Fastest Internet? It's Complicated

[LakeGator]

This article in the Wall Street Journal discusses the claims of the speed offered by Internet vendors. As you would expect, FiOS comes out on top.

Many Internet service providers have laid claim to the title of "fastest" broadband speeds over the years. But who's right?

By most standards, it's hard to argue with Verizon Communications Inc. Its FiOS service offers faster Internet service than other major providers—up to 150 megabits per second, compared with the highest advertised from a cable operator of 105 Mbps offered by Comcast Corp.

Probably more important, Verizon consistently delivers more than it advertises, according to a study conducted by the Federal Communications Commission published in August.

The chart below is very telling in that it shows that only FiOS (Verizon) and Comcast provide their promised speed throughout the day. Cox does fine until people start surfing the porn and the rest provide rather low rates versus what is promised.

[Potzer01]

Verizon's Fios has been sensational when I've lived in an area it was available.