Bandwidth Throttling.

For the past 10 days my ISP has throttled my bandwidth. Of course I can't prove this.
However, earlier I disconnected the mobile USB modem (21.6 Mbps capability) and connected my smartphone via USB tethering and suddenly everything is up to speed. I have different service providers for the phone and modem. I have no idea what the capability of smartphone's modem is - Windows shows 425 Mbps!

I have read that I could bypass this bandwidth throttling using a VPN. If this is true, does anyone have experience using TunnelBear VPN or CyberGhost VPN? Or any other recommendation?

 

I would guess the 425 is a measure of the USB 2.0 connection itself, max 480Mbps. Have you tried an internet speedtester with each, such as speedtest.net?

 

My data bundle on my phone just ran out. I'll have to wait till tomorrow.
Any suggestion on a VPN?

 

Don't know anything at all about VPNs

 

The same thing just happened!
Using my mobile modem is impossible. I tried another modem - same ISP - and it's the same. I can't continue to use the phone as I get just 100 MB per month. Time to switch service providers...

http://www.speedtest.net/result/4933116421.png

 

Ugh! What's it supposed to be, or what were you getting previously?

 

Earthling, downloading I get no more than 6 - 8 Mbps with the mobile modem. On MajorGeeks and other sites, it crawls down to less than 1 Mbps. Now, I'm getting speeds of less than 100 Kbps! I've done the switch again and the other ISP's speed is faster. And the phone's modem is much slower!

Vodacom (Vodafone) modem 21.6 Mbps.
MTN smartphone ? Mbps. It's a Samsung Galaxy Pocket Neo!

The latter's faster.

 

You might just ask your ISP. Mine is very honest, they tell me things like "You used 300GB already this month so we are limiting you during prime business hours" or "We are doing maintenance in your area, you will be back to normal in three days".

 

So many factors at play with this, but if you are sure your ADSL has slowed significantly, and nothing has changed between your modem and your connection point, then they do owe you either an explanation or an investigation. But what caught my eye was 2.93 puts you in the top 42% in ZA, whatever that is - Zambia? That would be unacceptable here even low population areas.

 

Most phone company's will limit your data to all most nothing after excessive use.And if you are a prepaid there are normally about 300 or so a month then they limit you.Like i have net ten if i use more than 250 a month they will limit me after that amount is used up.

 

Earthling, sorry, that first image is of my phone's modem.
That's quite impressive considering it was released about 2 years ago, and at the time was the base model in the Samsung Galaxy range. It cost ab0ut £30.

Here's my mobile modem's speed test.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/4935431742.png
This is very misleading. I use NetWorx that shows my download & upload speeds. They drop to Kbps. I'm having a terrible time just using MajorGeeks. I know it's not the site because eveything is fine using the phone's slower modem. Watching short video clips has become impossible.

DOA, thanks. My monthly allowance is just 4 GB and I don't go over. As for honesty... these 2 ISPs (Vodacom & MTN) control probably 90% of the mobile market. I'll check with some friends whether they have the same problem.