Latest news with #latency
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
T-Mobile's latest 5G network upgrades mean smoother video calls and online games
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR T-Mobile is the first US-based carrier to upgrade to a new 'L4S' network technology, which reduces latency in its 5G networks. L4S improves upon existing technologies by decongesting networks in real-time, prioritizing applications that require faster internet. Thankfully, you don't need to upgrade to newer hardware to use T-Mobile's new low-latency tech. Choppy video calls or online games are among the most wicked ways to ruin someone's mood. Every carrier wants to avoid doing that, which results in the never-ending race to test and then implement newer network technologies at scale. In line with these efforts, T-Mobile is upgrading its 5G networks with a new technology that will make your video calls, VR experiences, and online gaming smoother and almost jitter-free. T-Mobile says it is the first carrier in the US to implement the L4S standard designed to decrease unwanted delays in transmission. L4S stands for 'Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable throughput,' and decongests networks by allowing faster movements of data packets for specific applications in real-time. This is an improvement over existing congestion-control protocols, which first analyze packets of data and then prioritize certain apps, resulting in congestion at the receiver's end. Notably, L4S may not necessarily boost download or upload speeds on a 5G network. L4S is designed to make quicker decisions so there's no — or at least, minimal — congestion and, therefore, faster transmission. It has been available for wired networks for a while and also works with Wi-Fi networks, provided your device and Wi-Fi router support it. The upgrade occurs at its end, according to T-Mobile, which means users will be able to benefit from improved 5G connectivity without necessarily upgrading to new devices or buying more expensive data plans. These advancements are part of T-Mobile's preparations for 5G-Advanced, also known as 5.5G, which is the upcoming generation of mobile networks. While smoother video calling is one of the most significant applications of L4S, T-Mobile emphasizes its importance in extended reality (XR). Stable frame rates, made possible by the technology, reduce motion sickness or dizziness associated with virtual reality (VR) or XR headsets, or ensure higher-quality visuals in augmented reality (AR) glasses. Meanwhile, NVIDIA has already enabled L4S for its GeForce Now cloud gaming platform, and T-Mobile users should be able to enjoy more polished visuals and smoother rendering that simulates physical gaming hardware. T-Mobile adds that L4S will enable other technologies where high-speed remote access is key. One of them is remote driving, and T-Mobile shares the example of a ride-hailing company called Vay, which employs virtual operators who deliver rental vehicles to your doorstep in Berlin without physically driving the car themselves. The operator also expects to expand the technology to enterprise applications where 'ultra-responsive experiences' are crucial. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
AlgoFusion 5.0: Inside AlgoFusion 5.0's Latency Engine for Execution Precision
NEW YORK, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AlgoFusion 5.0 has launched a specialized update focused on execution timing analytics, addressing one of the most critical yet under-measured dimensions of algorithmic trading: latency. The platform now enables users to monitor, visualize, and optimize the time elapsed between signal generation and trade execution, offering a granular view of strategy responsiveness across asset classes and timeframes. At the heart of this release is the new Execution Timing Suite, which introduces live dashboards, timestamped logic chains, and latency heatmaps, giving users a detailed perspective into how their strategies perform under real-market conditions. Unlike conventional performance metrics that focus on outcomes, this suite measures behavioral speed, exposing bottlenecks that can compromise timing-sensitive strategies. Core features in this release include: These new capabilities address the needs of multiple user profiles. For systematic traders, the suite allows for the refinement of high-frequency strategies. Discretionary managers gain insights into the factors contributing to suboptimal trade timing. Infrastructure teams benefit from increased visibility into how platform conditions influence operational performance. The execution timing tools are fully integrated into AlgoFusion's existing visual strategy builder, allowing users to view timing performance alongside logic flow, risk parameters, and outcome metrics. This makes it possible to optimize strategies holistically—balancing speed, structure, and statistical effectiveness. 'Latency is not just a technical detail—it's a competitive variable,' said Marcus Leighton, Head of Product Strategy at AlgoFusion. 