Ofcom has finally released its long awaited research into UK broadband speeds, with the data showing the stark truth of just how misleading 'up to' can be.
Ofcom's data, which was compiled with specialists SamKnows, showed that although fast broadband is beginning to become more common, thousands of us are getting less than half of our advertised levels.
Interestingly, Ofcom's press release only deals with 'single thread' performance, basically downloading a single file and testing the speed rather than multi thread tests that download files simultaneously and probably more fairly represent household usage.
Ofcom's full report does contain the multithreaded comparison, but the watchdog chose to go with single thread – which is kinder on DSL.
Larger version of the Ofcom broadband speed graph.
But, as the data shows, not much kinder – with the power of fibre optic obvious in Virgin Media's massively superior showing.
Taking the 'up to 20/24Mbps' data, for instance, the actual average over all ISPs is a paltry 6.5Mbps considerably less than half the upper rate.
Virgin Media's single thread results are an average of 15.2 to 16.5Mbps over 24 hours compared to 6.5 to 8.4Mbps for TalkTalk (up to 24Mbps) ,7.0 to 8.4Mbps for Sky (up to 20Mbps) and BT languishing at the bottom of the table with 6.1 to 7.6Mbps.
Virgin Media reaction
Virgin Media is understandably buoyed by the data, with executive director of broadband Jon James saying: "Ofcom's broadband speeds report again proves Virgin Media is consistently more than twice as fast as any of our DSL competitors.
"Because we use a next generation fibre optic cable network, our customers can be confident of receiving 90% of the headline speed they buy from us.
"And we're continuing to invest in our network so we can deliver more of what our customers are paying for - whether on 10Mb, 20Mb, 50Mb or our soon to launch 100Mb broadband service.
DSL criticism
"Whilst Ofcom's report is good news for our customers, it's clear that our DSL competitors just aren't keeping up with their promises of 20Mb broadband," James added
"No DSL customer receives 18Mb, only 2% are receiving more than 14Mb and, on average, DSL providers are delivering just 33% of their advertised 'up to 20Mb' speed.
"We need to ensure people are not being ripped off and the lack of transparency in broadband advertising risks damaging consumer confidence in superfast broadband.
"The Advertising Standards Authority has announced a review into the way broadband is advertised and the need for change is now urgent."
Ofcom needs to change code
Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith believes that the Advertising Standards Association needs to change what ISPs are allowed to advertise in terms of speed
"Its great that Ofcom has taken action to improve the information provided by ISPs at the point of sale, and that customers are now able to end their contract without penalty if the service they receive is significantly different to that promised," he said
"However, some internet service providers continue to advertise ever-increasing speeds that bear little resemblance to what most people can achieve in reality.
"We want the Advertising Standards Authority to step up to the mark and put an end to these misleading claims once and for all."
BT Response
John Petter, managing director of BT's Consumer Division, said: "BT already gives customers the most consistently accurate prediction of the speed specific to their line.
"We support OFCOM's Code but want to go even further and are investing in systems to make our predictions even better - and to have them confirmed in writing.
"BT is investing £2.5 billion in superfast fibre broadband. This will bring speeds of up to 40Mbs/s to two-thirds of the country with a quarter of those premises getting speeds of up to 100Mb/s, the fastest in the UK.
"Our investment will deliver superior broadband to that offered by Virgin, at a much cheaper price and unlike Virgin's will be open for other companies to use, and so will be good news for the UK.
"We continue to invest heavily in our network, bringing speed improvements to customers nationwide. We give our customers comprehensive help and advice to get the best speed out of their line.
"For example, all BT Broadband customers can get the BT Broadband Accelerator, which can eliminate electrical interference, free of charge".
Your comments (12) Click to add a new comment
carlwaring
December 2nd 2010
12. Wish they'd put a year on the publication dates for their articles!
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mrdjmo
July 29th 2010
11. I have just moved from the middle of swansea into the welsh valley's i've gone from getting maybe 1mb's to around 6-8mb a second.
Got to love living in a vilage where only 200 people are connected to you're exchange also my ping is around 30-45ms at all times :D
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yyiinn
July 28th 2010
10. Lexmarker - VM use a DSL network, if refering to the competitors BT, Sky etc surely they are ADSL networks not DSL..
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tonymartini
July 28th 2010
9. WELL DONE OFCOM FOR TELLING EVERYONE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY KNOWN FOR YEARS!!! NOT BEING FUNNY BUT THE MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SPENT KICKING THE BACKSIDES OF THE ISP'S TO EITHER STOP LYING TO US AND/OR SORT OUT THE LINES SO WE CAN GET THE SPEEDS THEY ADVERTISE AND STOP THROWING UP SMOKE SCREENS AND GIVING US EXCUSES!!
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lexmarker
July 28th 2010
8. The competitors are mostly DSL yyiinn, virgin media use fiber lines to the house for cable set ups.
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yyiinn
July 28th 2010
7. "No DSL customer receives 18Mb, only 2% are receiving more than 14Mb and, on average, DSL providers are delivering just 33% of their advertised 'up to 20Mb' speed.
DSL providers? surely VM are the ONLY DSL provider.
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wellfrustrated
July 28th 2010
6. I was interested in SKY's offering of 20mb for buttons but on investigating the matter the best they could offer was 6. If the regulators are serious then they must demand accuracy in adverts and ensure that the speed delivered is that advertised. The casual remark that the provider must be able to show that some achieve the max speed offered is not good enough. If 20 MB is to be delivered it must be to at least 80-90% of those who have signed up to the scheme.
Prices should also be set on the basis that if the charge is £20 for 20 MB then correspondingly each MB delivered should be at the prorata price.
More needs to be done by all the IT magazines and people like Which to ensure the proper delivery of speed and honesty in what is to be delivered.
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romi
July 27th 2010
5. "Ofcom: broadband speeds rarely as advertised"
= customer fraud
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hatch87
July 27th 2010
4. Its not OFCOM's job to improve speeds, and they can't just take everyone's word as truth, they have to test a lot of speeds in a lot of different areas to get an accurate report.
What they are trying to do is get the companies to stop advertising an 'up to' speed which is over double what you actually get. The problem is, technically the only way the company is falsely advertising is if you go above the speed advertised, as they don't give a minimum. This is what OFCOM wants changed and have already forced companies to allow customers to end contracts early if the speed are significantly slower than expected
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onerichie
July 27th 2010
3. I cannot believe that OFCOM have spent time and money to establish this fact. It was surely never in much doubt that speeds aren't as advertised? It's an inherit shortcoming of ADSL technology, speeds will never be as advertised while we are still relying on an infrastructure that could be called farcical at best. Instead of spending money researching the blisteringly obvious, why did the government not spend it on upgrading the telecommunications network of the country to drag us into the 21st century?
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taio101
July 27th 2010
2. how can they get away with it?????
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healeydave
July 27th 2010
1. Yeah great, OFCOM have taken years to tell us all what we already know, so WHAT & WHEN are they going to do something about it???
I guess by typical "independent body" style, this will take just as long!
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