Research: Faster broadband makes people impatient in everyday life

Having access to fast broadband connection speeds could result in people being less patient in other areas of their lives, suggests new research.

According to a study from internet service provider TalkTalk, nearly three-quarters of broadband users admitted to losing their temper if a web page took longer than 60 seconds to load, with older people generally more patient than younger users.

The trend extends into other facets of life as well, with web users growing impatient with telephone business lines after an average of just five minutes and four seconds on hold.

Mark Schmid of TalkTalk said: "[In addition], restaurant rage kicks in after only eight minutes and 38 seconds, when the average Brit will start to wonder whether the meal they've ordered will ever arrive."

Broadband speeds have become steadily faster in recent years and while these services could provide more efficient use of VoIP solutions and quicker download times, they could also result in people growing used to services operating at greater speeds.

Virgin Media recently launched a 50 megabits-per-second service.