Remote work and streaming follow people also to the summer cottage – here’s how to fix a slow cottage internet connection

According to DNA’s Digital Life survey, among those who have experienced problems with their internet connection, 18% say that the internet connection at their summer cottage or holiday home has been slow and 16% say that the connection has worked poorly there.

“For many people, a summer cottage is no longer a place where they want to be completely without connectivity. A functioning internet connection enables remote work, streaming services, video calls and the use of smart devices at the cottage. That is why the functionality of the connection should be checked no later than upon arriving at the cottage,” says Jussi Lahdenperä, DNA’s Head of Consumer Broadband.

Problems with the internet connection at a summer cottage are not always caused by the network or coverage. A modem taken into use after a long winter break may need to be restarted, the network device may be outdated, or the router may be located in a place where mobile network coverage is weak. In addition, more and more connected devices are now used at summer cottages, which increases the load on the connection.

According to the survey, problems with internet connections are often solved by fairly simple means. Respondents said they had most commonly solved connection problems by restarting the modem (39%) or by contacting their service provider (39%). Relocating the modem solved the problem for 25% of respondents, while purchasing a new modem solved it for 22%.

“Many people are surprised by how often a connection problem is caused by something that is easy to fix. Before suspecting the connection itself, it is worth restarting the modem, checking where the device is placed and making sure that the connection also works on other devices. These measures, which only take a few minutes, can solve the problem without any further action,” Lahdenperä says.

“If the modem has not been used all winter, the first step is always to restart it. If the problems continue after this, it is worth contacting the operator. The functionality of the connection can be checked remotely, and at the same time it can be determined whether, for example, the device may need to be updated,” Lahdenperä continues.

Five tips for a functioning cottage internet connection

1. Restart the modem
A device that has not been used for a long time often benefits from being restarted.

2. Check the location of the device
A router that uses the mobile network should be placed in as open a location as possible, for example near a window. An externally mounted antenna may also be available for some devices, which can significantly improve the connection.

3. Update old devices
A modem that is several years old may not support the latest network features.

4. Test the connection before your holiday
The speed and coverage of the connection should be checked well in advance of a longer stay at the cottage.

5. Contact your service provider
If the connection is constantly slow or unreliable, the operator can help investigate the situation and assess possible improvement options.

You can check the availability of internet connections for your cottage on DNA’s coverage map and use DNA’s speed test to test how well the modem works in different locations.

Media Inquiries:

DNA Corporate Communications, tel. +358 44 044 8000, communications@dna.fi