Why Is My Internet In Israel So Slow?

If your internet is slow, it might be a problem with your internet service provider, but there are other possibilities.  You may need: a mesh network system if you’re in a bigger living space, an updated router, an upgraded plan, to check your cable connectors, install a virus checker, or to even switch off devices when you can.

In a recent global integrated census, Israel was found number two in the world when it comes to internet usage. 

In Israel personal computers are found in about 77,19% of Israeli homes, and 90% have internet connections. Israel is well known to have one of “most active and dynamic internet markets in the world”. 

A fast and efficient internet connection is important to all Israelis, so if you are getting slow internet there is definitely something wrong.

Here are a few common factors and we’ll get into what you can do about them:

(These factors are mentioned by Intel, one of the leading technology companies in the world)

Could it be that your connection is wireless? What about ethernet cable?

When we get a choppy internet connection, our first reaction is to try connecting by ethernet cable, to rule out if it’s your WiFI  adapter or router causing the issue. 

If you rent an apartment - which many people do in Israel - it could simply be that your neighbors on the next floor up are using your signal or hogging the bandwidth. Maybe it’s time to take a trip up to the “Vad Habayit (Neighbor in charge of managing the apartment maintenance)”; at the end of the day, what can they do about it?

A common scenario for almost all of us:

Your daughter is on her Facebook account, while your son is playing Minecraft on the PC -  rather than doing his homework. At the same time, you’re on a video call with a client. Suddenly your connection keeps dropping. What do you do? Here are a few of our solves to common factors.

Devices adding up? Time to get a faster connection.

If you are in a home where your household is using many devices at the same time, it’s a good idea to get a quicker internet connection. If you are using a 2.4 GHz plan, perhaps it’s time to upgrade to a 5GHz. This is the ideal speed to support more devices. Make sure you also check the age of your router. Older routers tend to have slower internet speeds, so it may be time for an update.

The problem could also be the location of your router. While we agree that routers aren’t as aesthetic as pot plants. Walls, divisions and other obstacles will cause your internet to slow down. You should also make sure that you are using your device near a router.

Could a computer virus be slowing your internet down?

Viruses slow all of us down, even computers. Slow computer speeds could be the result of a virus on your computer. Some types of viruses affect computer browsers and may flood multiple tabs and window, or silently download bloatware. This can flood your network with traffic that it can’t cope with resulting in slowing down your internet speed dramatically. 

What is the fix for viruses?

Surfing the internet sensibly by:

Could having too many cheap or older Coaxial Splitters be slowing your internet down?

If you have a strong internet connection and want to use the same internet signal on more than one device, a possible solution is to install a coax splitter. This means you can work on the computer in the office while your daughter or son can check their Facebook account.

Coax splitters are available at any electronics shop or hardware store. They are square in shape and include a connector that’s “designed to interface when the cable line is being split, and a series of ports to connect to electronic devices”. The ports can be on one side or on several. The more ports, the greater chance of a signal dropping. 

Splitters on your cable line can affect the strength of your WiFI signal, resulting in slow internet speeds. Splitters also vary in quality. If you’re using older or cheaper ones they could cause your internet to slow down. Multiple splitters affects internet speed. 

Sometimes you can tell if your coax splitter(s) are deteriorating. You can see they are visibly damaged when a center pin is missing in the connector. Sometimes silver plated tarnished connectors will produce a weak signal; this is when they need replacing. However, there are times when damage won’t be as visible like when the solder has loosened behind the connector.  

For more on how to install coax splitters read here.

What is the fix for too many or cheaper Coax Splitters?

Replacing your older coaxial splitters with better quality ones will ensure there are fewer obstructions to your internet quality. A possible solution is simply disconnecting them from your internet cable and testing your internet without them: If you find that your internet is faster without coax splitters you’ve found the solution.

Could the size of your living space be slowing your internet down?

If you live in a big-sized apartment in one of Israel’s fabulous cities or in a big home in one of Israel’s beautiful suburban areas, you may find that in some rooms the internet connection is slower than in others. Let’s say, you want to find a quiet place to work away from noise, but that quiet room has a weak internet connection, how do you make it work?

What’s the fix in large living spaces? A Mesh WiFi system!

A Mesh WiFi System (also known as “The Whole Home WiFI System”) includes a main router that plugs directly in your modem, and a number of strategically placed satellite modules located around your home.

”They are all part of a single wireless network and share the same password and SSID”.

It’s like covering your entire home with a single WiFi blanket. Even when you’re moving between rooms, you’ll have the internet. The Mesh WiFi system solves the problem of the traditional router which has limited coverage. 

As they say in Star Wars,“May the (WiFi) Force (always) be With You.”

More people working at home than ever before could be slowing your internet down

Today, 40% of Israelis are working at home. The result is slower internet speeds for everyone. Think about how many people have a video call meeting at work at 9am. Now double it. This slows the internet down dramatically. An office’s internet system is built for hundreds of people in the same space using the internet at the same time; a home system doesn’t have that capacity.

What’s our fix for the increasing traffic?

When more people are working from home using the internet, there are practical solutions that won’t slow down your internet:

If you are having your morning video meeting at 8:30 AM, which coincides with a few hundred other remote workers, it slows the internet down for everyone and causes disconnections. By scheduling your call ten minutes before or after the likely planned time, you’ll avoid too many meeting stop starts

Hot Tip: Even if you are not using your tablet or smartphone during the times that you are working online, those devices can still slow down your internet speed. You may think they’re lying dormant, but they could be downloading updates which can take up a lot of bandwidth. It may be best to shut down other devices that you aren't using if internet speed is important for you. 

Plugging your device directly into your router sometimes may be the only option to keep the speed up. While we all love wireless for its convenience, it can cause latency- slowing down the signals sent from your router to your device. When all your neighbors are using the internet at home, it may not be the time to work outside in your garden or on your balcony.

There’s one problem we hadn’t mentioned:

The problem of the “Dead Zone” (no not zombies, but internet zombies)

You may live in a dead zone when you find your internet connection is down.  This is an area within a L.A.N. ( L.A.N. stands for Location. Area. Network: a  neighborhood, office building or college campus) where Wi-Fi doesn’t work. This problem can be a tricky one.

Call or switch your provider

If you have tried everything, it’s time to get someone more technical on the job. There are a number of options available if you decide you want to choose another provider in Israel.

The Bottom Line: 

Israel is second in the world when it comes to internet use and pride themselves on providing a fast and efficient service, and you should be a part of that. If your internet connection is slow find out if you need a new router, a faster plan, or a mesh network system for a larger living space