Why Is My Business Internet Slow?
5 Quick Things to Check Before You Call Support
Posted on September 11, 2025 by Fusion Connect
If your business internet has been lagging lately—slow loading times, glitchy video calls, or frustrated employees—it doesn’t always mean you need to overhaul your entire network. In fact, some of the most common culprits behind sluggish performance can be diagnosed (and even fixed) with just a little digging.
At Fusion Connect, we believe in making technology work for you—not the other way around. Whether you're an IT lead wearing too many hats or the go-to person for all things tech in a remote office for a growing company, this guide is designed to help you troubleshoot quickly and confidently.
Let’s dig into five fast, common-sense checks to help identify what’s slowing you down.
1. Is Your Wi-Fi Router in the Right Place?
Your Wi-Fi signal isn’t magic—it follows the rules of physics. If your router is tucked away in a closet, under a desk, or surrounded by metal filing cabinets, chances are you’re choking your signal before it even gets started.
👍Quick Fix:
Place your router in a central, elevated, and open area. Avoid walls, floors, and large obstructions. For multi-floor buildings or large offices, consider upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system or installing multiple access points for better coverage.
🌟Pro Tip:
Microwave ovens, cordless phones, and even fish tanks can cause interference on the 2.4GHz band. Keep routers clear of these where possible.
2. Are You Overloading Your Network?
Today’s offices run dozens of devices per person—phones, laptops, tablets, printers, security cameras, and more. And that’s before factoring in cloud apps, video meetings, and streaming content.
👍Quick Fix:
Use your router’s admin panel or a network monitoring tool to check for excessive connections or activity. Look for devices hogging bandwidth or non-essential applications running in the background. Also make sure you are using business-grade equipment. Your average consumer Wi-Fi router isn’t designed to handle as many devices that are on a business network.
⚠️Things to Watch For:
- Software updates running during business hours
- Personal streaming on work devices
- Misconfigured cloud backup tools syncing large files all at once
💯Fusion Connect Solution:
Managed SD-WAN from Fusion Connect can dynamically prioritize mission-critical traffic—like VoIP or video conferencing—while balancing less urgent data in real time.
3. Are Your Devices Past Their Prime?
Sometimes, it’s not the network—it’s the hardware. Aging routers and modems might still work, but they may not support modern speeds, security protocols, or device loads.
👍Quick Fix:
Check the model and firmware of your modem/router. If it's more than five years old, it may be time for a replacement. Devices should support at least Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or better. 10 Mbps used to be pretty fast, but today’s connections are often faster. Make sure you don’t have old routers, switches, or hubs that can’t keep up with demand. And, don’t forget the client side—old laptops, outdated network cards, and even old Ethernet cables can all bottleneck performance.
4. Is Bandwidth the Bottleneck?
Let’s face it—your needs have likely outgrown your original internet plan. What worked for 10 employees and a few cloud apps may not cut it with a hybrid workforce, VoIP calls, and remote desktops all running at once.
👍Quick Fix:
Perform a speed test (both wired and wireless) during peak hours. Compare the results to your ISP’s advertised speeds. If you’re getting significantly less, or if latency spikes during critical business hours, it may be time to revisit your bandwidth plan—or consider a failover solution for added reliability.
💯Fusion Connect Solution:
We offer scalable business internet plans with built-in SD-WAN capabilities to help maximize throughput, reduce jitter, and keep your business-critical apps humming.
5. Are You Experiencing Hidden Interference?
Some issues aren’t easy to see. Devices like fire alarm panels, elevator rescue phones, and even HVAC systems that still rely on older POTS lines can interfere with network equipment—or reveal bigger issues when they lose connectivity.
👍Quick Fix:
Review the placement of network gear in relation to infrastructure equipment. Make sure fire panels and building systems are properly isolated from your business network—and if you’re still relying on POTS landlines, it’s time to replace them.
🌟Bonus:
Many POTS replacement devices can double as LTE backup internet connections, providing continuity in the event of an outage.
When It’s Time to Bring in the Experts
Fusion Connect’s Managed Network Services offer:
- 24/7 monitoring and support
- 100% uptime guarantees
- Built-in failover and bandwidth prioritization
- Centralized management with zero finger-pointing
