How Many Devices Can Your Fibre Connection Handle? A Practical Guide

Long gone are the days when homes had just one or two devices connected to the internet. Today, modern Malaysian households are packed with smart devices in nearly every corner. From smart airconds to security cameras and laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles, the number of internet-connected devices in our homes is constantly growing. This surge in connectivity, while offering unparalleled convenience and entertainment, frequently leads to a common frustration: slow internet speeds when multiple devices are in use at the same time.

While understanding how the number of devices impacts your internet connection is crucial, it's also important to remember that it's just one piece of the puzzle. Coverage issues, wrong internet speeds for your homes, and the types of online activities being performed can also affect your browsing experience.

In this guide, we'll focus on how the devices in your home can affect your fibre connection. By the end, you’ll have the tools to ensure your internet keeps up with your family’s lifestyle.

Why Device Count Matters for Your Fibre Connection

When multiple devices connect to a network, they share a common, finite resource known as the bandwidth. This is essentially the capacity of your internet and every connection to this network consumes a portion of it. Another way you can think of it is as a highway: the more vehicles (devices) you add, the more congested the highway becomes and the slower the traffic flow (internet speed) becomes for everyone.

This congestion, caused by using more devices than your network can handle for high bandwidth activities, can lead to a bottleneck in data traffic and ultimately, WiFi problems like buffering and lagging.

Understanding how the available bandwidth can be strained by multiple devices is key to avoiding these issues. To get a fuller picture of your overall WiFi performance, including how bandwidth interacts with other vital factors like speed and latency, read our detailed explanation on speed, bandwidth, and latency.

Some of the key factors that determine how many devices can be connected to a WiFi router include:

Internet Max Speed

In some parts of your home, you might encounter weak, unreliable, or non-existent WiFi signal – these are known as dead zones. Additionally, you might find that your WiFi disconnects unexpectedly and often, or that devices (like your smart TV or gaming console) have trouble maintaining a stable connection. These connection problems can arise from factors such as physical obstructions, distance from the router, interference from other electronic devices, router/device compatibility issues, or outdated equipment.

WiFi Router Max Device Capacity

Different types of routers have different capacities. Some can handle a larger number of simultaneous connections more effectively than others, while others can efficiently handle a smaller amount.

Simultaneous Usage

The types of activities being performed by your devices also impact bandwidth consumption. Streaming 4K video, playing online games, and conducting video conferences all require significant bandwidth, while simple tasks like checking email or browsing text-based websites use relatively little.

With these considerations in mind, it’s clear that careful planning is essential to maximise your fibre connection's potential. Next, we'll explore the bandwidth requirements of various devices to help you better assess your needs.

Different Types of Devices and Their Bandwidth Needs

Not all devices consume bandwidth in the same way. Understanding this can help you estimate your household’s requirements more accurately and help you effectively manage your fibre connection for maximum speed. Here’s a breakdown of common device categories:

Apart from what we’ve discussed above, it’s also important to differentiate between constant and burst bandwidth usage. Constant usage, such as when streaming or taking a video call, consumes a steady stream of bandwidth, while burst usage, such as downloading files or loading a web page, consumes bandwidth in short, intense bursts. Understanding this distinction can help you anticipate peak usage times and plan accordingly.

Determining the Right Fibre Plan for Your Household

Choosing the right fibre plan is essential to ensuring your household enjoys a smooth and uninterrupted online experience. To accurately assess your needs, follow these steps:

1. Count Devices

Count the maximum number of devices that will be connected to your WiFi router and network. Include in this list smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, gaming consoles, IoT devices, and any other internet-enabled gadgets.

2. Identify Usage Habits

Determine the types of online activities that will be performed on each device. How will each device be used? Will they primarily be used for light browsing, HD streaming, online gaming, or video conferencing? Understanding the types of activities being performed will help you estimate the required bandwidth.

3. Find a Matching Plan

Match your household’s total bandwidth needs to available fibre plans. For example, a household with a few devices for light browsing and occasional streaming might be sufficient with a 100Mbps plan. On the flip side, a household with multiple devices engaging in streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing may require a higher-tier plan to avoid slowdowns.

Not sure which plan is right for you? Try our fibre recommender to find a home fibre plan that fits the needs of your home.

It’s also crucial to future-proof your network for growing families and increasing device counts. Consider that your household’s needs may evolve, and choose a plan with ample bandwidth to ensure your network can handle future demands.

Notably, remember that upload speed is just as important as download speed, especially for activities like video conferencing and uploading large files. A balanced plan with sufficient upload speed will ensure a smooth and reliable online experience.

Tips to Optimise Your Fibre Connection for Multiple Devices

To ensure your fibre connection performs optimally with multiple devices, consider these practical tips:

1. Router Optimisation: Make sure your router's firmware is up to date and configure its settings for optimal performance. Place in a central, open location to maximise WiFi coverage. Consider a dual/tri-band router or mesh system to increase WiFi speed and range.
2. Use Wired Connections: For devices that require high bandwidth and low latency, such as gaming consoles and streaming devices, use a wired connection to improve stability and speed.
3. Network Management: Set device priorities in your router settings to ensure important tasks get sufficient bandwidth and limit bandwidth-intensive activities during peak usage times to prevent network congestion.
4. Eliminate Network Leeches: Regularly check connected devices to identify and remove unauthorised users or devices consuming excessive bandwidth. Maxis Home Fibre customers can easily do this via the ‘Connected Devices’ feature in the Maxis App. Most importantly, change your WiFi password often to prevent unauthorised access!

Conquer Congestion & Optimise Your Network for Every Device

Now that you understand the intricacies of how the number of devices impacts the performance of your internet, you can implement the optimisation tips discussed. You can also have these issues addressed easily when you sign up for Maxis Home Fibre, and rest assured that you will be recommended the right speeds for the number of devices and users in your home.

Remember, as your household's needs change, regularly reassess your bandwidth requirements and network setup. With a little proactive management, your fibre connection will continue to support your family's lifestyle, keeping you connected to what matters most. Experience reliable and stable connections for all your devices, ensuring everyone in your home stays connected without interruption — only with Maxis Home Fibre.