'With this release, we're helping users understand how their systems behave in motion, not just in logic.' In addition to live trading environments, the Execution Timing Suite is available in simulation and backtest modes, making it a valuable resource for education, prototyping, and infrastructure benchmarking. Users can export time series data, generate reports for compliance or governance review, and benchmark multiple strategies against timing stability scores. This release aligns with AlgoFusion's broader objective to enhance the measurability, transparency, and execution-awareness of automated trading, supporting users in the development and deployment of data-driven strategies. About AlgoFusion 5.0 AlgoFusion 5.0 is a modular, multi-asset strategy platform designed to empower traders, analysts, and institutions with transparent automation tools. The system features visual logic construction, real-time performance tracking, explainability frameworks, and integrated diagnostics. Whether for live execution, simulation, or collaborative development, AlgoFusion 5.0 provides a high-resolution view into how strategies behave across conditions, timeframes, and infrastructures. Users Can Explore Execution Timing Tools in AlgoFusion 5.0: Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that users practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Contact Travis Morgan AlgoFusion [email protected] Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AlgoFusion 5.0
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What Three Of The Biggest 2025 Tech Events Revealed About Connectivity
Ivo Ivanov is the CEO of DE-CIX. If 2024 explored the 'what' of generative AI, 2025 is exploring the 'how' of it. At the world's biggest tech gatherings—CES, MWC and Hannover Messe—the story wasn't just about new devices, dazzling demos or smarter machines. It was about what those innovations quietly demanded behind the scenes: a level of connectivity infrastructure that many businesses, governments and even industries aren't yet prepared to deliver. As the industrial-grade AI we're working toward becomes increasingly closer, the need for near-instantaneous data transfer across geographies is also becoming more acute. Life at the network edge, where these applications need to be, is making one thing crystal clear: Connectivity is no longer just an accessory to innovation. It's either the bottleneck or the breakthrough. Among the many aspects of connectivity, latency has emerged as the most visible constraint. It's also the least tolerable. Whether it's an agentic AI system designed to 'think' instantly about a customer query, a robot that relies on millisecond coordination across a production line, or a self-driving vehicle with sensors that are rendered useless without the network feedback to act on their output, a lack of 'responsiveness' is now a deal-breaker. Low latency is no longer a luxury for high-performance applications—it's the new baseline for the plethora of AI applications coming our way. This has been the breakout theme of some of the biggest tech events on the calendar in 2025; as we build smarter systems, we also need to reimagine the architecture that connects them. Not as a patchwork of nodes and endpoints, but as a living, scalable ecosystem designed for intelligent workloads and data transfer. What follows are three snapshots from CES, MWC and Hannover Messe that illustrate this turning point. Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025: Visible Expectations, Invisible Strain The year kicked off in Las Vegas, where CES 2025 went all out to demonstrate the remarkable impact AI is about to have on everyday life—from smart homes and cars to wearables and entertainment systems. Voice assistants now hold contextual conversations, while extended reality (XR) platforms deliver adaptive, AI-driven gaming experiences that blur the line between the real world and the virtual world. These applications rely on more than raw compute power—they demand fast, stable, low-latency connectivity between users, edge infrastructure and AI models running in far-off data centers, where even slight delays can dispel immersion or break the carefully modelled illusion of intelligence. The event also featured AI-enabled healthcare wearables, hearing aids and autonomous mobility solutions, all of which depend on dynamic, location-aware data. Yet most residential and public networks weren't designed for this level of complexity. The smarter the service, the more sensitive it becomes to latency and jitter. CES made one thing clear: The infrastructure behind our digital lives needs to evolve fast, or risk holding back the very innovations it's meant to support. Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025: The Cloud Gets Crowded In February, Barcelona set the stage for another reality check—this time about where AI actually runs. At MWC, booths weren't just showing off new handsets or 5G upgrades, they were unveiling LLM-powered humanoid robots, 'sight-beyond-sight' vehicle-to-cloud software and the world's first official AI smartphone. But more than that, industry experts were talking about the ecosystem behind the tech: telcos, hyperscalers and AI developers jostling to define the infrastructure that will power AI at scale. What emerged was a clear trend toward decentralization. AI is no longer confined to hyperscale data centers. It's moving outward—to regional hubs, colocation sites and edge data centers and to a certain extent, into the devices themselves. The shift of focus from centralized training to distributed inference is now fully underway, and it's putting immense pressure on existing cloud and network architectures. As these ecosystems converge, so too do their limitations. Proprietary cloud environments and vendor-specific platforms were built for scale, not necessarily for interoperability. But real-time AI—whether for autonomous vehicles, smart factories or agentic assistants—requires seamless connectivity across providers, clouds and geographies. Without common