Is Your Internet Service Provider Throttling Your Connection? Here’s How to Find Out

As an avid internet user, particularly in the esports industry, I’ve recently become concerned that my internet service provider (ISP) may be throttling my connection on specific platforms. This realization became evident after I noticed significant performance issues while trying to watch streams on Twitch, a vital part of my job.

Understanding My Internet Package

I subscribed to an unlimited internet plan, which, in theory, promises genuinely unlimited downloads without any Fair Usage Policy restrictions. Though the average speed is around 32 Mbps—which suits me just fine, especially since I’ve typically operated on much lower bandwidth—I rely on this robust connection for my high monthly data usage of approximately 600 GB. A majority of this data consumption comes from streaming pro esports tournaments across various games.

The Speed Dilemma

Lately, my experience has taken a frustrating turn. I found myself struggling even to stream content at 480p30fps, an absurd drop from my previous ability to watch 1080p60fps streams without issue. This is particularly alarming since I often need to monitor multiple streams concurrently to track tournament outcomes.

In an attempt to identify and rectify the issue, I tried several solutions:

1. Adjusting settings for Flash Player in Chrome.
2. Conducting speed tests, which consistently showed my advertised speed of 32 Mbps for both upload and download.
3. Utilizing an alternate Twitch player extension.
4. Testing the streams across different browsers, including Firefox and Edge.
5. Installing and updating the Java Runtime Environment.

Despite these efforts, the buffering problem persisted exclusively on Twitch. Interestingly, I had no trouble streaming 4K videos on platforms like YouTube or downloading large files with ease. This led me to question whether the issue was specific to Twitch.

The VPN Revelation

To further investigate, I decided to employ a VPN to connect via a different country. Remarkably, my streaming experience improved drastically without any buffering issues. This revelation raises a significant concern: Is my ISP intentionally throttling my connection to Twitch?

Seeking Clarity: Is Throttling Legal?

Now, I’m left pondering whether this behavior from my ISP is typical—and importantly, if it’s legal. The concept of internet throttling is increasingly discussed, especially when it impacts how users experience their online activities.

If you’re facing similar issues or have insights into how to diagnose possible ISP throttling, I’d appreciate your advice. Any recommendations