What is high speed?

Question:  What exactly is "high speed"? 

Short answer:  Not really high speed.

Long answer:  Way back when dial-up was the only way to get internet into a residential home, the maximum speed was 512 kbps (kilo bites per second).  For those of you who have dial-up now, the speed can be described as slow as molasses in February.  Therefore, internet providers who offer any service faster than dial-up, have classified their product as "high speed". 

For example, a download speed of 1 mbps (mega bite per second) is twice the speed of dial-up service (512 kbps times 2).  Do you think that is truly "high speed" service?  I don't.  But the providers advertise it as such.  So there.  That's what constitutes high speed - anything faster than dial-up. 

I have researched the major internet providers and have put together a comparison table of their MAXIMUM advertised download speeds.  Please note, all of the providers advertise these speeds as maximums.  The only way you or I could ever achieve the maximum speeds is if you or I had the very best computer, with the very best wires, or the very best router, sitting next to the very best tower, or the very best telecommunications facility, etc.  It would be very difficult for the average person to attain the advertised maximum speeds; however, here they are:

* To further complicate matters, the cell phone towers in our area are only constructed to a HSPA standard.  Therefore, the maximum attainable download speed possible with a mobile internet stick in our area is only 7.2 mbps, not 21 mbps.  Of course if you view each of the mobile stick internet provider's websites, all of the coverage maps indicate that we are in an HSPA+ coverage area.  I have verified with each of the providers that this is not the case.  Moral of the story:  coverage maps are useless.  Do not enter into any long term contract based on the provider's coverage map.  Always test the device first and return it if it's not satisfactory.

I have personally purchased and tested the mobile internet sticks from Rogers, Bell, and Telus and used them from my residence for a period of at least 2 weeks.  My usage is primarily between 6pm and 10:30pm on weekdays.  This is my non-scientific but real world rankings:

Signal strength:

1. Rogers:  3 bars consistently, sometimes up to 4 bars.
2. Telus:  2-3 bars consistently.
3. Bell:  1 bar consistently, signal dropped often.

Speed of service:

1. Rogers: best of three
2. Telus: acceptable
3. Bell:  painful

Recommendation:

If you are going to upgrade from dial-up and you live on Parr Boulevard, your best option at this time is the Rogers mobile internet stick.  The speeds are faster than satellite and dial-up and the signal strength is better than the Bell stick or Bell Aliant broadband options.