The smaller the download file, The quicker it downloads, under normal circumstances. But you have to get what you're given. If the download file is in a certain format there is pretty much nothing you can do about changing it.
How you down load the files is the key. Lots of programs offer accellerated download times. A breakthrough was created by programs like net ants:
http://www.netants.com/
But freeware like this carries it's own pop-ups. This program creates multiple links to the download and does each section bit by bit, so if one gets held up, the other takes over, etc. But this doesn't seem compatable with firefox, (which I use).
Google for "download files faster" and take your pick of software to use, but a lot of them are not that good.
Hope this helps.
