What is network congestion and how do you fix it?
When it comes to network performance, there are a few areas to consider. Network congestion is one of them. Imagine a digital traffic jam slowing everything down, that’s what network congestion is like. It leads to poor user experiences, frustrated teams, slow performance for real-time applications, and a slow down in productivity.
But what exactly is a congested network, and more importantly, how can you fix it? With the right tools and expertise, congestion doesn’t have to be a persistent headache.
What does it mean if your network is congested?
When your network is congested, it essentially means the amount of data is too high is trying to travel through the same "highway" at once. Every network has a limited amount of bandwidth. When the demand exceeds the available capacity, data packets are delayed or dropped entirely and network congestion occurs.
This can happen for several reasons:
- High user activity: Too many network devices or users connected at the same time.
- Large file transfers: Sending or receiving large files which take up bandwidth.
- Outdated hardware: Older routers or switches might struggle to keep up with modern demands.
- Background applications: Programs running in the background may consume bandwidth without your knowledge.
Typically, network congestion is a short-term problem caused by unexpected surges in traffic. But if your network is continually congested, there could be a bigger problem.
How do you check network congestion?
If you are experiencing the tell-tale signs and symptoms of a congested network: sluggish Internet speeds, lagging video calls, and painfully slow file uploads, then your network may need some attention.
While there are many issues that can cause poor network performance, checking for network congestion is the most obvious and simplest to check. You're essentially looking for signs of:
- Jitter (inconsistent data delivery)
- Latency (delays in data travel)
- Throughput issues (reduced data transmission)
- Packet loss (data not reaching its destination)
Here's how you can check network congestion effectively:
- Use network monitoring tools: There are plenty of software tools available that can help you analyze network traffic. These tools provide real-time insights into bandwidth usage, allowing you to identify bottlenecks and high-demand periods.
- Conduct speed tests: Speed tests are a quick way to see if your actual Internet speeds match the promised ones.
- Analyze network traffic: Look at traffic patterns to understand peak times or specific applications that take up a lot of bandwidth. You can also assess your network topology to see if certain devices are experiencing higher traffic loads than others.
- Inspect network logs: Most modern routers come with built-in diagnostics and logs. By accessing your router's admin panel, you can check for abnormal spikes in traffic or devices consuming excessive bandwidth.
- Ping and trace route commands: Perform ping and traceroute tests to identify latency issues, packet loss and locate where delays are occurring along the data route.
- User reports and complaints: One clear indicator that there’s a problem is if there is a high number of complaints reporting lagging, dropped connections, and timeouts.
Identifying the issue is the first step in tackling network congestion. But understanding how to reduce network congestion is where the real work begins.
How to reduce network congestion
Most businesses will experience some network congestion at some point. Especially if you are operating globally and have a lot of devices, applications and people sending traffic through the network daily.
When it comes to fixing network congestion, here are some practical strategies to get your connection back on track and your data traffic moving:
- Monitor network traffic
Deploy network management and monitoring tools that accurately show you network traffic volumes. This will help you diagnose network congestion as quickly as possible and understand where it is coming from.
- Upgrade your bandwidth
Sometimes, the easiest solution is to increase your network's capacity. Contact your internet service provider (ISP) to explore plans with higher speeds or more bandwidth. Increasing your bandwidth will allow your network to handle more data and devices at the same time. This will ensure your users see uninterrupted connections and faster speeds.
- Prioritize your traffic
Identify any unnecessary or low priority traffic and prioritize your network traffic so that bandwidth is reserved for certain applications, users and devices.
You can also prioritize network traffic by scheduling any activities that require large amounts of network bandwidth for a time when users will not be using it. This helps avoid network congestion and keeps bandwidth high during business hours.
- Deploy to SD-WAN
If you're managing a network for a global business with a cloud-first strategy, traditional broadband or network infrastructure might not cut it. Software Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) solutions can optimize traffic flow and provide more flexible bandwidth management using multiple links and pathways.
SD-WAN can help you implement Quality of Service (QoS), which is a method of prioritizing critical applications like video conferencing or VoIP over less essential activities like file downloads. Creating a set of site profiles with similar application usage will allow you to prioritize your traffic with ease across global sites.
- Optimize device usage
Reduce the number of devices connected to your network during peak hours. Encourage users to disconnect devices they’re not actively using.
- Work with a Managed Service Provider
When you work with a Managed Service Provider (MSP), like Expereo, to manage your network, they can help you identify not only your current bandwidth needs, but also your future ones too. This allows you to scale your connectivity needs and network as you grow and transform, reducing the likelihood of congestion. A trusted partner monitoring and managing your network’s performance and health also means you can increase the amount of high-performance uptime across the board – in every location!
- Reassess your network architecture
Sometimes, congestion isn’t just about bandwidth. It can be about how your network is structured. If your network relies too heavily on a centralized hub or routes all traffic through a single point, it may struggle to scale with your needs. Revisiting your architecture with an eye toward decentralization and flexibility can significantly improve performance. You may find that regional breakout points, better load balancing, or more efficient routing protocols can reduce traffic pressure without requiring new infrastructure.
- Enable application-level traffic shaping
Not all data is equal. Some apps are designed to handle a delay without issue, while others. For example, real-time video or video streaming applications demand consistent performance. By using application-aware traffic shaping tools, you can assign policies that ensure your most critical apps get the bandwidth and priority they need. This makes your network more efficient and reduces user frustration during peak demand.
By following these steps, you can reduce the likelihood of a congested network for smoother operations and happier users. But staying proactive is the key to optimizing your network’s performance and reducing network congestion in our opinion!
Why network congestion matters more than ever
Today’s enterprise networks support more users, more apps, and more locations than ever before. A lagging network doesn’t just slow down work, it can delay critical decisions, disrupt customer interactions, and affect your bottom line.
That’s why managing congestion has become more than just a technical necessity. It’s now a business imperative. With cloud apps, hybrid teams, and AI workloads becoming the norm, your network must be ready to handle the load without hesitation.
Take your network faster to the future with Expereo
Your business deserves a network that can support your current needs, and your future ones.
With 20 years’ experience and managing thousands of networks globally, we understand the Internet better than anyone. We can work with your unique needs to design, build and run a high-performing enterprise network that’s fit for the future.
Get in touch to discuss your needs and prevent network congestion from slowing your goals down.