Posted July 28, 200915 yr Ofcom has today published the results of our research into fixed-line broadband speeds in the UK. Speed has become more significant as people increasingly use the internet for bandwidth-hungry applications such as downloading video and audio. But there has been a lack of reliable information on the actual speeds delivered by internet service providers (ISPs). Our research, carried out in conjunction with technical partner SamKnows and market research agency GfK, provides independent, robust data on the actual speeds that UK consumers are getting from their broadband providers. Over 60 million readings Over 60 million separate service performance tests were carried out in over 1600 homes between November 2008 and April 2009. The research sample allowed Ofcom to compare the performance of the UK's nine largest ISPs by market share over this period. A consumer perceptions survey conducted alongside the research found that speeds were a key issue for broadband consumers. The majority of consumers were happy with the speeds they received although over a quarter of consumers (26 per cent) said that the speed they received was not what they expected when they signed up to the service. Factors affecting broadband speeds The research found that there were significant differences in the download speeds offered by providers, with speeds depending on the technology used to deliver broadband and the capacity of the provider's network. In April 2009, the latest month for which data was gathered, Ofcom's research showed the following: Nationwide performance * The average broadband speed in the UK in April 2009 was 4.1 megabits per second (Mbit/s). This compares to an average 'up to' headline speed of 7.1 Mbit/s. * The actual speeds received varied widely. Fewer than one in ten (9 per cent) of our sample on 8Mbit/s headline packages received actual average speeds of over 6Mbit/s and around one in five (19 per cent) received, on average, less than 2Mbit/s. * Those living in urban areas received significantly faster speeds than those living in rural areas. The average speed delivered to urban consumers was 4.6Mbit/s, compared to an average of 3.3Mbit/s delivered to rural consumers. * Consumers with all ISPs experienced a slowdown in actual speeds during peak evening hours (8-10pm), with speeds in this period around 20 per cent slower than over a 24-hour period. ISP performance Overall, consumers on 'up to' 8Mbit/s packages whose broadband service is delivered through second-generation DSL technology (ADSL2+) received faster speeds than those who use the more common first-generation ADSL1. (ADSL - or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - is a digital technology that allows the use of a standard copper telephone line to provide high speed data communications.) But the results also showed that ISPs using ADSL1 who invest in network capacity are able to deliver speeds as good as ADSL2+ operators. Cable customers received significantly faster speeds than both ADSL technologies. The table below shows the average speeds received by the sample (including margin of error) for each ISP. ISP and package Average speed AOL ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.3 to 3.9Mbit/s BT ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.8 to 4.2Mbit/s O2 ('up to' 8Mbit/s)* 4.1 to 5.1Mbit/s Orange ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.8 to 4.5Mbit/s Plusnet ('up to' 8Mbit/s)* 3.8 to 4.9Mbit/s Sky ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 4.0 to 4.7Mbit/s Talk Talk ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.8 to 4.6Mbit/s Tiscali ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.2 to 3.7Mbit/s Virgin Media('up to' 10Mbit/s) 8.1 to 8.7Mbit/s Source: SamKnows measurement data for all panel members with 'up to' 8Mbit/s or 'up to' 10Mbit/s connections in April 2009 *Data for O2 and Plusnet should be treated with caution as sampled sizes were smaller than for other ISPs My speed is total crap where I live, Orange contract advertising 2mb but I only get 1.9 at best. Even if I signed up for 8mb, I would only get 2.3mb at best, according to my postcode.
July 29, 200915 yr These companies know full well that they're not delivering what they promised (people buy the service thinking that they will actually get what's advertised), so, I think it's about time they were forced to adjust their bills tbh - if you're paying £20 quid a month for 10meg broadband and you only actually get 5mb, then you should only have to pay £10 per month.... This whole "up to..." malarkay is a bit of a cop out if you ask me... Most of these companies aren't even delivering a service that's even close to the speeds advertised..... Virgin pretty much get there, but they still lack in some departments....
July 29, 200915 yr These companies know full well that they're not delivering what they promised (people buy the service thinking that they will actually get what's advertised), so, I think it's about time they were forced to adjust their bills tbh - if you're paying £20 quid a month for 10meg broadband and you only actually get 5mb, then you should only have to pay £10 per month.... This whole "up to..." malarkay is a bit of a cop out if you ask me... Most of these companies aren't even delivering a service that's even close to the speeds advertised..... Virgin pretty much get there, but they still lack in some departments.... This report is simplistic at best and does not take into account the most important factor of take up in a particular street, that is the biggest factor in speed, typically local loop bandwidth will be shared with up to 50 homes, some have 40 some have 100 so speed that is going to be got is dependent on take up of those homes how many buy into that package so a street where 20 have taken it up are going to get way better speeds than a street where 40 out of the 50 homes have taken it up and so on Plus in that same take up area a kid downloading Sims3 or playing XBox Live is going to slow down the rates for everyone in the street so if you have a dozen kids in the street downloading its going to slow speeds to a crawl I have 50mb Virgin and there is only 1 other person in my street that has subscribed to the 50mb Virgin so we typcially get speeds of around 70mps :D ;) :o but when houses start subscribing to it in the future that rate will drop to about 30 Speed is all about take up in the local loop and what is being done by other users in that local loop and pretty much little else
July 29, 200915 yr http://www.speedtest.net/result/527722263.png I rest my case Edited July 29, 200915 yr by B.A Baracus
July 29, 200915 yr Jesus, that's fast. I'm with Sky now who seem to give me roughly what they claim. Before I was with BT for years who gave abysmally slow service, throttled the line during peak hours something chronic and whom I had to conatct FIVE times to get a MAC code to leave...and then they didn't cancel my account when I told them to. If you're with BT then leave them now's what I say...if you can get them to let you.