standards and robust interconnection, distributed AI workloads will hit friction fast. Hannover Messe 2025: Industrial AI Has A Logistics Problem By April, the conversation had shifted from homes and handsets to factories and supply chains. At Hannover Messe, one of the world's largest industrial trade fairs, AI's potential was on full display—cognitive robotics, digital twins, autonomous systems and intelligent collaboration across factory floors and logistics hubs. But with every new demonstration came a familiar question: How fast can systems talk to one another? The most revealing takeaway from Hannover wasn't necessarily the sophistication of the AI models, but the infrastructural fragility beneath them. Industrial sites often span regions with wildly different levels of network maturity. Machines outfitted with advanced inference capabilities can only operate effectively if the data they depend on—sometimes hundreds of miles away—is delivered almost instantaneously. Add to this the rise of collaborative robotics and AI-managed energy systems, and the need for deterministic, ultra-reliable connectivity becomes mission-critical. Hannover Messe made the case that the intelligence of industry isn't limited by innovation, it's limited by distance, bandwidth and latency. Connecting The Dots Across three of the most influential tech events of the year, the message was consistent—the ability to move data quickly, securely and intelligently across the network of networks will determine which ideas scale and which ideas stall. CES showed us a near-future where consumer experiences become dependent on real-time, AI-powered interactions. MWC revealed how the infrastructure behind those experiences must interoperate in order to reach our AI goals. And Hannover Messe reminded us that when it comes to industrial automation, the stakes are higher, the environments are harsher and the tolerance for latency is virtually nonexistent. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
CNET
23-06-2025
- CNET
Bandwidth vs. Latency: We Chatted With an Internet Connectivity Expert to Understand the Difference
Having fast, reliable home internet is essential these days for work, school, streaming and browsing. But understanding how much speed you need, or even what "internet speed" even means, can be a daunting task. Bandwidth and latency are two key factors that affect how we perceive the speed of our internet connection. But while you may hear them used together quite often, these two terms have distinct meanings. Understanding what they are and the difference between them can help you troubleshoot your home internet -- whether you're on cable, fiber, DSL, 5G or satellite. Here's the simple breakdown from Mike Conlow, director of network strategy at Cloudflare, an internet infrastructure company: 'Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted at once. Latency measures the time data takes to get from your computer to where it's going (and often to get an acknowledgment of receipt back to your computer).' Conlow illustrates the concepts of bandwidth and latency using the metaphor of cars and a highway. Bandwidth is the number of lanes (more lanes means higher bandwidth), and latency is the time it takes a car on that highway to reach its destination (faster travel time means lower latency). What is bandwidth? Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over an internet connection in a specific amount of time. That's expressed in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). Let's say you're shopping for internet and comparing plans from cable provider Xfinity. You can choose from different tiers of bandwidth. You may see plans ranging from 150Mbps to 1,200Mbps. If I were an internet user with many devices, big files and demanding streaming and gaming needs, I'd be interested in a higher bandwidth plan, like the 1,200Mbps option. How do I figure out my bandwidth? Check the details of your internet provider's plan. Let's say you have Google Fiber's 1 gig Core plan. Your potential bandwidth is 1,000Mbps (or 1Gbps) for downloads and uploads since fiber typically offers a symmetrical connection (the same speed for downloads and uploads). If you have 5G internet (like I do with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet), bandwidth gets fuzzier. The bandwidth available to your home may fluctuate depending on the strength of your wireless signal, the placement of your equipment and network congestion. Locating local internet providers Does bandwidth equal speed? When we talk about 'speed,' we often mean the advertised download and upload speeds of an internet plan. But you'll hear speed thrown around in all sorts of contexts when it comes to home internet. 'It's really confusing that 'speed' has become a catchall when really it's only referring to bandwidth,' says Conlow. Bandwidth is only one component of how your internet performs. What's more important is how your plan actually works for you, day in and day out. Higher bandwidth plans can correlate with a faster experience, but other factors come into play -- including the equipment you're using, the type of internet connection and the latency (more on this in a moment) of your connection. Use an internet speed test to get an idea of what's happening with your connection. Check out CNET's speed test recommendations, including our top option, Ookla. