Internet Speeds for 760 KB Vs. 5M

Consumers wishing to purchase high speed Internet typically can choose between multiple speed packages. A speed of 780 kilobits per second (Kbps) is on the lower end of broadband Internet and will cost less than a 5 megabits (Mbps) package.

Background

Internet services providers offer high speed packages of varying speeds. Packages in the slower range are measured in kilobits per second while faster high speed connections can download data in rates of megabits per second. A megabit is the equivalent of 1,024 kilobits. Digital subscriber line (DSL) providers commonly offer packages of 5 Mbps.

Significance

Although a 720 Kbps Internet connection is significantly faster than traditional dial-up Internet, a 5MBps connection is more than five times faster. Users relying on the Internet to check email or surf websites may not notice a difference but media downloads will be slower on a 750 Kbps connection. For example, a 20 megabyte video file will take approximately three and a half minutes to download on a 720 Mbps connection while the same file will require about one minute on a 5 Mbps connection.

Misconceptions

Kilobits and megabits are units of measurements that refer to speed while the similarly named kilobytes and megabytes refer to a file's size. Users may confuse the names or acronyms -- a lowercase "b" denotes bits while a capitalized "B" denotes bytes. Describing a connection as 720 KB or 5 MB is erroneous.

References

• Think Broadband: Download Test Files
• T1 Shopper: http://www.t1shopper.com/tools/calculate/downloadcalculator.php
• Velocity Guide: Compare Internet Services

Resources

• AT&T: High Speed Internet
• Verizon: High Speed Internet Plans