This Verizon press release raised my hopes that my 15/2 Mbps FiOS Internet access service here in Massachusetts was about to be increased to 20/5 Mbps (as happened for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut last year). So I've been testing things at least once a week. But until today, it's remained about 15 Mbps coming my way and 1.7 Mbps going out to the Internet. Finally, this evening my "download" speed hit 20 Mbps, but unfortunately I only saw part of the promised increase in upstream speeds.
Hopefully, this is a work in progress and the next few days will bring the promised 5 Mbps upload. For me, the upload, i.e. outbound speed, (or lack thereof) is still quite noticeable when I send emails with large attachments — something I seem to do frequently.
By the way, this particular speed test is from the Communications Workers of America website "Speed Matters." The test button is on the right when you hit their home page. I like it for the international comparisons. :-) Thanks to David Isenberg for pointing it out. On the other hand, there are many other speed tests that don't require you to enter both your ZIP code and your email address!
I have FiOS too, and I've run into a problem with certain speed tests. They don't always show the full bandwidth, particularly since I'm on a 30/5 connection. But that's not the fault of FiOS, or my connection-- rather, it has to do with parts of the intervening link, or even the place I'm connecting to. Different speed tests give different results.
Of course, it's a nice problem to have and I don't mean to complain too much. :)
That "international comparison" isn't incredibly accurate, but I suppose it's also a marketing tool from them. The US number is based on actual results, so that's pretty good, but the Japan number must be based on Tokyo and central Osaka alone. Fiber is great there, but a lot harder to get outside of Tokyo or central Osaka, though it is expanding rapidly. Calling that "typical" is getting close to saying that FiOS availability is typical in the US. My friends in Yokohama certainly don't have fiber, and nor do people I've stayed with in Kyoto.
Posted by: John Thacker | February 05, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Thanks for the comment. I have run the tests with several different services just because I don't trust there to be a good path to any specific service. The best numbers I've been able to attain so far are the 20.6 Mbps downstream mentioned above and 2.839 Mbps upstream to Speakeasy in NYC.
I agree I haven't seen comparable measured data for Japan. Also the CWA has an axe to grind. Although I share their bias on this issue! :-) The two specific Japanese friends with whom I've had recent Internet access discussions both live in Tokyo and both have 100 Mbps symmetric Internet access. Ah, jealousy, jealousy, ...
Posted by: brough | February 06, 2007 at 01:11 AM
Anyone knows when FIOS is coming to Lehigh Valley, Allentown, Pa
Not even verizon knows. Or don't they wantto let people know yet?
Posted by: Ralph Molina | February 26, 2007 at 01:31 AM
Ralph, There are at least two things that may influrence Verizon's priorities in their FiOS roll out: 1) the likelihood they will be able to offer TV services and 2) the average wealth of the community, i.e. wealthier communities are more likely to order advanced services and thus payback the FiOS deployment expense sooner. I don't know where Allentown stands on either of those points, but that's the best explanation I'm aware of.
See http://www.broadbandeverywhere.com/docs/BEMapsReport8-30-06.pdf for some discussion. Also, a good source of current information (besides the Verizon website) is the Wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verizon_FiOS_Availability .
Posted by: brough | February 26, 2007 at 08:36 AM
Thanks for the write-up. I'm lookiing at upload speeds and you thoughts are way cool.
Posted by: Mark Schultz | March 13, 2007 at 02:54 PM