Looking to Optimize Your GCI Internet Speed? Here’s The Breakdown

Home WiFi connections keep you up to speed across nearly every aspect of your daily life. WiFi empowers you to work from home, complete school assignments, and stream all your favorite live sporting events, from the Olympics to the Superbowl. Whether you’re playing online games on Xbox, Playstation or another console; streaming music and videos, reading the news or catching up with your loved ones, home Internet keeps you connected. Most households use their Internet connection for several different purposes—often simultaneously—all of which might require different levels of bandwidth.

If you’re currently paying for less Internet bandwidth than you need for all of your favorite online activities, you’re probably feeling frustrated at the slow upload and download speeds you’re experiencing. Luckily, many GCI users have access to increased Internet speeds in certain regions (with more regions coming soon). We also have a couple other tricks to help you boost your GCI Internet speeds.

How to Upgrade Internet Access as a GCI User

Before you contact GCI about maximizing your Internet service, it’s important to try out SmartMove’s GCI speed test. This test will determine whether your Internet is functioning at the speed it should be. If it’s not, you may have some troubleshooting to do either on your own or with a GCI representative to get your Internet back up to its best working speed.

Or maybe your GCI speed test will determine that your Internet connection is working at the proper speed based on your plan, it’s just not meeting your needs. This means it’s time to find out whether you qualify for increased Internet upload and download speeds from GCI.

Currently, increased speeds are available for GCI users in select regions. In order to find out whether your plan qualifies for speed upgrades at this time, simply log in to your online account and follow these instructions:

• ​Click the Billing tab
• Scroll down and click the Statements tab
• Find Statement Details
• Look for  an Upgrade tab, and you should be directed to a new webpage that displays your options for upgrading

If these steps show that you are not currently eligible for a speed upgrade, you can contact your local GCI helpline to get more information or talk about paying for more data or faster speeds.
 

How to Make Your Internet Faster

Whether or not you’re able to upgrade your GCI Internet speeds at this time, there are many quick fixes to improve your household’s  online experience.

Sick of your streaming devices buffering mid-scene during your favorite show? Or experiencing a slow Internet connection when you’re on your mobile device? Here are some tips to speed up your Internet without changing your service plan.

Switch Up the Location of Your Router

If you’re only experiencing slow Internet speeds on certain devices in your home but not others, the location of your router may be the problem. The more centrally your router is located to the rest of your home, the better the Internet connection will be for all of your devices. Additionally, make sure the devices requiring the highest priority are closest to the router to get the best possible connection.

Try Out an Ethernet Cable

Given the popularity of wireless Internet access, it’s easy to forget that a wired connection can often be much more quick and reliable. It may be slightly less convenient to attach an Ethernet cable to your device, as you can’t move around as freely. However, if you’re trying to do a data-heavy activity like on-demand streaming or gaming or even running simultaneous streams, an Ethernet cable will boost your Internet speeds significantly.
 

Get an Upgraded Router

In some cases, you might be using a WiFi router that isn’t built for the amount of space you need to cover. Contact your GCI representative to find out whether a router upgrade is in order. Then you can get back to streaming your favorite cable TV channels online on your TV app, including ESPN, Fox, Showtime, TNT, Comedy Central, and many more.
 

Consider a WiFi Extender

A WiFi extender (not to be confused with a WiFi repeater) may also be needed if your router isn’t quite equipped to give you high-speed Internet access. WiFi extenders are easy to set up and are a great way to eradicate dead zones throughout your property.
 

Find the Best Internet and Media Bundles with SmartMove

Improving your GCI Internet speed is definitely possible if you follow these tips. 

Need to add cable TV or mobile to your Internet service? SmartMove can help you find the best bundles available in your region from the highest quality providers available.

Here’s a snapshot at some of the most popular GCI plans you can choose from right now:

Fast
$79.99 /mo
Download up to 200 Mbps
Upload up to 10 Mbps
Included high-speed data 250 GB

Faster
$104.99 /mo
Download up to 400 Mbps
Upload up to 20 Mbps
Included high-speed data 600 GB

Fastest
$154.99 /mo
Download Up to 800 Mbps
Upload Up to 40 Mbps
Included high-speed data 1 TB

2 GIG red Unlimited
$179.99 /mo
Download up to 2 Gbps
Upload up to 75 Mbps
Included high-speed data UNLIMITED