Leading UK broadband internet provider Virgin Media has questioned the validity of some broadband speed tests saying they rely on “dirty data”.
The company has been assessing the tests used to gauge speeds on UK broadband services, concluding that tests are often inaccurate, and is concerned that speed tests for new 50Mbps services will be even more erroneous. Virgin Media said that many of the tests rely on “dirty data” and use data samples that are too small. Online speed tests generally operate by sending a file from one computer to another and timing how long it takes. However, Virgin Media reckons that these files (the so-called ‘payload’) are often too small to render an accurate result, and the problem is exacerbated at higher speeds.
An increasing number of broadband customers are using speed tests to assess whether their service provider is delivering speeds close to what it promises. Currently most broadband customers subscribe to deals offering speeds of up to 8Mbps, but the actual speed they receive can vary massively from one connection to another depending on factors such as geographical location, the number of people online at any given time and the processing power of individual computers. Data travelling from one part of the internet to another is also subject to bottlenecks and delays.
Virgin Media has recommended tests developed by the website SamKnows which uses hardware directly attached to customers’ modems. The SamKnows model is already used by Ofcom in its own speed tests.
In spite of its concerns, Virgin Media has actually scored very well in recent broadband speed tests, coming out on top for delivering on its speed promises. Virgin itself plans to launch high-speed broadband connections which rely on fibre-optic cables as opposed to the significantly slower copper wire that we are used to.
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