FCC Broadband Testing Confirms That Verizon FiOS Delivers Blazing-Fast Internet Speeds Even During Times of Peak Usage

NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Communications Commission's just-released report on residential wireline broadband service, "Measuring Broadband America," confirms that Verizon FiOS Internet customers receive blazing-fast and sustained upstream and downstream speeds even during peak usage periods.

The FCC's broadband performance tests, conducted earlier this year by SamKnows, an independent company that tests broadband speeds, measured the speed and performance of major wireline Internet service providers nationwide.  The results of the nationwide tests, issued Tuesday (Aug. 2), show that Verizon's all-fiber-optic-based FiOS Internet service performs exceedingly well at all hours including during the most active hours of broadband use: between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays. The test results also show that Verizon FiOS Internet customers are receiving speeds that meet or exceed those advertised by the company.

The report compares each ISP's test results with the ISP's advertised speeds.  Verizon's FiOS service delivered 114 percent of its advertised download and upload speeds when measured during peak periods.  This was the highest percentage of any ISP participating in the test.  The report also concludes that "fiber-to-the home has the best performance for latency" and demonstrates that Verizon's FiOS service loaded Web pages faster than any other tested ISP.

"The Verizon FiOS Internet experience remains second to none because our 100 percent fiber-optic technology is a network ahead," said Eric Bruno, Verizon vice president of product management.  "FiOS Internet customers get an excellent experience for today's digital lifestyle, which includes streaming favorite TV shows and movies, uploading photos to the Web, running multiple online devices in the home, downloading large amounts of data, video chatting and online gaming.

"It's critical that consumers have a reliably fast downstream and upstream connection because more and more households are connected with multiple devices, which means greater demands are being placed upon networks," Bruno said.

The FCC announced plans last year to conduct the broadband tests, saying that measuring and publishing data on the actual performance of fixed broadband services would provide more information to consumers and thereby "promote meaningful competition and spur innovation."

Verizon's FiOS service options  performed well in the speed tests, and the company's most popular speed options – 25 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream/25 Mbps upstream and 35/35 Mbps – fared exceedingly well.  Specifically, the typical study participant using the 25/25 Mbps FiOS Internet tier received a sustained download speed of 28.77 Mbps between the peak usage hours of 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays.

Similarly, the typical study participant using the 35/35 Mbps FiOS Internet tier received a sustained download speed of 40.42 Mbps between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays.  These symmetrical services not only provided consistent downstream speeds, but also delivered to consumers upstream speeds that are unmatched by any competitor.  These upstream speeds, shown in the report as averaging four to six times faster than those of the closest competitor, are critical for the growing number of applications that require fast, sustained upload speeds.

"This report gives the FCC and consumers a snapshot of today's competitive broadband marketplace," said Kathleen Grillo, Verizon senior vice president for federal regulatory relations.  "It also demonstrates that Verizon's substantial investment in fiber-to-the-home technology is delivering real benefits to consumers that set us apart from the competition."

Although the broadband speed study confirms consumers have a wide array of choices for speeds and services, Verizon will continue to work to innovate and further differentiate its services from competitors.

Last November, for example, Verizon launched its 150/35 Mbps Internet service – the fastest mass-market broadband service available in the nation.  To view a video about the fastest Internet speeds available to residential broadband customers by a major Internet service provider to date, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQjIsaf3S2A.

For the sixth year in a row, Verizon's FiOS Internet service earned top billing from PCMag.com readers in its annual Reader's Choice Award for Internet service providers, announced earlier this summer.

In the PCMag.com reader survey, FiOS Internet service earned the highest overall rating -- an 8.8 compared with the average 6.9 score in the survey, and received top ratings for customer satisfaction, reliability and likelihood of being recommended.

Verizon plans to remain the industry leader by staying well ahead of its competitors.  Last year, for example, Verizon successfully conducted a symmetrical 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) trial in Taunton, Mass., over the company's FiOS fiber-to-the-premises network.  To view a video about Verizon's 10/10 Gpbs trial, visit http://www.youtube.com/verizon#p/u/49/99sRhMdJqqI.

Verizon makes it easy for consumers to learn about choosing the FiOS broadband speed they need, and provides detailed product and ordering information at http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/FiOSInternet/Overview.htm.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon