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Communications
Broadband and telephone
Factors affecting the speed and quality of internet connection
Factors affecting the speed and quality of
internet connection
Multiple factors affect the speed and quality of your internet connection.
Transfer technology, your location, the number of people you share the
connection with and the device you use are only some of these factors.
There are also differences between a fixed network and a mobile network.
Speed in fixed network
Data transfer technology. In fixed networks, the main factor affecting the broadband speed is
the technology used for data transfer. Fibre-optic and cable networks enable high-speed
connections, whereas traditional xDSL connections provided over a telephone network have
limited maximum transfer speeds.
Network centralizer. The speed of your connection also depends on the distance between
your terminal device and the network centralizer. The further you live from the operator's
broadband centralizer, the more it affects the speed of your connection.
Other devices and users. Most of us have several different devices connected to the internet
at the same time at home. If you use multiple services and you are not the only user of the
network, this can cause the connection to slow down or cut out.
Speed in mobile network
Network technology and terminal device. The connection speed in mobile networks
depends, in particular, on the network technologies available in the area and the features of the
user's terminal device:
the 4G network enables a high-speed connection in suitable circumstances
the 3G network can be used in a wider area but the maximum speed is lower
the GSM network is the most extensive network but the data transfer speeds are very limited
Other users. The mobile network capacity is shared between all the users in the area using the
same network. During certain hours, there are many users, which causes the connection speed
to slow down.
Location. If the user changes locations, the speed may change because the signal varies
depending on the coverage area. If you have mobile broadband at home, you can check your
operator's coverage map to see how far you are from the base station.
Test your actual connection speed
Several operators provide a free speed test for their customers. The test shows the connection's
real-time download and upload speed. You can get different results at different times, which is
why you should run the test a few times at different hours.
You can test the speed of your connection, for example, by using the following services:
DNA Speedtest
(https://www.dna.fi/nopeuden-mittaaminen)
Elisa Speedtest
(http://elisa.speedtest.net/)
Telia Speedtest
(https://www.telia.fi/kauppa/kodin-netti/tee-nopeustesti)
E-SERVICE
Data.Traficom maps
FREE
THE BITTIMITTARI PROJECT
The Bittimittari project, launched by Traficom in 2019, aims to develop a user-friendly and
reliable tool for consumers to test the quality of their internet connections. With the help
of Bittimittari, consumers will be able to monitor the speed and quality of fixed and
mobile internet connections on their mobile devices and computers.
Read more about the Bittimittari Project
What does your agreement say about speed?
Remember that the theoretical maximum speed of your connection is not the same as speed
range. The speed range describes the actual speed of your connection. Your subscriber
connection agreement should contain at least the following information about the connection
speed:
minimum, normally available and maximum speed if you have fixed broadband
estimated maximum speed if you have mobile broadband
advertised speed of the connection.
If your subscription comes with a data transmission quota, the agreement must explain how
exceeding the quota affects the speed.
Another factor affecting your use of broadband, besides speed, is latency, which is typical for
the technology. If latency has practical effects on the use of the internet access service,
operators must explain this on the agreement. For example, latency in satellite broadband
affects the use of applications requiring real-time data.
Opinion on how operators should indicate the data transfer
speed of an internet connection in agreements
OPINION
See opinion (pdf, 292,34 KB)
Traficom's opinion describes how Traficom assesses telecommunications operators’
method of indicating the data transfer speed of internet access services in contracts. The
method must be in accordance with the EU Regulation and fair to the consumer.
The opinion is based on
the EU Regulation on net neutrality
(https://www.traficom.fi/en/communications/communications-networks/openinternet-or-net-neutrality)
and the Act on Electronic Communications Services.
The EU Regulation contains different requirements for defining speed for fixed and
mobile broadband connections. A contract must include at least the following facts on
the speed:
minimum, normally available and maximum speed in the case of fixed broadband
estimated maximum speed in the case of mobile broadband
advertised speed.
It is stated in the opinion that the specified minimum speed of fixed broadband must be
at least 70% of the maximum speed when the maximum speed is not more than 100
Mbit/s. The maximum speed of a fixed connection must be such that the user can expect
to receive it at least some of the time.
The normally available speed specified for fixed broadband must be in fair and
reasonable proportion to the maximum speed. The availability of the normally available
speed during a specified period must be indicated in the contract. Traficom recommends
the normally available speed of connections with a maximum speed of 100 Mbit/s to be
specified as 90% of the maximum speed so that it is achieved 90% of the time during
each four-hour period.
The estimated maximum speed of mobile broadband must be possible to be realistically
achieved in actual usage conditions. Therefore, the maximum speed specified for the
connection cannot be the theoretical maximum speed of the subscription. The maximum
speed may not be lower than the advertised speed of the connection.
This opinion replaces the Traficom's opinion on indicating data transfer rate variation
issued in 2011.
222/2020
Valid from: 12.07.2020
Having problems with your telephone or internet connection? Find out
how to solve the most common problems (/en/communications/broadband-andtelephone/guidelines-problems-functionality-and-availability-telephone)
.
15.09.2021