Smartphones, TVs, consoles, cameras and smart devices: in our homes, connections keep multiplying, sometimes causing slowdowns. But the number of devices is only part of the problem: here is what really determines your home network’s performance.
An always-on home has many more connected devices than we think. When we talk about Wi-Fi and the Internet, we mostly focus on the devices we use most often, such as smartphones, tablets and PCs. Yet these are only the most visible part of a much broader home ecosystem.
Smart TVs, consoles, security cameras, thermostats, light bulbs, smart plugs and appliances: many of these objects stay connected even when we are not using them directly, communicating with cloud services, downloading updates or standing ready to receive a command.
If several people live in the home, reaching a few dozen devices connected to the same network is easier than it might seem. But how many can we connect before noticing slowdowns? The answer depends on several factors: Internet connection, router technology, Wi-Fi coverage and the traffic generated at the same time.
FTTH network and Wi-Fi: what determines speed
Fiber optics is the foundation of an always-on home. Thanks to its high transmission capacity and the low latency of next-generation networks, it can handle data-intensive activities, from high-resolution streaming to video calls, including downloads, cloud backups and online gaming.
Having an ultrafast connection does not automatically mean getting the same speed over Wi-Fi in every corner of your home.
Because while FTTH fiber brings the Internet right to your home, it is then the home network that distributes the connection among smartphones, computers, TVs and all the other devices.
And this is precisely where bottlenecks appear: an outdated router, insufficient coverage, distance, walls and interference can all reduce perceived performance despite the presence of ultra-broadband.
Routers and Wi-Fi for 200 clients: what does it really mean?
Alongside the evolution of ultrafast connections, routers and Wi-Fi standards have changed too. Recent generations are designed for scenarios in which a growing number of clients must share the same network, using available frequencies and resources more efficiently.
The numbers declared by manufacturers give a good idea: some high-end Wi-Fi 7 systems are advertised as able to support over 200 online devices, while other models indicate more than a hundred clients.
These values, however, do not correspond to the number of devices that can use fiber optics at full performance at the same time. Supporting 200 clients does not mean being able to have 200 smart TVs streaming in 4K without slowdowns: the actual experience depends on the available FTTH network, the router’s characteristics, signal quality and the traffic generated.
Connected devices: how much usage matters
Let’s think of two homes. The first has 30 devices, but a good part of them are smart lamps, sensors, thermostats and other IoT objects that exchange limited amounts of data.
In the second, only ten devices are in use, but two people are watching 4K content, another is on a video call, a console is downloading a game and a computer is backing up to the cloud.
Despite the lower number, the second network is very likely to be the one under the heavier load. This is because a smart light bulb and a smart TV each count as one device, but they require very different amounts of data.
Streaming offers an example: Netflix recommends at least 15 Mbps for playing 4K content. Four simultaneous 4K streams can therefore require, as an order of magnitude, about 60 Mbps just for watching content. To this we must add the traffic produced by video calls, downloads, gaming and other activities.
The question to ask, then, is not only “how many devices are connected?” but “how are they using the network at the same time?”
What slows down Wi-Fi at home
If performance gets worse when moving from one room to another, the problem may not be the line speed but the Wi-Fi coverage. Factors such as distance from the router, walls and other obstacles affect signal reception, especially in larger homes or multi-story homes.
The router’s position also makes a difference. Placing it in a central spot free of obstacles generally helps distribute the signal better. In larger spaces, mesh systems can help extend coverage through multiple access points.
Whenever possible, fixed and demanding devices such as smart TVs, consoles and computers can also be connected via Ethernet, reducing traffic on the wireless network.
How to manage the network of an always-on home
The first thing to observe is how the network behaves at peak usage times. If problems emerge mostly when several people are streaming, gaming or downloading, the limit may be related to the available ultra-broadband or to traffic management. If instead performance drops only in certain rooms, it is more likely a Wi-Fi coverage issue.
Many modern routers also let you see the clients present on the network from the app and, in some cases, check which ones generate the most traffic. This is a useful tool for understanding how the connection is used and identifying any signal reception problems.
And for these very reasons, there is no precise number to answer the question “how many devices can I connect without slowdowns?”, because we can have dozens of smart objects online without noticing and, at the same time, put the network under pressure with just a few devices engaged in particularly heavy activities.
In the always-on home, it is not just about being constantly connected: what matters is having an efficient home network and a connection capable of supporting the needs of every device.
Is your home connected? Check coverage and browse with the ultrafast Open Fiber connection.
