Connection speed
As explained in the introduction, connection speeds are expressed in bits per second (bps). Faster is better because as the data transfer rate increases more information can be received in the same amount of time. Websites load faster and .les are transferred quicker.
Broadband speeds typically start at 1Mbps and move up to 2Mbps and higher. At about twenty times the maximum connection speed of a dialup modem (56Kbps), 1Mbps is a good place for most people to start. You will soon begin to notice the difference.
If you're unsure what speed will match your needs, ask the service provider if you can upgrade later to a higher speed if necessary and make sure that there are no cost penalties involved.
Don't expect to be blown away at first. Broadband has no immediate wow factor. What you get is more of what you are already used to on dialup but without many of the delays and frustrations involved. It takes time to appreciate the changes broadband brings and after a few weeks you'll wonder how you ever got on without it.
At some time in the future we'll probably all have broadband delivered to our door by fibre optic network and then we'll have all the broadband capacity we could possibly need - supplied at the speed of light.
FASTER UPLOADING
As explained earlier, download speeds on most broadband services are usually faster than upload speeds. If you want to send as well as receive large .les (photographs, video, etc.) or you need to use services that require high speed in both directions (such as video conferencing, for example), look for a service providing fast upload speeds too.
