Slow Internet speed? Blame your outdated router

Wi-Fi ranks number two on a list of modern essentials that people cannot live without - right after food.

Outdated technology is often the main culprit when it comes to online performance issues, new research data has revealed.

In an average home, a minimum of five devices are simultaneously connected to the router; and more than half face buffering and lag issues, when streaming videos and music, playing online games, surfing the Internet and checking e-mails, Linksys experts have reported.

According to a recent research titled 'The Home Network, the Neglected Workhorse', by IDC and Linksys, the frequency of buffering and performance issues during various activities are 42 per cent while playing online video games, 34 per cent while streaming videos, 25 per cent while listening to music and 18 per cent surfing the Web, resulting in a dissatisfied wireless experience.

One of the main causes for the poor performance is the use of outdated Wi-Fi technology. Nearly 50 per cent of connected families are observed using router running a version of Wi-Fi at least 12 years old.

Wi-Fi ranks number two on a list of modern essentials that people cannot live without - right after food. Over 30 per cent of people consider food as day-to-day necessity, while 18 per cent of people consider the Internet and Wi-Fi access highly important.

To this end, Linksys found that 84 per cent of users cite performance as the most important attribute when purchasing a new router, far out distancing range, security and even price.

"As we swiftly move to a super connected era, families see Wi-Fi as one of the top lifestyle essentials. Year on year, they continue to invest in connected devices such as 4K HDTVs, smartphones and home automation devices without making any essential advancements in their Wi-Fi technology. This, in turn, chokes their complete networking experience," said Amanulla Khan, managing director of Linksys, Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

"To keep up the speed and performance of their wireless experience, families should upgrade to premium Wi-Fi routers that are inbuilt with the latest technology needed for all the new devices coming into the home, and never have to worry about their network," he advised.

Khan also revealed that Linksys will soon unveil the Linksys Max-Stream AC5400 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router with MU-MIMO (EA9500) routers with Smart Wi-Fi Software applications, one of the most powerful tri-band routers on the market, which delivers premium business-grade connectivity to the home; and the first MU-MIMO enabled USB adapter, the Linksys Max-Stream AC600 USB MU-MIMO Adapter (WUSB6100M) that upgrade Wi-Fi technology in smart devices.  

Also launching is the first range extender with next-generation AC Wave 2 technology - MU-MIMO the Linksys Max-Stream AC1900+ MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE7000) that provide greater performance with seamless roaming that eliminate Wi-Fi blackspots. These next generation products are engineered on the latest advances in MU-MIMO technology, which promises faster Internet speeds and reliable connections for multiple devices by maximising the efficiency of home networks.

"We are excited about Linksys' upcoming product line and are looking forward to launching these products in the Middle East market, which has a large technology-savvy population and connected consumers who seek a heightened wireless experience from their routers that can withstand attaching more devices than ever," said Khan. "We believe the products will be a game changer in the regional market with its unique and notable differences in network performance."

- rohma@khaleejtimes.com

Rohma Sadaqat

rohma@khaleejtimes.com