If you feel the need, the need for speed, you’re in luck: broadband speed offerings to the average consumer continue to increase at a rapid pace, and the actual speeds delivered by broadband providers generally meet, or exceed, those advertised.
These are just part of the findings of the FCC’s sixth “Measuring Broadband America” report, released December 1.
While the report shows broadband speeds available to consumers continue to grow, there is a marked difference according to technology. The overall median download speed is up 22% from a year ago, from 32 Mbps to 39 Mbps. Since 2011, the average speed has nearly quadrupled. The average annual increase in median broadband speed by technology was 47% for cable and 14% for fiber, while DSL speeds have remained virtually unchanged.
The actual speeds achieved by the vast majority of consumers meet or exceed advertised speeds. “All ISPs using cable, fiber or satellite technologies advertise speeds for services that on average are close to the actual speeds experienced by their subscribers,” according to an FCC release. “Fixed cable and fiber broadband customers experienced speeds that were 100% or better than advertised. However, the actual speeds experienced by subscribers of some ISPs satellite technologies were lower on average than the advertised ‘up-to’ speeds for their respective providers.”