[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Chris

I think VM's original point was, comparing 'up to' on ADSL with 'up to' on cable is like comparing apples with pears.

On ADSL, the 'up to' speed is the max achievable by the technology employed. Telling me I can get 'up to 8Mb' is like telling me I can go 'up to 200 mph' when I buy a Fiat 500, just because the technology (i.e. 4 wheels and an internal combustion engine) is capable of it. The hard fact is, the way the technology is deployed in a Fiat 500 means it's physically impossible for it to get anywhere near 200mph. Same goes for my own ADSL line. The kit in the exchange may use technology that can deliver 8Mb, but there is absolutely no way it can do that for me due to the physical qualities of my bit of the network (extreme line length).

VM, on the other hand, are selling you a service that is capable of going exactly as fast as it says it can, limited only by the congestion you may experience at any given time of day ... much as a motorway may at times get so busy that the effect is to limit the speed you can go.

Nice analogy

How did you know I drove a Fiat 500 ;-)