Many Canadians notice that their internet slows down in the evening, especially between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. This is known as peak‑hour congestion, and it affects certain types of internet connections more than others.
Why Speeds Drop in the Evening
- Neighbourhood congestion: Cable networks are shared among nearby homes.
- Streaming demand: Netflix, YouTube, and gaming traffic spike at night.
- Wi‑Fi interference: More devices active in your home and nearby homes.
How to Improve Evening Speeds
- Use a wired Ethernet connection for important tasks
- Upgrade to a higher‑tier plan if you frequently hit limits
- Switch to fibre if available
- Improve Wi‑Fi placement or upgrade your router
When to Contact Your ISP
If your evening speeds are consistently below 50% of your plan speed, contact your provider and ask whether congestion is affecting your area.