Frontier Communications is a popular ISP for the right reasons. For starters, it provides a reliable and speedy internet service across the United States. However, there are times when you may encounter a slow internet experience from Frontier. While this experience can be frustrating, solving the issue and regaining Internet access is not rocket science. In this guide, I have explained the potential causes and working solutions for the slow internet issue with Frontier.
About Frontier Internet
Frontier Communications is a company that offers fiber internet, TV, and phone services across the United States. It markets itself as a better alternative to cable-based internet, offering speeds up to 25x. Frontier is offering high-speed fiber-optic Internet connections with speeds reaching up to 4 Gbps. Elsewhere, Frontier also offers fiber and cable-based internet services without data caps or extra charges.
Users also love that they can get a Frontier connection without term contracts. In most instances, Frontier internet plans offer impressive speeds and reliable uptime, making it a great choice for both residential and enterprise needs. In November 2024, Frontier shareholders approved the decision to be acquired by Verizon. Once the final approval is done, Frontier will cease to exist, and the resources will be under Verizon.
Now that you know the basics about Frontier Internet, shall we check out the issue of slow internet?
Common Reasons for Frontier Slow Internet
Let’s quickly look at the common reasons why you have a slow internet connection despite paying for a high-speed connection from Frontier.
- Internet Outage: A service outage as a part of planned maintenance or natural disasters can cause a slow internet experience on Frontier and other ISPs.
- Hardware Issues: When you have a fiber-optic connection from Frontier, issues with the router, ONT, or the cables can affect the Internet speed, causing things to slow down.
- Firmware Issues: The router firmware could also be responsible for the slow internet you are facing with Frontier. These issues could be temporary in many cases, though.
- Network Congestion: If you face a slow internet connection at a specific time every day, it could be a case of network congestion. It happens when too many users are sharing network resources.
- Signal Issues: Do you face speed issues while using Wi-Fi? You could be dealing with signal issues due to the router or interference on the way.
- Overheating and Overloading: Devices or apps running in the background can be behind the slower internet connection.
Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive or specific. This means there will be multiple solutions for each issue I have listed.
Top 10 Ways to Fix Frontier Slow Internet
Without further ado, I will share some effective ways to fix the Frontier slow internet issue.
#1 Restart the Router
Temporary issues are not uncommon while using Frontier internet, no matter which router you have. Before you proceed with any other solution, you should restart the router to see if the problem goes away.
Locate the Power button and press it once. After the lights turn off, unplug all the cables, including the Power adaptor cable and Ethernet cables. Wait for 10-30 seconds before you plug everything back in. When you turn the router back on, you should have a Wi-Fi connection with better speed.
#2 Check for Outage
If the restart does not solve the problem, you should check if Frontier is facing an outage. If there is an active outage, you must be patient until the issue is solved.
Frontier would have sent an email or SMS if there was a planned maintenance session. So, you should check your inbox for something like that. However, if you want to track unplanned downtimes, you can check sites like DownDetector or the official tracking page from Frontier.
If the outage persists even after a few hours, you may want to contact Frontier. By the way, if you still have not, it is a good idea to subscribe to outage alerts via email and SMS.
#3 Check the Cables
If you are not using the cables that you got with the router, you may be causing a slow internet experience. The idea is to use power and Ethernet cables that are the most compatible with the router.
I recommend using the cables you got with the setup package. If it is necessary to shift, you should be careful about the specifications. Wi-Fi routers are sensitive equipment, and I have had issues with different voltages.
You should also check if all the cables are plugged in properly. Loosely connected cables can cause problems in the long run.
#4 Check the Router Location
The location where you have placed the Frontier Wi-Fi router can also determine the speeds you get. There are two things to note:
- Make sure that your device receives sufficient signals from the router. You need to avoid obstructions on the way, such as thick walls.
- The router must be away from any device that causes interference. Microwave ovens are the most common obstruction in this category, and you will see the impact while using the 2.4GHz band.
The easier alternative here is to get a mesh Wi-Fi system if you still haven’t. This will help you improve Wi-Fi speed across multiple rooms and get rid of Wi-Fi dead zones.
