Ofcom slams broadband speed claims
OFCOM yesterday confirmed what most people with a broadband connection already know – that you don’t always get the connection speed you pay for.
Extensive research by the communications watchdog revealed that customers are often receiving broadband speeds less than half those being advertised.
Ofcom yesterday unveiled a new code of practice aimed at empowering consumers but analysts told City A.M. it is unlikely to stop the practice.
Mike Jeremy, an analyst with Daniel Stewart said it is almost impossible to pin blame on a provider. He said: “The problem with advertising a speed which is above the level of someone’s connection is that there are a whole number of things that could be slowing it down.
“It could be your neighbour putting weight on the network, or the strength of your wireless hub or the connection into your computer.
“The process of finding out what is responsible is complex and expensive. I very much doubt network providers will be forced to change the way they advertise.”
What the code will allow customers to do is leave a contract if their speeds are significantly below that advertised. But whether they will is another mater: Jeremy says part of the problem is that UK consumers have become used to mediocre broadband speeds.
“There are things like online games you can play in Korea that are impossible with broadband speeds in the UK. But the irony is that their level of approval of their connections are consistently lower than ours.
“They have a society where they have come to demand exceptional internet connections and we don’t have that.”
Ofcom’s findings showed average speeds in the UK are gradually improving but that the gap in the advertised rate compared to the actual rate is also widening.
Ofcom said the big disparities in speed were often caused by services being delivered over copper lines which were simply designed for phone calls.
Virgin Media outperformed its rivals, largely due to the massive investment it has made in its fibre broadband infrastructure.
However, the disparity between rural and urban areas is growing as cities benefit from new cables that are logistically difficult and expensive to supply to the country.