- Download speed testing plays a fundamental role in comparing ISP performance as well as identifying potential Internet backbone issues between the end-user and target website. As broadband connections have become more prevalent, examining the performance differences of the various options available to the consumer has played a significant impact in the marketplace. To better level the playing field between major ISPs, a number of third party download speed test providers have emerged on the market.
- Download speed tests measure a combination of the download speed of the Internet connection and the speed of other factors on the download process. These include the download speed of the computer hardware, software, firewall and router, the ISP connection, ISP back-load, and all of the routers and connections between the parent ISP and the speed testing service. There will be a difference between ISPs using the same third party speed testing service solely due to the Internet architecture difference, but the service will provide sufficient insight for the consumer to make informed decisions.
- There is a variety of download speed testing providers available to the consumer. The premier test services offer upload and load testing from numerous geographically diverse locations to allow the consumer to minimize the distance between the test site and his or her ISP and get more accurate results. There will still be an error in speed measurement from the infrastructure between the end-user and the test site, but the effects will be minimized.
- Internet download speed testing aids the consumer in determining what Internet service provider to use, as well as troubleshooting emerging problems with download performance of an existing service. Through the use of third party testing between competing ISPs, a consumer can determine if there is a large difference in the speeds for test down and uploads. The test should be conducted as close as possible to the location where the service will be used to determine if there are any Internet routing issues with the ISP in question. By conducting the same test at varying points of the day, the consumer can also check the performance of downloads during peak usage hours as well as off-peak hours. For emerging issues, download speed testing will give insight to the consumer on whether the issues are solely with the route their ISP is taking to the home (and as a result the Internet infrastructure in between the two locations) or the ISP itself.
- With technology available to consumers today, independent verification of Internet download speeds is readily available. As the complexity of computing hardware and software increases, the third party test sites hold the potential to be able to help the end-user identify not just download and upload speeds, but also potential issues with their own computing equipment that can negatively impact performance. In addition, the test sites will also be able to help identify issues with routers and other servers between the consumer and their Internet provider.
