Internet latency is one of those terms you\u2019ve heard a thousand times if you play online games, make video calls, or simply get frustrated because something \u201ctakes ages to load\u201d. And although it\u2019s often confused with internet speed, they are not the same thing.<\/p>\n
In this article we explain what internet latency is, why it\u2019s so important, how you can measure it yourself, and what to do if you have high ping or suffer from high latency at home. We\u2019ll also talk about bandwidth and how it affects network performance.<\/p>\n
Network latency is the time it takes for a packet of information to travel from your computer, phone, or console to the server you\u2019re connected to, and back again. It\u2019s measured in milliseconds (ms), and the lower it is, the faster the response and the better your browsing experience.<\/p>\n
This value is also known as ping<\/strong>, and you can easily see it when you run a connection test. If you\u2019ve ever done a speed test and seen a low number next to \u201cping\u201d, congratulations\u2014that\u2019s a good sign.<\/p>\n Imagine you\u2019re playing an online video game. You press a button to shoot. If your internet latency is low, the action happens instantly. If it\u2019s high, your character reacts a second later. That\u2019s the difference between winning\u2026 or throwing the controller out the window.<\/p>\n Internet speed tells you how much data you can move per second (megabits), but internet latency tells you how long it takes for that data to start moving.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why a connection with good speed but high ping can feel slow or unresponsive\u2014especially for tasks like:<\/p>\n Video calls on Zoom, Meet, or Teams<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Online gaming (Fortnite, Call of Duty, FIFA\u2026)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Live streaming<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Remote desktop use or server access<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Loading pages with lots of dynamic elements<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If you regularly suffer from high latency, you\u2019ll probably notice drops, delays, or that things just don\u2019t feel smooth\u2014even if you\u2019re paying for a fast plan. That\u2019s why understanding how to improve latency really matters.<\/p>\n Several elements can cause high ping or a poor connection experience. Some are technical, others depend on your setup at home. These are the most common ones:<\/p>\n Type of connection:<\/strong> ADSL has higher latency than modern broadband. If you want to understand the differences between these connection types, we recommend reading: Broadband or ADSL: which connection is better?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Distance to the server:<\/strong> The farther away it is, the longer it takes for data to travel back and forth.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Network congestion:<\/strong> Too many devices connected at the same time can overload your router and increase latency.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Router quality:<\/strong> An old or poorly configured router can be the culprit.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Wi-Fi interference:<\/strong> Walls, appliances, or neighbouring networks can degrade the signal.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If you\u2019re interested in how modern broadband works at a technical level, check out this guide: What is broadband and how does it work?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Discover our broadband offers<\/a><\/p>\n Running an internet latency test is very easy. You just need to use a tool like:<\/p>\n speedtest.net<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n fast.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Or even your router\u2019s configuration panel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The result will show a ping value in milliseconds (ms). As a general reference:<\/p>\n Less than 20 ms: excellent<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Between 20 and 50 ms: very good<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Between 50 and 100 ms: acceptable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n More than 100 ms: poor latency<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n You can also run a test from the command line by typing: ping www.google.es<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ll see how long each packet takes. If the numbers spike or there\u2019s packet loss, you\u2019re dealing with high latency.<\/p>\n It depends on how you use the internet. Here\u2019s a quick guide:<\/p>\n Online gaming: under 50 ms<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Stable video calls: under 100 ms<\/p>\n<\/li>\n General use (browsing, YouTube, social media): up to 150 ms is acceptable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Live streaming or broadcasting: the lower, the better\u2014ideally under 50 ms<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If you\u2019re above these values, even with a 600 Mb plan, you won\u2019t get a great experience. Speed matters, but internet latency is just as critical.<\/p>\n Discover our broadband offers<\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019re dealing with high latency or high ping, don\u2019t panic. Here are practical solutions you can apply today:<\/p>\n Connect via Ethernet cable<\/strong> Restart the router<\/strong> Avoid saturating the network<\/strong> Update your router\u2019s firmware<\/strong> Change the Wi-Fi channel or use 5 GHz<\/strong> Move closer to the router or use boosters<\/strong> Contact your provider<\/strong> Besides latency, bandwidth<\/strong> also plays a big role in your experience. Bandwidth is the total capacity of your connection to carry data\u2014like the width of a road.<\/p>\n If your bandwidth is high but latency is also high, things will feel slow to start but then run smoothly.<\/p>\n If both are low, the experience will be frustrating. You can learn more here: What is bandwidth and how is it measured?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Finally, make sure your home setup is solid. If you\u2019re still using ADSL or have doubts about your connection, you may be interested in How to check if broadband is available at your home<\/em><\/a> to improve your setup.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Internet latency is one of the most important factors in enjoying a good connection. Even if you have 1 Gb broadband, a high ping will ruin gaming, video calls, or any real-time activity. That\u2019s why it\u2019s essential to understand your latency, measure it, and know how to reduce it.<\/p>\n At Olin, we offer high-quality broadband with professional installations, up-to-date routers, and personalised advice so your connection performs exactly as you need it to. Shall we talk?<\/p>\nWhy is latency important?<\/h2>\n
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Factors that affect internet latency<\/h2>\n
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How to measure network latency<\/h2>\n
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What is a good latency?<\/h2>\n
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How to reduce high latency<\/h2>\n
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Avoid Wi-Fi if you want the lowest possible latency. A direct cable connection removes interference.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Sometimes a simple reboot clears stuck processes or connections. Here\u2019s how to do it properly: How to restart or reset your router<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n
If you\u2019re on a video call while someone else is watching Netflix in 4K or downloading a game, your ping will increase.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Older models often improve significantly after an update. See: How to update router firmware<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
This can reduce interference. Here\u2019s how: How to change Wi-Fi frequency<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
In large homes or those with thick walls, you may need a mesh system or extender: What is a Wi-Fi extender?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n
If everything at home looks fine and ping is still high, the issue may be external. Don\u2019t hesitate to contact your operator.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nOther factors that affect network performance: bandwidth<\/h2>\n