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) A good speed test will deliver data on your download speed, upload speed and latency. Don't be surprised if you don't hit the max speed of your plan. Actual speeds may vary from advertised speeds with most kinds of internet connections. What is latency? Latency is an overlooked factor in internet performance. The time it takes for your data to move has a big impact on how fast or slow your experience feels. This is especially true for online gamers who need their commands to register quickly. If you're saving the world, you don't want to twiddle your thumbs waiting for your takedown of the final boss to load. But low latency is desirable for any internet user. 'It's a common misconception that only gamers need to care about having a low-latency internet connection and that most users should have a very high bandwidth connection,' Conlow says. Conlow uses Netflix as an example. Netflix recommends a 15Mbps download connection for streaming 4K video. Do the math, and you'd need 67 people all watching 4K on their devices to saturate a 1Gbps connection. Of course, our households now have many other devices competing for that bandwidth, too. But still, that gigabit connection will be overkill for most homes. Do I need higher bandwidth or lower latency? Let's stick with that 1Gbps connection. 'Meanwhile, using web browsing as something everyone does on the internet, academic research and Cloudflare's own work has shown that above 25Mbps, web pages don't load any faster -- a user is getting no benefit from a 1Gbps connection,' Conlow says. In contrast, he highlights how a lower latency connection can help web pages load faster and provide a better overall experience. On the hunt for low latency? Typically, fiber internet features lower latency than other connection types. What about ping? You might hear 'ping' and 'latency' used interchangeably, especially if you're involved in the gaming community. The terms are related, but they're not exactly the same thing. Ping is a measurement of latency, expressed in milliseconds (ms). Don't judge me by my internet speed test results. Amanda Kooser/Ookla The same speed test you use to get a snapshot of your internet connection can tell you your ping rate. Look for a result below the download and upload numbers that's labeled 'ping' or 'latency.' For example, I ran an Ookla test on my laptop connected by Wi-Fi to my T-Mobile 5G Home Internet gateway. The test used a server in the same city as me. It gave me three ping numbers: 54ms (when idle at the beginning of the test), 230ms (while the download test was in progress) and 621ms (while the upload test was in progress). The download and upload pings simulate conditions when the network is in use. If I were a gamer, I'd probably be shopping for a new internet provider. Ideally, I'd like a ping of 50ms or under, or at least under 100ms. As it is, I sometimes notice websites loading slowly or video stuttering when I'm in a Zoom meeting. Are you a gamer? Read up on these tips for lowering your ping. Remember, a speed test is a snapshot of the internet connection to a particular device at a particular point in time. You may see different results depending on the device, the server the speed test connects to, the time of day and whether you're connected via a wired or wireless network. Learn the difference between Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Bandwidth and latency: What can you control? Bandwidth tends to be an easier factor to control. If available, you can upgrade your internet plan. For instance, I went from a 20Mbps DSL plan to T-Mobile's home internet service, where I sometimes top 100Mbps downloads in speed tests. That was a noticeable performance upgrade for my home. If bandwidth is a sticking point, consider a higher bandwidth plan or move to another ISP. Conlow recommends keeping your home internet equipment upgraded, whether you're getting your gear from your ISP or providing your own. "There have been dramatic improvements in Wi-Fi and other technologies that manage latency," he says. He also suggests hardwiring devices -- like TVs and desktop computers -- that don't need to be moved around. "Wi-Fi itself can be a cause of latency, and hardwired will be a faster, more stable connection," he explains. Finally, don't shy away from contacting your ISP. There may be a fixable issue or room for improvement on your ISP's end. Bandwidth vs. latency FAQ What is bandwidth? Bandwidth is the amount of data you can transfer in a given time, often expressed as Mbps or Gbps. It's like the lanes on a highway. The higher your bandwidth, the more lanes you have. So, a slow DSL plan would be like sending data along a dirt road, while a fast fiber plan would be like sending data along a superhighway. What is more important, bandwidth or latency? It depends. Both can be important. If you're creeping along with an outdated 3Mbps DSL connection, you'll notice the lack of bandwidth. Likewise, if you have a packed house full of gamers and 4K video streamers, you might want to look to a higher bandwidth plan. Low latency can matter more than having tremendous bandwidth for a more responsive (faster-feeling) internet experience. In an ideal world, you'll have both low latency and enough bandwidth to meet your online needs. Look for latency to take on a bigger role in home internet as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into the online experience. 'As we get closer to AI becoming a part of our daily lives, low latency will be critical to have really seamless interactions, whether it's a text chatbot or you're having a verbal conversation with an AI bot -- milliseconds will impact how natural those experiences feel,' says Conlow.
