The importance of a broadband speed test when deciding on an Internet provider

Computers these days are pretty much capable of anything, well, almost anything. They can store music, home videos, and photos; prized possessions, such as those that may take a lifetime to acquire. It provides a means for mass communication between cities and even continents, while hosting an endless number of games to entertain yourself in moments of boredom.

While not particularly cheap to buy, computer prices are gradually coming down as they become more accepted as a vital and integral part of our daily lives. For all its uses, however, if the area you live in doesn’t get adequate coverage, that expensive computer you just bought, with all its features and capabilities, might be about as useful to you as a medium-sized paperweight.

We’ve all seen the news headlines, we’re all aware of the discrepancy between the broadband speeds advertised by providers and the speed people actually end up with. Much of the problem stems simply from a lack of real information. It is essential that you perform a broadband speed test before choosing a computer, so you can avoid disappointment and save unnecessary expenses.

There are numerous ways to test your broadband speed, the simplest of which is by using an online zip code checker, which will allow you to see what speeds you can expect in your area and compare the best deals based on this information. Some sites offer another simple method, they ask you to download a file and then calculate the broadband speed in your area based on how fast you can do it.

The long-term outlook for broadband speeds is relatively positive, with the government aiming to make ultra-fast 4G internet speeds available to most homes by 2014. However, the reality of achieving this it can be a bit more complex. As the final stage of the digital transition is completed and the last of the analog signals are switched off, this allows more bandwidth to be allocated per customer, theoretically increasing broadband speeds across the country.

However, those in rural areas are so far removed from the physical infrastructure that enables ultra-fast broadband speeds that many experience speeds as slow as sub-2 Mbps. Many in these so-called ‘black spots’ have difficulty uploading even a single website and considering that computers have become a vital part of the way society works, this is a very serious problem. A significant lack of connectivity like this could even affect house prices.

Until these issues can be fixed, regardless of where you live, and before you even consider changing your broadband provider, do a quick online check using the methods above and see what speeds are actually available in your area.