Which? Reveals Gap In Advertised Broadband Speeds

A survey by consumer group Which? has revealed that there is a big gap between advertised broadband speeds and the actual speeds users can achieve.

Tests of 300 customers’ net connections revealed that the average download speed of packages promising speeds of up to 8Mbps (megabits per second) was 2.7Mbps.

Which? has called on regulator Ofcom and Trading Standards to launch a fresh investigation into UK broadband.

The speed tests were prompted by complaints from members of the public, unhappy with the speeds of their broadband connections. In the past 12 months more internet service providers (ISPs) have offered services, promising speeds of up to 8Mbps.

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has investigated several cases of misleading promotions, most recently asking Bulldog to make it clear in its adverts that speed was dependent on how far away from the exchange people lived (see High Speed Broadband Ads Must Be Clear About Top Speeds).

It ruled that broadband providers could use the words “up to” 8Mbps when describing services as long as customers were likely to get close to those speeds.

“It is shocking that internet service providers can advertise ever-increasing speeds that seem to bear little resemblance to what most people can achieve in reality,” said which.co.uk editor Malcolm Coles.

“If it’s unlikely that you’ll reach the advertised speed it should be made clear up front, so that you know with some certainty what you’re buying,” he added.

An Ofcom spokeswoman told the BBC website: “If we get increasing complaints we may look at what more can be done. We are working closely with the ASA and it is very important that consumers know what they are getting and what they are paying for.”

A BT spokesman confirmed to the site that 8Mbps would be a rarity for users.

“Virtually no-one will get it. The laws of physics start applying as soon as it leaves the exchange and you would have to live on top of the exchange to get the full 8 megabits,” he said.

BT is currently upgrading its exchanges as part of its 21st Century Network (21CN) programme. It will allow for broadband speeds of up to 24Mbps and will start to be made available from early 2008.

Which? www.which.co.uk