Ofcom's research into fixed line broadband speeds has revealed the ISP heroes and villains, with Virgin's 10Mb service head and shoulders above many rivals.
The research, conducted with SamKnows, took samples from ISPs offering fixed broadband speeds of between 8Mb and 10Mb.
Virgin's fibre optic cable was the only one at the higher level – but the research shows that it provided an average speed of 8.1 to 8.7 Mbps – or 81 to 87 per cent of the advertised speed.
The likes of Sky and O2 also gained some credit, with the former's 8Mb line offering between 50 and 59 per cent (4.0 to 4.7Mbps) of what was advertised and the latter offering between 51 and 63 per cent (4.1 to 5.1Mbps).
Bottom of the pile was Tiscali with 3.2 to 3.7Mbps and AOL with 3.3 to 3.9Mbps.
Virgin was unsurprisingly delighted with the results, with a spokesman telling TechRadar: "It's what customers get, not what their ISP claims, that counts.
"Today's report emphatically demonstrates that the "up to" marketing claims of most copper-based broadband providers are not to be trusted, with most major ISPs delivering less than half of what they promise.
"Virgin Media delivers more than any other major ISP - even our cheapest broadband tier delivers double the average of our major competitors - and we are committed to making all of our marketing better reflect the actual experience our customers get."
Both O2 and PlusNets tests were conducted on a smaller sample than the other ISPs.
ISP and package - average speed
AOL ('up to' 8Mbit/s) - 3.3 to 3.9Mbps
BT ('up to' 8Mbit/s) - 3.8 to 4.2Mbps
O2 ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 4.1 to 5.1Mbps
Orange ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.8 to 4.5Mbps
Plusnet ('up to' 8Mbit/s)* 3.8 to 4.9Mbps
Sky ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 4.0 to 4.7Mbps
Talk Talk ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.8 to 4.6Mbps
Tiscali ('up to' 8Mbit/s) 3.2 to 3.7Mbit/s
Virgin Media ('up to' 10Mbit/s) 8.1 to 8.7Mbps
Your comments (6) Click to add a new comment
darren_mccoy
July 28th
6. The only way the situation will improve in the countryside, is if the price charged is proportionate to the speed delivered. At the moment BT have absolutely no incentive to improve my phone line.
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darren_mccoy
July 28th
5. I live half a mile from the exchange and only get 0.5 mb. It turns out that my phone line travels 5.5kms before entering my house. BT have no intention of changing this. It seems I'll have to move house to get a decent connection. :(
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mcphooey
July 28th
4. I've been with VM broadband (and before that NTL - they bought them out) for eight years. Have to say they aren't the cheapest by far and often reduce the price to new customers but "forget" to pass on the reduced price to existing customer...... but the connection has always been perfect, full 10Mbits every day (though you get capped to 1/4 speed if you go over 1.5gig during peak times - before 9pm). As for connection problems, at most once a year I'd have to switch the modem off and on, though that's probably my fault. Some people like Smythcolan above aren't so lucky but I'm sure Smyth's not in the majority.
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smythcolan
July 28th
3. Although Virgin media have come out tops for speed what about reliability to maintain a connection ???.
I have only been with VM 6 months and have lost count the number of times my BB connection has failed due to a fault in their system.
Yes speed is very good but reliability very very poor.
Trouble is if you have VM TV and BB goes down you generally loose your TV as well!!! so 2 services are lost.
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paulbiom
July 28th
2. I'm currently paying £28 a month for an 8Mb service where I'm very lucky if I get 2Mb. Change ISP? If only, there's only one. Will somebody at Sky or Virgin please please please consider breaking the broadband monopoly on the Isle of Man?
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redredzimmer
July 28th
1. I live in Bury St Edmunds, Population 35000. The large modern housing estate that I live on is less than a mile from the town centre (& BT Exchange) and yet my community gets around .3Mbit/s.
I hear talk of low broadband speeds in rural districts, but how many people living in built up areas are receiving such a poor service!.
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