Network Throttling?

[Mr_P]

Smarty's Policy on Network Policy states they don't do Network Throttling or Data Shaping.

However, I've been having an issue very similar to what this user described last year.

Between 1am-8am approximately, the connection is fine.
By 8am, the Download speed has suddenly dropped to ~4mbps, and by 5pm it's down to 1-2mbps.
Upload is unaffected.

I've been a Smarty User for over 5 years, and I've never had any contact or warnings about Network Usage.
My Dashboard info shows a fairly consistent monthly useage of (+/-) ~500Gbs for the last year.

The device is in the same position at the various hours I'm attempting this - with a consistent signal strength, and no variation in the hardware/software that's in use.

The timing of the 'throttling' is very consistent.

Can anyone offer any information / ideas on what the cause is, and how I can fix this?

[MSF]

@Mr_P  It seems that you use a reasonable amount of data. Is it possible that there a few others around you doing the same after joining Smarty/Three and therefore there is the problem of mast congestion?

[Mr_P]

Thanks for the response.

I've been on Smarty for 5+ years without this issue.

The times that I'm experiencing this 'throttling' do seem very consistent - and it is the majority, almost all, of the day now.

My device is still only 4g capable, would a 5g device alleviate this?
Are there any other options I could try, or check the usage of masts I connect to?

[MSF]

@Mr_P  Do you know for sure if there is decent 5G on your local mast?

May be an expensive test to buy a new 5G device to find out 😢

As for checking usage on the mast, sorry but I am not sufficiently techie😔

[Mr_P]

The Smarty Coverage Checker does show 5G availability in my region, and the main location I need to use data indoors is just on the border of a 5G 'Indoor & Outdoor' bubble. 
It may be 10/20 metres beyond the bubble, it's within the margin for error, but might be just outside 😬

It would be an expensive test indeed.
I don't have access to any 5G devices to even pop my SIM in and check, unfortunately.

I'm getting a bit desperate, as even loading web pages can be 1990s level slow at times - so anything involving video is right out!

[MSF]

@Mr_P  So, would broadband be a better solution?