O2 has come out ahead of a number of its rivals in a new study designed to find the best internet service provider (ISP) currently operating in the UK.

The company beat off a selection of other firms in the 2009 PC Advisor Broadband Survey, attaining a Best Buy status thanks to votes cast by the publication's online and magazine-based readership.

Among the challengers O2 was able to see off to take the top spot were BE Broadband, PlusNet and Zen Internet - although it was noted that all of these firms had received recommendations from many of the responding public.

The annual study, which is now into its fifth year, took the opinions of over 6,500 broadband users across the UK on matters relating to the reliability and download speeds of their connections, as well as the quality of customer service they receive from their ISP.

PC Advisor's editor Paul Trotter noted the response had been very impressive and the results could be used as a trusted gauge for those looking at the market performance of the 14 companies involved.

"A number of ISPs fared well in the results, but O2 stood out from the crowd with customers providing positive reports about download speeds, customer service and the reliability of their connections," he added.

Felix Geyr, O2's head of home and broadband, said the group was "delighted" to win the award, adding it was reflective of a positive public response to offers like free web security.

Prior to the announcement this week that T-Mobile and Orange were set to merge, O2 had been the largest mobile company in Britain.

Categories: Switching, Be

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