CNET
20-06-2025
- CNET
I Work 100% Remotely With AT&T Fiber's Cheapest Plan: Here's My Secret to Fast, Uninterrupted Internet
If there's anything I've learned about internet in the past year I've been reviewing internet providers, it's that fast speeds are actually not the most important part of a good internet plan. Most of us won't be able to tell the difference between 400Mbps and 1,000Mbps. What we do pick up on, however, is latency or lag. When it comes to working remotely, low latency is key to getting through the day without interruption. If you've ever struggled to get through a Zoom call or lost your connection while trying to download or upload documents, high latency may be the culprit. I'm all for saving money on monthly bills. That's why I signed up for AT&T Fiber's cheapest internet plan, and despite several attempts from AT&T's customer service to get me to upgrade, I know I'll be sticking with this plan for a while. Internet is already expensive. In fact, a recent CNET survey notes that adults are paying roughly $195 more on average for internet than they did last year. Before you go down the rabbit hole of home internet shopping or throw out your router, there are a few easy and low-cost steps you can take to diagnose the issue and optimize your Wi-Fi system on your own, just like I did. Before I started working remotely in my home office, I took these steps to make sure my Wi-Fi wouldn't drop out while I was uploading documents or joining a call, and I've rarely experienced any outages or lag, even with 300Mbps of speed. Here's everything you need to know to improve your home network (but were too afraid to ask). Locating local internet providers 1. Test your internet connection The first step to diagnosing and boosting your internet is running a simple speed test. Speed tests are an easy (and free) way to diagnose your internet woes and get a sense of where -- and when -- your internet is slowest. Running a speed test in your office at different times of the day can give you a sense of whether network congestion is playing a role in slowing you down or if you need to rethink where you're placing your router. Joe Supan, CNET's router expert, recommends starting with an Ethernet cable test to determine whether your router is at fault or it's an internet connection issue. 'If you plug a device into the router directly with an Ethernet cable and you're getting internet just fine through that, then I would say it's a router issue and you can eliminate the provider,' said Supan. Ethernet is a direct, wired connection, so your speeds should be much faster than with Wi-Fi. If you're still noticing slow speeds with an Ethernet connection, you're probably due for a router upgrade. How much speed does remote work require? Working remotely with minimal interruptions requires at least 100 megabits per second in download speed and preferably 30Mbps in upload speed. You likely don't need much more than that unless you have multiple devices or other internet users working in the same space. An internet connection of 300Mbps down should technically be plenty for 10 to 15 devices online simultaneously. Online meetings will be the most bandwidth-heavy activity for most remote workers, unless your work requires video editing or uploading content. At any given time during the work day, at least three devices are online in my home simultaneously. AT&T's cheapest internet tier starts at $55 monthly for 300Mbps is more than enough speed for me. 2. Pick a better internet plan When we refer to internet plans, we typically refer to download speeds or the rate at which information is downloaded from the internet. But a lot goes into a reliable internet connection beyond fast download speeds. Your internet connection woes may stem from a lackluster internet plan -- not just a slow speed tier. "There's kind of a misconception about speed with home internet shopping," said Supan, referring to the tendency to upgrade to the next fastest speed tier to avoid Wi-Fi troubles. "People expect [the internet plan] to be faster, but it's really just, does it work or not?" Here are other considerations to keep in mind when looking for internet that can keep up with your remote work needs beyond download speeds. Upload speeds are important While download speeds are what ISPs typically advertise and what we usually refer to when discussing a plan's speeds, upload speeds play an important role, too. As a remote worker, you'll likely use upload speeds more than the average internet user. We need a good upload speed for Zoom, uploading videos and presenting, among other things. If your job centers around video editing, posting to social media and taking constant video calls, you'll need reliable upload speeds to do so without lag or interruption. Cable internet typically tops out at 20Mbps to 35Mbps in upload speed, and while that may be plenty if you're the only remote worker (and heavy internet user) in your house, you'll notice less interruption with symmetrical download and upload speeds like what you'd get from fiber internet. Latency Upload speeds certainly play a role in determining the latency of your internet connection but it's worth checking the advertised latency of your internet plan. Low latency isn't just optimal for gaming online without interruption; it's also essential for downloading and uploading files quickly, presenting online or taking video calls smoothly. Most fiber internet providers offer low latency but some cable providers, like Xfinity, have started offering ultra-low-lag internet, too. 3. Optimize your router placement Routers and cables aren't the prettiest tech, and they tend to clutter up space, so I understand the impulse to hide them. Unfortunately, your router requires a high vantage point