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Broadband users 'deserve greater speed transparency'
Tuesday 13th January 2009, by Daniel King
Consumers have a right to know what broadband speed they are receiving, an industry expert has claimed.
Head of O2 broadband Mike Fairman said that speed could be one of the main concerns for web users across the UK.
A recent Ofcom study into the performance of broadband connections therefore comes as a welcome move for the industry, he claimed.
The investigation revealed that subscribers receive an average broadband speed of 3.6Mbps, with many having to make do with speeds that are "significantly below" advertised headline speeds.
This comes despite the introduction of a voluntary code of practice whereby internet service providers must take greater steps to clarify broadband speed and avoid misleading customers.
Mr Fairman said that both the Ofcom investigation and the introduction of an industry code of practice represented a positive step forward for broadband providers and customers alike.
"Connection speed is one of the biggest frustrations for broadband users so a commitment from the industry to be transparent on speeds is good news," he commented.
The firm currently offers its customers a line check both before and after the sale of its service to help avoid any confusion.
"Customers should know what broadband speed they will get, which is one of the reasons we perform speed checks for our customers," Mr Fairman added.
O2 is currently offering its customers three months of free broadband, applicable to its standard, premium and pro packages.
Users who sign up before the end of January will qualify for the deal, with the premium and pro services offering download speeds of up to 20Mb.
Categories: Broadband
