Is this one of those issues without a real answer? The number of people taking up broadband is rising exponentially, so the system will slow. The speed of broadband is increasing , if you are lucky to be in the right area, so download time will reduce. So, as one goes up, the other comes down. The main computers of the Web are in the US so once teatime comes and the US starts to 'play' the whole system cracks. Or is it just the US/UK control freaks at work again, sorry George, didn't mean it so please don't break down my front door.
Probably all the result of global warming, isn't everything these days?