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21 Sep 2007
Comments:4
Ofcom is investigating the gulf between advertised and actual broadband speeds following a damning survey by CRN sister publication Computeractive.
Based on speed tests from 3,000 of its readers, Computeractive found that UK broadband speeds are much slower than ISPs advertise.
The magazine is currently running a petition instructing Ofcom to force ISPs to advertise a typical rate for broadband subscriptions, not just a theoretical ‘maximum’ rate.
It has already amassed 1,560 signatories.
Computeractive’s readers carried out more than 100,000 speed tests in the study, which was designed to estimate the average net-browsing speed on ADSL lines. More than three out of five (62 per cent) found they routinely got less than half the top speed advertised by their provider.
The magazine’s study has been picked up by the BBC, whom Ofcom told it was aware of the issue and was “investigating”.
Ofcom currently permits ISPs to advertise theoretical ‘maximum rates’ for broadband connection, with most ISPs burying in the small print the condition that consumers can only expect speeds 'up to' this maximum.
No information is available on what consumers can expect in practice, despite ISPs having access to tests that would give a much clearer idea of potential speeds to a household, based on distance from the local telephone exchange.
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Do you agree?
Broadband speeds
I am with TalkTalk they say up to 8.0 Mbps I get 2.7 Mbps
Posted by Tom Reid | 24 Sep 2007
Broadband Speed
In my case, the difference between advertised and actual is, my speed is 75 per cent slower.
Posted by Mick Annis | 23 Sep 2007
Broadband Speed
I worked for an ISP for over 8 years - when customers told me on the phone that their speed was slow, I found that they were using wrong Speed Test web sites, had malware on their systems, using USB connections instead of Network connections, had slow computers, had other programs running like email or Skype that slowed their connections. Firewall and AV programs can also have an inpact too.
I would't accept a petition from people who DO NOT KNOW what they're doing.
I'm now working for another company by the way.
Posted by Dr Stuart Gordon | 23 Sep 2007
TCP optimisation
Yeah, I agree. They all lie.
And for some reason don't tell you the facts.
After some searching, I got Tcpoptimiser.
Now Im hitting 20Meg via virgin.
Posted by TheLedge | 21 Sep 2007
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