Will your Bandwidth Hide in a Burrow this Winter?
Across the country, millions of Americans are waiting to see if their neighborhood groundhog will see its shadow and panic, signaling six more weeks of winter. Travel itineraries, school schedules, and even wedding plans depend on the outcome.
Well…maybe not. Most of us are only aware of Groundhog Day being a holiday thanks to a 1993 film featuring Bill Murray. But whether or not your local groundhog flees to its burrow, many Americans are bracing for colder days ahead.
And with more time spent indoors comes a familiar modern question – can your home internet keep up when everyone is online at once?
Cold Weather Days and Slower Internet
Cold weather means more time bundled up indoors, and typically more time spent using the Internet. For households that don’t have great connectivity, it can feel like a constant battle to get enough bandwidth to survive the season. And that can get old pretty quickly, when it feels like you’re trapped in the same day of buffering and lag over and over again.
The strain on internet connection happens when too many data requests collide at once, which comes in a few specific ways:
- The Upload Struggle: Most traditional internet is like a one-way street; it’s great for downloading (watching a movie), but very narrow for uploading (sharing video and audio on a work call). When you try to do both at once, your work call freezes because there isn’t enough room to send your data out.
- The Device Tax: In simpler times, the only devices that used to connect to the internet were computers. Now, most households have many devices that are always connected, like smart thermostats, security cameras, and phones. The more devices in use, the less bandwidth available.
- Digital Rush Hour: With traditional cable, you’re often sharing bandwidth with your neighbors. When everyone on your block is streaming movies at 7:00 PM, your individual speed can drop.
In comes the Fiber Fix
Fiber-optic internet (like Fios and Frontier Fiber) is built for this kind of always-on, shared usage. By delivering data through pulses of light rather than copper wiring, fiber offers the capacity households rely on during high-demand moments.
Verizon Fios and Frontier’s Fiber show exactly how strong this connection can be, with 99.9% network reliability and 100% all fiber network. That means faster upload speeds, smoother streaming, and fewer slowdowns when demand peaks.
And upgrading your home setup also comes with seasonal rewards. Frontier Fiber customers who add mobile service, and Verizon mobile customers who add home internet, can now get one perk for free – meaning you could choose our Netflix & Max perk to stream your favorite movies for no additional cost.
Getting out of the Cold
You don't have to be a tech expert to know when your internet isn't working for you. If you're feeling the squeeze, it's time to look at the architecture of your home.
While fiber is the gold standard for busy homes, Verizon 5G Home Internet also offers a powerful, easy-to-set-up wireless alternative to keep your family connected.
Regardless of what the groundhog predicts, your home internet doesn’t have to slow you down this winter.
