Broadband Internet has been around for years. The fist package I ever signed up to was a 512Kb connection from Freedom 2 Surf. Back then, broadband seemed relatively hassle free and with recent advances in technology suppliers are creating even easier home broadband packages that come complete with idiot proof user guides. My disappointment comes from an apparent lack of support from the UKs core telephone network service provider, BT.

Approximately four years ago I upgraded my 512Kb connection to what was, at the time, a super fast ADSL service running at a capped 8Mb download speed. I know that these figures are exaggerated and, hidden well within the small print, this maximum speed will likely never be achieved based on varying factors, but you would expect to get somewhere close…

After this upgrade my internet connection consistently dropped out and I was told this was because my line could not handle the service. My connection was reduced to 2Mb. Another month passed and with continued trouble my connection was reduced by another 50% to 1Mb. For a couple of years I have remained on a 1Mb connection which has been far from satisfactory, consistently dropping out at the weekend and during busy periods.

I have decided it is time for change so I’ve been doing some research on connection speeds in my area and I am amazed at the fluctuation in QoS (Quality of Service) that BT provide. Some areas can achieve upwards of 7Mb connection speeds… at my home address the maximum connection I have been told to expect is 256Kb! I was amazed when I discovered this. It didn’t matter what service I chose or which ISP I used, the telephone exchange from which I am fed is at fault. This is a BT issue and one that won’t be resolved in the foreseeable future which brings home how decrepit and out-of-date the national service in which BT have been entrusted actually is.

I have now decided to look into signing up to mobile broadband which will offer me a maximum 3.6Mb connection speed until September 2009 at which point it will increase to 7.2Mb. These figures may not sound great for some people that are experiencing ADSL speeds of 6-7Mb and most certainly wont impress those lucky enough to have the luxury of an ADSL2 connection but for me this will be a significant improvement.

I suggest if you are having trouble with your broadband speeds and reliability, you have run out of options using a BT line, and you are in an area that Virgin Media do not cover, check out the latest mobile broadband deals because, although this is still very new technology, it is likely to be the future of broadband Internet for people in slightly remote locations and more importantly is a service that has zero interaction with BT’s antique infrastructure.