If your internet feels slower than the plan you're paying for, it's easy to point the finger at your internet service provider. But in many homes the real bottleneck isn't the connection coming into your house. It's the router sitting inside it.

Fiber-optic networks are built to deliver fast, symmetrical Gig and multi-gig internet speeds. Older or underpowered routers simply weren't designed to keep up. If your router can't handle modern fiber internet specifications, you'll never experience the full performance your plan is capable of delivering.

Router-related bottlenecks that slow you down

Not all routers are created equal. Here are the most common reasons routers fail to deliver fiber speeds:

Any one of these can keep your connection from reaching its potential, and many older routers check several of these boxes.

Minimum router specs every fiber internet-connected home needs

To fully take advantage of fiber internet, your router should meet these baseline requirements:

These specs ensure your router can handle modern fiber speeds, manage multiple devices efficiently, and avoid unnecessary slowdowns.

This list of technical terms might look intimidating. Simply put, if your router hasn't been upgraded in a while, or ever, it's worth giving your ISP a call to find out if there is a newer model available. Your ISP will know what equipment you have, and they'll be able to test your connection to see if anything else is causing a slowdown.

Read more: What speed do I really need?

Best-case specs for Gig and multi-gig fiber internet

For households using Gig or multi-gig fiber, especially those with heavy usage, stepping up your router makes a noticeable difference:

WiFi 7 is the first wireless standard designed specifically to keep pace with multi-gig fiber connections.

Upgrade to WiFi 7 if you can

WiFi 7 isn't just an incremental upgrade; it solves many of the pain points that frustrate fiber internet customers today:

The result is faster, more reliable performance across every corner of your home, even with dozens of connected devices.

Learn more about the WiFi 7 router

Where router limitations show up first

If your router isn't up to the task, you'll feel it most during everyday activities, like remote work with large file uploads, multiple simultaneous 4K streams, online gaming, cloud storage and AI-powered apps.

Your Gig or multi-gig fiber internet plan can handle all of this effortlessly, but only if your router can keep up.

Ziply Fiber recommends

Ziply Fiber offers WiFi 7 equipment designed to fully unlock the performance of its fiber network. Ziply Fiber-recommended routers are fully ONT compatible and built to handle Gig and multi-gig speeds without compromise.

When you upgrade to Gig or multi-gig fiber internet, your technician should swap out your router for a newer version. If you're experiencing slowdowns, it's worth checking to find out if your router is outdated.

Innovating for you: the WiFi 7 advantage

If you're not seeing the speeds you expect, upgrading your router may be the simplest and most impactful fix. It's as simple as calling your ISP or connecting with an agent in the app or on the website and asking if upgrading would help.

Fiber internet already delivers the performance. The right router lets you experience it.