The complicated subject of speed over Internet

The Internet is a shared world wide network of millions of networks and its data throughput speed depends on a large number of factors, mostly on the volume of traffic any given moment. There are no standards for bandwidth, usage of bandwidth or equipment, so speed from different sites varies at all times.

Common misunderstanding is that the Internet comes to your computer from the server of your provider. The provider only acts as a gateway to different bandwidth backbone lines that connect different quality networks around the world.

The conditions, routing etc. on the Internet change every second, so does the speed. Traffic through the milllions of servers and routers has its rush hours, jams and speedy moments. Some web sites are constantly busy for various reasons.

For this reason, data transfer rates over the Internet cannot be measured or compared in a reliable manner.

There are various web sites that claim to be able to measure the speed of your connection to your provider. All they can do is to measure your connection to their server. This speed can vary for reasons that have nothing to do with your connection, your provider or their server. Some of these services offer different locations to which you can try your speed. You'll find that the results will be more and more inconsistent the more times you try.

Why does ILS not have a speed measuring site? Actually, we do. It uses the same script as the so called speedsites and is just as inaccurate.

Feel free to try: http://www.ils.net/speedtest/

Much like phone line and TV cable based connections, the Georgina Connects wireless broadband speed is location specific. Those who are closer to the access points with clear line of sight, will have faster connections. For this reason the speeds are classified as "up to".

Most of the tower sites are equipped with 900 Wide access points. This service has good coverage, even with "near line of sight" situations, but is limited in speed. It's maximum speed for upload and download is 3 megabits per second, but in most areas much lower than that due to frequency interference and geographical obstacles.

Some areas have the faster 2.4 and 5.4 Wide Plus services available. These services have much smaller coverage footprint and only work with clean line of sight.

South Shore Community Broadband and ILS have plans to upgrade and expand the Wide Plus service.