#5 Check for Network Congestion
Network congestion is a little more complicated than the other reasons causing a low internet connection from Frontier. Ideally, you must have an Internet connection with the speed you paid for. However, during peak hours, you may get slower speeds because more people rely on the network infrastructure.
In most cases, Frontier would expand its infrastructure to meet the increasing requirements. However, if this does not work, you may face issues with the overall speed. But when you are paying a huge amount for a multi-gig Internet connection, this should not happen.
The solution? You can contact Frontier and convey the situation. If you don’t receive an update, you can take things up with Frontier later.
#6 Use A Wired Connection
One thing most people forget is that Wi-Fi cannot provide you with the best speed that the plan offers. As you can guess, Wi-Fi signals are vulnerable to multiple factors, including signal loss. So, if you want to check if you are getting the best speed through the local network, you should use a wired connection.
The process is simple. You can use an Ethernet cable to connect the Wi-Fi router to your PC or smartphone. Then, you can use a tool like Speedtest.net to check the exact speeds you are getting from the Frontier Wi-Fi network.
If you find super-slow speeds even when using a wired connection, you must contact Frontier and ask for an upgrade.
#7 Remove Background Apps/Devices
The slow internet speeds that you’re getting from the Frontier Network could also be because of background applications or devices. That is, some other devices may be using internet resources in the background, and this will cause issues.
Let’s say that there is a 4K TV that you use for streaming. If the TV is streaming 4K content, you cannot expect the full speed on the Frontier Network on your smartphone or computer, right? So, you have to make sure that these devices are not running when you want the best speed from the network.
Similarly, you should check if particular apps are consuming data in the background. They may be updating applications or software, and they should be stopped if you are looking forward to maximum speed from the Frontier Internet plan.
If you must use multiple devices at the same time, you may have to upgrade to a faster internet plan.
#8 Disable VPN Connections
VPN connections may offer better privacy and security, but they take a toll on internet speed. It happens as VPN connections use encryption. Therefore, you should check if you have connected your computer or the Wi-Fi router to a VPN service.
At the device level, you can go to Settings > Network > VPN and turn off the VPN. However, if you have set up a VPN at the router level, you need to log in to the web-based dashboard. Log in, navigate to System, and go to VPN. Here, you can turn off the VPN and restart the router.
After you restart the Frontier router, you can check the speed. You should get better speeds.
#9 Shift Frequency Bands
You should also check if you are using the 5GHz frequency band for the Wi-Fi network. By the way, if you are using a multi-gigabit Internet connection from Frontier, you may even need a 6GHz band with higher speed capacity. Though 5GHz and 6GHz bands have shorter coverage areas, they can handle more data.
So, whenever you need the best speeds from your Frontier Wi-Fi network, you must use the 5GHz or 6GHz band instead of the 2.4GHz band. By the way, if you have not enabled the 5GHz or 6GHz band on the router, you can do it by logging in to the web-based router dashboard.
#10 Factory Reset Your Frontier Router
If you have reached this step without any success, you need to assume that the router has some issues. The issue could be software-based or hardware-based. The only way to confirm is to factory reset your router so that the changes you have made are gone.
Given that Frontier uses different Wi-Fi routers, you need to follow different steps. The steps are simple:
- Make sure that your Wi-Fi router is connected to power, but make sure you disconnect the Ethernet cable.
- Now, locate the Reset button on the back panel of the router. It could be a protruded button or a hole inside which you can find a button.
- Press and hold the Reset button for 5-10 seconds until the lights on the Wi-Fi router start flashing. It should stay like that for a few minutes.
- Make sure your router has a continuous power supply throughout the process.
Once the factory reset process is complete, the lights on the router will be back to normal. You can connect to the Wi-Fi network using the default SSID and password. You can change these settings later if you want.
Conclusion
I have covered almost every step that would help you retain the best speeds for your Frontier connection. If these steps don’t help, you have to contact Frontier. In most cases, you can expect a technician visit and an upgrade for the router. However, because these visits can take up to a day or two, you can try all the methods I have mentioned.
