How to Compare Internet Download Speeds
The type of Internet connection you have determines the download speed. Dial-up, cable and T1 connections each offer vastly different downloading speeds, with major differences in cost to match.
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Dial-up
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The dial-up connection is the slowest of the major Internet connection types. On a standard 56K modem, information can be downloaded at roughly seven kilobytes per second. This means the average website will take approximately seven seconds to load on a dial-up modem, provided the connection remains intact.
Cable/DSL/Wireless
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Cable, digital subscriber line (DSL) and wireless Internet connections offer users a much faster download speed. In most cases, these connections can provide download speeds approaching one megabyte per second if the network is clear and no other users are absorbing bandwidth. This allows users to access a Web page immediately.
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T1/T3
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T1 and T3 lines are reserved primarily for businesses that require massive bandwidth and the fastest transfer speed possible. T3 transfer rates exceed five megabytes per second. To compare, a 50-megabyte file would take more than two hours to download via dial-up versus less than 10 minutes on cable/DSL and less than 10 seconds on a T3 line.
Websites
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Users who wish to test their Internet connection speeds can do so from several different websites, including Speedtest.net and Bandwidthplace.com. These sites allow Web surfers to see whether they're getting what they pay for with regard to Internet speed. If the calculated speed is lower than what the provider has agreed to supply, the user should contact the provider and demand faster service.
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References
- Photo Credit clavier,internet image by yam from Fotolia.com
