Can my ISP slow down my VPN Router speed?

Technically, no — your ISP cannot see that you're using a VPN. All they see is a single encrypted connection to one address; the sites and services you use inside it are hidden. That means they can't selectively throttle 'VPN traffic'.

• What ISPs can affect: general congestion at peak times, and the quality of their route to our network — which is why speeds can vary by time of day and why changing VPN server often helps.

• If your speeds drop consistently at the same hours: run speedtest.net comparisons (VPN off/on, London server) and send both to support — we can often route you around a congested path.

What speed do you need for streaming?

This depends on the streaming provider. Major platforms such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer use Variable Bitrate (VBR) so the stream won't buffer or stop if your connection speed drops. Smaller or unofficial providers often use Constant Bitrate (CBR), where you need the full download speed at all times to avoid buffering.

Recommended download speed per stream (Netflix figures, a reasonable guide generally):

• 3 Mbps — SD video quality

• 5 Mbps — HD video quality

• 25 Mbps — Ultra HD (4K) video quality