Download speed in Andover is highest in nation

A new study finds that the town of Andover has the fastest average Internet download speed of any community in the country.

The study, conducted by New York-based Pando Networks Inc., said the average download speed in Andover is 2.8 megabits per second, more than four times the national average.

The number suggests that Andover has an exceptionally low proportion of Internet users who rely on dial-up connections. High-speed options in the town include Verizon’s FIOS and Comcast’s Xfinity services. Comcast and Verizon ranked first and second, respectively, in Pando’s nationwide rankings of firms that offer the fastest download speeds.

While he was intrigued by the report, Andover Town Manager Reginald “Buzz” Stapczynski said he was hesitant to comment on its significance. He said that while high-speed Internet service could be a selling point in attracting or retaining companies, he hasn’t heard anyone cite it as a reason for doing business in the town.

Stapczynski and other officials learned of the town’s top ranking from a Sept. 12 New York Times article examining the struggles involved in bringing broadband to rural areas.

The study ranked Massachusetts second, behind only Rhode Island, for its average download speeds, despite the fact that broadband service in western Massachusetts is still a work in progress.