What is Latency and How to Reduce It?

Ever clicked on a website and waited ages for it to load? Or experienced frustrating delays during online gaming? You're likely dealing with high latency. Understanding what latency means and how to tackle it can dramatically improve your internet experience.

Understanding latency: what does latency mean?

What does latency mean in simple terms? Latency is the delay between when you send a request over the internet and when you receive a response. Think of it like having a conversation across a crowded room - the time it takes for your voice to reach someone and their reply to come back is essentially latency.

Measured in milliseconds (ms), latency represents the round-trip time for data to travel from your device to a server and back. What does latency mean for your experience? It's the difference between smooth, responsive browsing and frustrating delays.

Unlike broadband speed, which measures how much data transfers at once, latency focuses on how quickly that data makes the journey.

How latency affects your online experience

Latency impacts different activities in various ways. High latency means pages take longer to start loading, video calls become choppy with delayed audio, and gaming becomes frustrating as your inputs take longer to register on the server.

For businesses using cloud applications, high latency slows down everything from accessing files to running software, impacting productivity across the team.

At Hey! Broadband, we provide low latency and ping, ideal for competitive gamers who need instant responsiveness, remote workers requiring lag-free video calls, and businesses relying on smooth cloud access.

What latency is good for optimal performance?

What latency is good depends on your online activities:

• Excellent latency: Under 20ms - Near-instantaneous response times perfect for competitive gaming.
• Good latency: 20-50ms - Most people won't notice delays, adequate for general browsing and streaming.
• Acceptable latency: 50-100ms - Slight delays during video calls or gaming, but still responsive.
• Poor latency: Over 100ms - Noticeable delays that affect your experience.

What should latency be for your needs? Different activities have different requirements. Video streaming tolerates higher latency than online gaming.

Hey! Broadband's full fibre connections typically deliver excellent latency figures, often well under 20ms, thanks to direct fibre connections that eliminate delays from older copper-based systems.

Common reasons for high latency

If you’re asking yourself, ‘’Why is my latency so high?’’, you’ll need to look at your internet connection type. Satellite connections have higher latency due to distance, while ADSL connections struggle with latency, especially far from the exchange.

Network congestion during peak times delays data packets as they compete for bandwidth.

Your home network setup also contributes - old routers, poor WiFi signals, or too many competing devices add delays. Physical distance to servers matters too, as does background applications consuming bandwidth and processing power.

How to fix latency: effective methods to reduce it

If you're wondering how to reduce latency or how to fix latency issues, several approaches help:

• Upgrade your broadband connection: Switching to full fibre like Hey! Broadband's service can dramatically reduce latency. Fibre connections aren't affected by distance from the exchange like copper connections.
• Optimise your home network: Position your router centrally, away from interference. Consider switching to the 5GHz band, which is typically less congested.
• Use wired connections: For lowest latency, connect directly to your router with ethernet cable, eliminating WiFi delays.
• Close unnecessary applications: Stop background downloads and streaming when you need lowest latency.
• Choose closer servers: Select servers geographically closer to your location when possible.
• Update your equipment: Modern routers handle data more efficiently, reducing latency.

How to check latency: tools and methods

Knowing how to check latency helps identify issues and monitor improvements:

• Ping tests: Use your computer's ping command. On Windows, type "ping google.com" in Command Prompt.
• Online speed tests: Websites like Speedtest.net display your ping time alongside speed measurements.
• Gaming-specific tests: Many games show ping or latency within their interface.
• Router diagnostics: Modern routers include built-in latency testing tools.

For Hey! Broadband customers, our customer support team can also help diagnose latency issues and provide specific advice for optimising your connection.

Understanding latency and taking steps to reduce it can transform your internet experience. Whether you're working from home, gaming competitively, or simply want more responsive browsing, addressing latency issues makes everything feel faster and more fluid.

If you're ready to explore your options and find the perfect broadband deal for your needs, check out our range of packages or give us a call at 0330 822 2878. Our friendly customer service team is here to help make your switch to Hey! Broadband a swift and stress-free experience!