When your internet feels slow or a website just won’t load, one of the most powerful tools you can use to figure out what’s wrong is a traceroute and ping test.

Think of it as a roadmap showing how your data travels across the internet and where delays might be happening.

In this blog, we’ll break down these terms, which can sometimes seem confusing. Our goal is to empower you with the tools and knowledge to troubleshoot smarter and get back online faster.

What is traceroute?

A traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that maps the path your data takes to reach a website or server. Each step along the way is called a “hop,” usually passing through routers owned by different networks until it reaches its destination.

Why is it useful?

It shows where slowdowns, disconnections, or packet loss are happening.

Why does it matter for fibre users?

If you’re gaming, streaming, or working online, a traceroute helps you see whether the issue is inside your home network, with your ISP, or further along the internet path.

How to run a traceroute

On Windows

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
2. In the Command Prompt, type tracert www.afrihost.com or tracert www.google.com
3. Press Enter. You’ll see each “hop” your data takes and how long it took.

On Mac

1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities).
2. Type traceroute www.afrihost.com or traceroute www.google.com
3. Press Enter to see the route.

Understanding traceroute results

A traceroute shows:

• Hop number: The order of devices your data passes through.
• IP address/Host: The device handling the data.
• Time (ms): How long the data took to reach that hop.

What to look for:

• Consistently high times: Could indicate network congestion or distance.
• Timeouts (*): May mean a router is blocking traceroute or there’s a fault.
• Sudden spikes in delay: Likely where the problem lies.

Tip: If the delay is happening after your home network, it’s likely outside your control and could be with your Fibre Network Operator (FNO) or further along the internet.

How to run a ping test

On Windows

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
2. In the Command Prompt, type ping www.google.com
3. Press Enter.

On Mac

1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities).
2. Type ping www.google.com
3. Press Enter. The ping continues until you stop it.
4. Press Control + C to end the test.

Understanding ping results

• Reply time (ms): How long it takes for data to travel to the server and back. Lower = faster.
• Packets transmitted/received: Shows how many “signals” were sent vs. replies received.
• Packet loss: Any missing packets (e.g., 5 sent, 3 received) can cause lag or interruptions.
• Average (avg): The key number for connection quality.

Example:
Packets: 5 sent, 5 received, 0% loss
Time avg: 10.179 ms

• 0% packet loss = good
• Avg 10 ms = excellent for fibre

Tip: A good fibre connection usually has low ping (<20ms locally) and 0% packet loss

Need a hand?

Traceroute and ping tests give you a clearer picture of your connection, helping you understand whether a slowdown is happening inside your home, with your ISP, your FNO, or further down the line.

With our support and partners, you’re never alone. We will guide you every step of the way, from basic troubleshooting to full fault resolution, and get you connected again.

Let us know if you would like to contribute to this topic or have any questions in the comments section or on our social media pages.