Does O2 throttle VPN connections?
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on 05-05-2021 11:07
So I get up to 90Mbps at home on O2 (Tesco), but when I connect to a VPN, it's throttled right down to 10Mbps. It's definitely not the VPN speed as it works at high speed in my computer through my regular broadband, just not through the mobile signal.
I've tried UDP, TCP, IKEv2 and different ports. The only thing I can think is that O2 throttles VPN speeds. It's always exactly 10Mbps, no matter which VPN provider I use or what server or even country, it's always the same.
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on 05-05-2021 12:51
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on 05-05-2021 14:57
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on 05-05-2021 14:57
TCP and UDP are the transport layer (4) of the Layer 7 OSI model, and as such are independent of the VPN Client and are purely traffic.
IKEv2 is classed as Media in L3 on the OSI model.
Changing ports as well will make no difference.
You need to speak to Tesco, as they do routing and traffic management.
Also at Peak times, like all ISP's the speed you get can be slower as it is a contended service.
Also if using VPN's to IP's in other countries then your speed will always be slower than coming to UK IP's as the latency will be higher.
I do not work for o2 or any VMo2 /Telefonica/Liberty Global Company
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05-05-2021 17:28 - edited 05-05-2021 17:29
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05-05-2021 17:28 - edited 05-05-2021 17:29
Ok now i am at home after 5pm here at the results:
12pm lunch time:
No VPN: 83.4Mbps
VPN: 76.6Mbps
After 5pm
No VPN: 76.4Mbps
VPN: 18.8Mbps
There is definitely some throttling going on.
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on 05-05-2021 21:07
@MaxDaddie66 Hi, maybe it's the VPN servers that are slower, the 5pm download speeds are still fast without VPN (76Mbps) Why would an ISP throttle only VPN, makes no sense.

