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Broadband speeds increase but gaps continue
Tuesday 27th July 2010, by Daniel King
Fixed-line home broadband speeds have increased by 25 per cent over the past year but there are still gaps between advertised and actual speeds.
That is according to a new report from industry watchdog Ofcom, which found that average actual speeds of home broadband have risen to 5.2Mbit/second.
Almost one in four connections had advertised speeds of 'up to 10Mbit/second' in May, compared to just eight per cent in April 2009.
However, the report revealed a growing gap between advertised and actual speeds among the UK's service providers.
Ofcom discovered that average actual speeds in April 2009 made up 58 per cent of average advertised speeds.
By May 2010, this proportion declined to 45 per cent.
Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, said: "Ofcom's research shows that average speeds have increased which is good news, but there is scope for a further step change in the quality of the UK communications infrastructure."
The regulator has now strengthened its Code of Voluntary Practice, which was introduced in 2008.
Under the rules, internet service providers are required to give a clearer picture to consumers about the speeds they can expect from their broadband connection.
Mr Richards said: "Actual speeds are often much lower than many of the advertised speeds which makes it essential that consumers are given information which is as accurate as possible at the point of sale; this is what the new Code is designed to deliver."
Ofcom intends to publish research on actual and advertised broadband speeds every six months. The next report will be unveiled in January 2011.
Categories: Broadband