July 29, 200915 yr http://www.speedtest.net/result/527722263.png I rest my case http://www.speedtest.net/result/527955750.png LOL But seriously, ISPs SHOULD state the average speed expected, but consumers should realise that (imo) there is no need to have a massive internet speed :S. I've had download speed at around 0.09Mb/s and even then i put up with it.
July 29, 200915 yr I'm with BT and pay £22.99 a month for "up to 8meg" but get around 2 meg which is fast enough for me. Who needs these fast speeds? I don't download, just surf the web. My daughter downloads songs but it's fast enough for that. Edited July 29, 200915 yr by Crazy Chris
July 29, 200915 yr http://www.speedtest.net/result/527955750.png LOL But seriously, ISPs SHOULD state the average speed expected, but consumers should realise that (imo) there is no need to have a massive internet speed :S. I've had download speed at around 0.09Mb/s and even then i put up with it. :o That's slow Harve. Is your IP Profile stuck? The BT Speedtest gives you it and if it's stuck you'll never get above what it's stuck at! Ours was stuck at 135kbps after the storms two weeks so we only got 0.134 kbps maximum and the engineers had to re-set it in the exchange. IP Profiles fluctuate automatically but can stick sometimes. Edited July 29, 200915 yr by Crazy Chris
August 2, 200915 yr http://www.speedtest.net/result/530997112.png go my half speed connection! Was only 1Mbps before I reset the modem.
August 2, 200915 yr What's happened in this thread? Lots of posts seem to have disappeared and they were only about Net speeds so didn't break any rules!!! We jump from post 8 to 10 then 12 then 14 etc, seems every other post has vanished! :o Edited August 2, 200915 yr by Crazy Chris
August 16, 200915 yr I'm with TalkTalk at the moment and their customer service is absolutely abysmal... as was Virgin Medias, but none compete on a scale of awfulness with BT who I had the misfortune of being a customer (and employee of) for many years. Broadband speed.... hmm.... much of a muchness by the looks.
August 16, 200915 yr We've had slow speeds for a few weeks on BT BB but after calls every day to India, three engineers and a letter to the BT Chairmen they finally found the reason was a split wire where it came in to the house. Now getting 4.4 meg and only got 2-3 meg before. Our line will only support 5meg anyway. I'm getting 2 months free BB and 2 bottles of wine as compensation!!!!! Edited August 16, 200915 yr by Crazy Chris
August 18, 200915 yr I don't know about Britain but I've heard the speed of broadband in Ireland is fairly weak. :( I'll check testspeed.net now http://www.speedtest.net/result/542654073.png The internet is alright for me though, it doesn't lag very often. It would be nice if it was faster but for right now I'll survive :P Edited August 18, 200915 yr by Sabrewulf238
August 18, 200915 yr http://www.speedtest.net/result/542770155.png I can spit at the exchange in dundee :funky: Sky told us we would get between 10 and 20mb/s Using the Manchester server i get slightly better download speeds http://www.speedtest.net/result/542771619.png
August 18, 200915 yr I don't know about Britain but I've heard the speed of broadband in Ireland is fairly weak. :( I'll check testspeed.net now http://www.speedtest.net/result/542654073.png The internet is alright for me though, it doesn't lag very often. It would be nice if it was faster but for right now I'll survive :P Your DL isn't bad though. A lot of people in the UK get less than that, only 1 meg or just over.
September 9, 200915 yr Jesus, that's fast. I'm with Sky now who seem to give me roughly what they claim. Before I was with BT for years who gave abysmally slow service, throttled the line during peak hours something chronic and whom I had to conatct FIVE times to get a MAC code to leave...and then they didn't cancel my account when I told them to. If you're with BT then leave them now's what I say...if you can get them to let you. :lol: I've just left BT about 30 minutes ago and the bast*rds have charged us a £25-00 "cancellation" charge. Twats! I'll take this to FOS if I have to! BT were slow - taking over 30 minutes to buffer a 3 minute youtube video - what's all that about. Overseas UK call centres that are absolutely useless and NO COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT!!! Probably because they know they would get inundated with complaints about their really $h!te service!
September 9, 200915 yr Were you still in contract? If not there should be no cancellation charges to get your MAC code. I'd query that. Think if you're still in contract they make you pay the rest until the end date.
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