You’re streaming a movie. It buffers. You open a Zoom call. It freezes. You restart your phone. Your TCOM Wi-Fi is still slow.
A sluggish Wi-Fi connection is one of the most common frustrations for internet users. Most of the time, the issue has nothing to do with your internet provider. It’s something in your setup, and it’s fixable.
Here’s what you need to do if your TCOM Wi-Fi is so slow:
Run a Speed Test Before Anything Else
Don’t guess. Confirm.
Go to Speedtest by Ookla on your phone or computer and run a quick test. Then compare that result to the speed listed on your internet package.
- If your result is close to your plan’s speed, the problem is in your home setup, not TCOM’s network.
- If your speeds are far below what you’re paying for, that points to a technical issue worth calling in.
Either way, the speed test tells you exactly where to start.
Check How Many Devices Are Connected
Every device on your network takes a slice of your bandwidth. The more devices connected, the smaller each slice gets.
Think about what’s on your network right now: two smartphones, a laptop, a smart TV, a tablet you forgot about, and maybe a security camera. On a 10Mbps plan, that’s not a lot to go around, especially if several of them are active at the same time.
Log into your router’s admin panel (type 192.168.1.1 into your browser) and look at the connected device list. Disconnect anything not in active use.
If your household has grown and you’re consistently running more devices, it may be time to look at upgrading your home internet package.
Fix Your Router’s Position
Where you put your router has a direct impact on your connection speed. Wi-Fi signals weaken as they travel through walls, floors, and furniture. And the farther your devices are from the router, the slower the connection.
Here are a few adjustments that make a real difference:
- Place the router in a central, open spot in your home, not in a corner or inside a cupboard.
- Keep it off the floor and at table or shelf height.
- Move it away from large appliances like the TV or refrigerator.
If certain rooms in your house consistently get weak signals, our technicians can reposition your Light Beam or router to give you better coverage.
Remove Signal Interference Around Your Router
Sometimes the problem isn’t distance. It’s interference.
Household appliances like microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors operate on frequencies similar to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band. When they run at the same time, they can disrupt your signal.
In densely populated estates in Nakuru, think Lanet, Heshima, or Umoja, neighboring Wi-Fi routers on the same channel add to the interference too.
A few practical fixes:
- If your router supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, switch your devices to the 5GHz band. It’s faster and less congested.
- Move the router away from the kitchen and large metal surfaces.
- Log into your router settings and manually switch to a less crowded Wi-Fi channel.
Research from Norton confirms that channel congestion from neighboring networks is a major factor in slow connections, especially in areas with many households sharing the same frequency bands.
Restart Your Router Regularly
This is the simplest fix and it genuinely works.
Routers hold data in memory as they process your connection. Over time, that memory fills up and slows things down. A restart clears it out and allows the router to reconnect on a cleaner channel.
Turn off your router or Light Beam, wait 15 seconds, then power it back on. Do this at least once a week, especially if you notice your speeds dip by evening when more people are online.
Update Your Router’s Firmware
Your router runs its own software called firmware and manufacturers release updates that fix bugs and improve performance. If your router hasn’t been updated recently, it could be running old code that limits how fast data moves through your network.
Log into your router’s settings page and look for a firmware update option.
Most updates take under five minutes. Newer routers handle this automatically, but older models don’t. A simple update can make a noticeable difference.
If you’re not sure how to do this, TCOM’s support team can help. Check the internet connection issues page for guidance or request a technician visit.
Close Apps Running in the Background
Apps don’t stop using your internet just because you’re not looking at them.
Google Drive, Dropbox, WhatsApp backups, and automatic system updates all run in the background and consume bandwidth.
On a smaller plan, a single device running a large file sync can eat up most of your available speed, leaving very little for everything else.
On your phone, go to Settings > Apps and restrict background data for apps you don’t need constantly synchronizing. On your computer, open the task manager and check what’s actively using your network connection.
Pause or close anything running a large download or upload.
Check Whether You’re on the Right Plan
Sometimes the issue isn’t a fault. You’ve just outgrown your plan.
If your household has added more devices or you’re doing more video calls, streaming, or working from home, a 5Mbps or 7Mbps package may no longer keep up.
Here’s a rough guide to help you decide:
| Activity | Minimum Speed Needed |
| Browsing and social media (1 user) | 2 to 5 Mbps |
| Video calls (Zoom, Google Meet) | 5 to 10 Mbps |
| HD streaming (YouTube, Netflix) | 10 to 15 Mbps |
| Multiple users with streaming | 20 to 30 Mbps |
| Business use or gaming station | 30 Mbps and above |
TCOM’s home packages range from 5Mbps to 30Mbps and business packages go up to 150Mbps. You can switch plans at any time by calling 0110345166 and there’s no need to change your equipment when upgrading. You can also read about TCOM’s guarantees to understand exactly what each plan covers before you decide.
Call TCOM Support When Nothing Else Works
If you’ve worked through everything above and speeds are still consistently low, there may be a network or equipment issue on TCOM’s end. Common causes include a Light Beam that needs repositioning, an outage in your area, or a misconfigured router setting.
TCOM’s support team is available and can send a technician to your home or business. Call 0110345166 for real-time help.
