How to Increase VPN Speed for Better Sports Streaming

Nowadays, virtual private networks (VPNs) have become a necessity. Anyone who doesn’t want their internet connections restricted and monitored by their governments uses VPN. Many use their VPN services to overcome geo-restrictions. VPN allows users to watch their favourite shows and games without annoying limitations. But one common problem among VPN users is the connection speed.

Yes, VPN services can slow an internet connection down. They do, after all, add an extra stop on the connection highway. And then there’s an added layer of encryption on top of that. It’s a VPN’s job to secure a connection and keep users anonymous. But that shouldn’t happen at the cost of a proper streaming session.

Fortunately, there are a couple of things VPN users can do to make sure their internet speed doesn’t suffer. Follow these tips to ensure that your next sports streaming session goes off without a hitch.

What can Slow a VPN Connection Down?

There are many reasons why a VPN may slow a connection down. Here are the top three causes.

Encryption Strength

VPN services use different encryption protocols to protect the data, which is travelling through their servers. These protocols define how a VPN encrypts the data before it reaches your chosen website. This process does take some time. Especially when the encryption method is particularly secure.

Connecting to VPN Servers in Distant Locations

Like any other form of travel, data will take longer when it has to travel over long distances. Connecting to a VPN server in a country that is far away will result in a stream having to buffer as it waits for the rest of the data to catch up. Meanwhile, connecting to a VPN in the same country or a neighbouring country results in much lower latency.

VPN Servers With Heavy Traffic

Much like any other service on the internet, VPNs sometimes experience high levels of traffic. Some servers are more popular than others and can become very congested. It results in a slower connection as the server tries to cope with that traffic.

5 Ways to Make a VPN Connection Faster

1. Make Sure the Internet Connection Isn’t the Problem

True, it doesn’t have anything to do with VPNs. But it’s good to rule out other possible causes at first. Turn off the VPN and test the connection speed with a broadband speed tester like Ookla. 

If the connection performs fine based on the Mbps plan with the ISP, then test it again with the VPN. If the speed is not on par with expectations (with the VPN turned off), then there might be other network issues.

2. Try Another VPN Server

The distance and congestion can both slow the connection down. First off, try to connect to a VPN server that is closer to home, or if travelling, closer to that location. It isn’t always possible, depending on where the game is being streamed from, but you should do it when viable. 

Then, if the stream still buffers or becomes of poor quality, try a different server in the same region. The server may be crowded, which can be slowing it down.

3. Consider Using Split Tunneling

Sometimes, many bandwidth-hogging applications are taking up space on the network. A VPN server cannot always handle all traffic, which makes split tunnelling a good option. 

Many VPN services support split tunnelling. It allows a user to decide which applications to run over the encrypted VPN network. The rest of the traffic will run over the regular internet connection.

4. Change the Protocol

Changing to a different protocol can speed up the connection. Keep in mind, though, that while weaker encryption protocols speed the connection up a little, they are also less secure. But when it comes to activities like sports streaming, security may not play a vital part. But the fast connection does. So, it may be worth sacrificing it a little bit.

5. Switch to a Different VPN

When VPN slows the connection all the time, it might be wise to consider switching to a different VPN service. Some VPNs (especially the free ones) don’t have the resources to cater to users’ needs. Shop around a bit and look for a VPN with a reputation for fast speeds.

Conclusion

While VPN can slow a connection down, the delay shouldn’t impact daily activities such as sports streaming. Sometimes VPNs can even speed a connection up. They help circumvent ISP throttling and provide a more efficient path for the connection to travel through. So, don’t give up on VPNs because of slower connections. Follow these tips and make buffering a thing of the past.

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