to work optimally, as well as placement in an area not crowded by heavy furniture, walls, or appliances like your TV. To make the best use of your Wi-Fi system, place your router close to your working space, preferably high up off the floor on a shelf. My router is located just near my desk, on a shelf, where I can take full advantage of those Wi-Fi frequency bands. It's also worth checking that your internet equipment is updated regularly to keep the system running smoothly and flush out any bugs. According to Supan, though some routers update firmware regularly, others don't. You may have to go to your router's app or settings to make sure. If you haven't upgraded your router for a while or you rent from your ISP, it may be time to consider investing in your own router that can support the latest Wi-Fi technology. Upgrading to a new model can vastly improve the latency and throughput to your PC -- just take it from Supan, who invested in a TP-Link router and immediately saw boosted upload speeds and better overall performance. 4. Use an Ethernet connection The next best step to consistently getting the fastest internet speeds possible during the work day is to use an Ethernet connection. Ethernet is demonstrably more reliable and faster than Wi-Fi and connecting directly to your router ensures minimal interference and low latency. Plus, it's surprisingly easy to set up. As long as your device has an Ethernet port or you have a USB to Ethernet adapter, all you'll have to do is plug the cable into your modem or router and into your PC. If you don't connect to the internet automatically, you can go to network settings on your Mac or PC and turn it on. 5. Learn how to switch Wi-Fi frequency bands Switching between your router's Wi-Fi channels is an easy way to boost throughput and lower latency, if you're able to do so. Most routers come equipped with the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and the latest Wi-Fi technology supports an additional 6GHz band. In general, the 2.4GHz band is the most used (and subject to network congestion) as it has a long range, albeit slower speed potential. The 5GHz range is shorter but it offers a faster speed potential. If you're in the same room as your router, you'll get the most benefit from switching to the 5GHz band. The 6GHz band is only available with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 technology, and you'll need a compatible device to use the band, but it boasts the highest speed potential of the Wi-Fi bands (as well as the shortest range). To switch bands, you can go to your router's configuration page by typing your router's IP address into a web browser and going to your router's wireless settings page. Note that if you rent a router from your ISP, like I do, you may not be able to switch channels. 6. Use a Wi-Fi extender or a mesh network If you can't update your Wi-Fi setup or move your router to your workspace, you should consider investing in Wi-Fi extenders or a mesh Wi-Fi system. Both are helpful for boosting speeds in rooms that your router can't reach, although they have slightly different performance capabilities. If you're trying to extend coverage in just one room, like your office, a W-Fi extender is a great option. If you're trying to improve coverage in the whole house, a mesh router network is a much better option. Debbie Fitzgerald, a technologist and director at CableLabs, advises investing in a good router before spending on Wi-Fi extenders. 'Don't go overboard with Wi-Fi extenders in your house,' Fitzgerald told CNET. 'There have been a number of studies that show you really only need perhaps one, if any at all, and if you add more … it can actually increase latency.' Other considerations for remote work Beyond improving your internet connection, there are a few other steps you can take to make sure your network is secure and your workspace is productive. Use a VPN Anytime you use a VPN, you'll slow the speeds coming to your device. However, VPNs are essential to home network security, especially if you like to travel between co-working spaces or coffee shops where you're using public networks. Utilize IT or tech support If you're working remotely for a company with an IT department, go ahead and save their email and contact information. IT is an invaluable resource for boosting network security and troubleshooting connectivity problems. If you don't have access to an IT department, your ISP or router manufacturing company will have a customer support option that you can use free. Invest in an ergonomic work setup Technically, this tip isn't about your internet connection. But if you're working from home (and you spend 8 hours a day at your computer like I do), I can't stress enough the importance of a productive, ergonomic work setup. You don't have to invest hundreds of dollars in fancy equipment. If you're clever, a few tech essentials can make your life easier and correct your posture. An ergonomic office chair makes such a difference in lumbar support and comfort. I bought this one from Amazon for a decent price, and I've already noticed the difference. If you're using an Ethernet connection, multiple monitors, and you're near your router, there's likely a mass of cords beneath your desk. Using cable covers or ties is an easy way to keep your office neat and hide cord clutter. Plus, they're pretty cheap. Bottom line You can take multiple low-cost and stress-free steps to boost your Wi-Fi and internet connection without upgrading to a faster speed tier. If you're working primarily at home, you'll need a dependable internet connection to get through the day but you don't need to break the bank or even use a multi-gigabit plan to do so. After all, a good internet connection is one you don't even notice.
