I like to point out in all the talks that I give on broadband that it’s the slowest link that defines the experience, as in the strength of the weakest link is the strength of the chain. Here is an excellent illustration that uses an example that is close to home (or in the home of most people reading this blog):
A number of Internet service providers, including Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc., have recently upped the maximum speeds of broadband they offer residential customers to as much as 305 megabits per second.
And Google Inc. is testing a high-speed network in Kansas City that would offer a speed of one gigabit—equal to 1,000 megabits—per second, which the company boasts would allow a person to download a season of “30 Rock” in 30 seconds.
But the widespread use of home Wi-Fi networks could undercut these efforts. While such networks give people a wireless connection to the Web, they significantly reduce the speed available.
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