(1) Get a cable modem, get 10 or 20 or 50 meg now.
And what happens of the OP doesn't live in a cable area?
(2) Vote Labour and wait a few months, they guarantee you 16.8 megabits by the end of 2012: Labour shock pledge: 16.8-meg broadband for ALL by 2012! ? The Register
.... Ever considered a job as a stand up comedian ?
Two Technical Terms to add to your vocabulary*** :
Contention
Packet Shaping
(***= Well, more than two terms are easily possible, but we'll assume that something will happen and give them the benefit of the doubt)
Add the technical terms above to consumer grade technology and the old story of delivering the service over copper and I think you'll see the light and agree that "16Mb fo ALL" is probably wishful thinking. Cities and larger towns, sure, no probs (subject to technical terms above that WILL limit your experience, in addition to the normal "Fair Use Policy"). Someone in the middle of nowhere 10+km from their local exchange .... fat chance.