is optimized.

How to Troubleshoot Before Calling Support.

Here’s a simple checklist you can try before reaching out:

• Restart your router (clears cache and improves performance)
• Reboot your device
• Disconnect unused devices
• Try another device to isolate the problem
• Use a wired connection if possible
• Switch DNS to public ones (like Google 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare 1.1.1.1)

Final Thoughts: It’s a Shared Ecosystem.

At the end of the day, internet performance is not only about what your provider delivers — it’s about how your devices, software, router, and settings all work together.

Being proactive with your setup saves time and stress, especially in high-demand environments like remote work, online classes, or digital businesses in Kenya.

📬 Need Help?

Our support team is always here to help you optimize your experience not just sell you more speed.

Contact Our Support Team Today : 

NOC Support; 0709180800.            

Customer Support; 0709180888.