UK web users are being left in the slow lane, says Ofcom
British broadband users are being left in the slow lane by their internet service providers, with one in five people who sign up for the most popular high-speed package actually getting less than a quarter of the advertised speed.
UK consumers are getting an average broadband speed of just 3.6Mb per second compared with a technically feasible top speed across the nation of 4.3Mbps, according to new research from regulator Ofcom.
The figures, reached after more than 10m individual tests, are significantly lower than previous forecasts and well below the headline "up to" figure used in advertising, which Ofcom reckons is now an average 7.2Mbps.
"This report goes to show how little consumers get for their money," said James Parker, broadband manager at moneysupermarket.com.
An average speed of 3.6Mbps also means that UK web users are experiencing some of the slowest broadband access in the developed world.
Speed has become a fierce battleground between the ISPs over the past year, as more and more consumers are watching television programmes through applications such as the BBC's iPlayer and need fast, reliable connections.
BT has already upgraded all its customers to speeds of "up to" 8Mbps – and runs a speed check on a prospective customer's line before they sign up – while Virgin Media, which has its own fibre optic network connecting roughly half the UK's homes, recently announced the roll-out of broadband at 50Mbps.
But while advertised speeds are going up and up, many people are not even getting the slower speeds they are being promised today. One in five people who take an "up to 8Mbps" package – used by 60% of internet users – are actually getting connections of under 2Mbps.
The research, conducted in association with broadband performance specialist SamKnows, shows that while most consumers are happy with their broadband service, speed is an increasing area of dissatisfaction – especially among consumers who use their connections for data-hungry applications such as gaming or the iPlayer.
While 93% of consumers are satisfied with their experience of web browsing, only two thirds – 67% – of those who use their broadband connection to watch or download TV programmes are satisfied with the experience.
Last year Ofcom strong-armed UK ISPs into implementing a code of practice which requires them to provide an accurate estimate of the maximum speed a customer can expect to get when signing up for a service.
ISPs must also explain to customers the factors which determine the actual broadband speeds they can receive and give guidance on how to improve their connections.
Dissatisfaction with broadband is twice as high in rural areas – especially the east Midlands, Wales and Scotland – than it is in urban areas. In fact the research, which was based on 7,000 tests of the connections of 1,500 homes over a 30-day period, shows the widening gap between the broadband speed "haves" in cities and the "have nots" in the countryside.
Speeds are lower in the country because of the technology used for broadband services. All broadband providers except Virgin Media have to use BT's copper lines to connect people's homes to the internet. The longer the line between house and the local telephone exchange, the slower the speed. Lines tend to be shortest in urban areas and speeds are on average 15% faster than those in rural areas.
Consumers in London receive the fastest average speeds, according to the Ofcom report, with those in the north east of England, Wales and Scotland receiving on average the slowest speeds.
Closing the so-called digital divide has become a political issue. Earlier this week, David Cameron said a Conservative government would put all homes within the reach of high-speed broadband networks within 10 years.
"In Britain we have some of the slowest broadband speeds in the developed world and when it comes to investing in next generation broadband networks, like fibre optics to the home, we're doing very badly compared to countries like Germany, Japan and America," he said.
Later this month new communications minister Lord Stephen Carter will publish his initial thoughts about creating what he calls Digital Britain, which is expected to look at ways of expanding the roll-out of super-fast broadband services across the UK.
BT has plans to spend £1.5bn bringing the next generation of super-fast broadband within reach of 10m homes, or about 40% of the population, but getting the whole country within the reach of such networks is going to cost billions more.
• The full Ofcom report can be found here
Rick Wray
Thursday 8 January 2009 17.55 GMT
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
British broadband users are being left in the slow lane by their internet service providers, with one in five people who sign up for the most popular high-speed package actually getting less than a quarter of the advertised speed.
UK consumers are getting an average broadband speed of just 3.6Mb per second compared with a technically feasible top speed across the nation of 4.3Mbps, according to new research from regulator Ofcom.
The figures, reached after more than 10m individual tests, are significantly lower than previous forecasts and well below the headline "up to" figure used in advertising, which Ofcom reckons is now an average 7.2Mbps.
"This report goes to show how little consumers get for their money," said James Parker, broadband manager at moneysupermarket.com.
An average speed of 3.6Mbps also means that UK web users are experiencing some of the slowest broadband access in the developed world.
Speed has become a fierce battleground between the ISPs over the past year, as more and more consumers are watching television programmes through applications such as the BBC's iPlayer and need fast, reliable connections.
BT has already upgraded all its customers to speeds of "up to" 8Mbps – and runs a speed check on a prospective customer's line before they sign up – while Virgin Media, which has its own fibre optic network connecting roughly half the UK's homes, recently announced the roll-out of broadband at 50Mbps.
But while advertised speeds are going up and up, many people are not even getting the slower speeds they are being promised today. One in five people who take an "up to 8Mbps" package – used by 60% of internet users – are actually getting connections of under 2Mbps.
The research, conducted in association with broadband performance specialist SamKnows, shows that while most consumers are happy with their broadband service, speed is an increasing area of dissatisfaction – especially among consumers who use their connections for data-hungry applications such as gaming or the iPlayer.
While 93% of consumers are satisfied with their experience of web browsing, only two thirds – 67% – of those who use their broadband connection to watch or download TV programmes are satisfied with the experience.
Last year Ofcom strong-armed UK ISPs into implementing a code of practice which requires them to provide an accurate estimate of the maximum speed a customer can expect to get when signing up for a service.
ISPs must also explain to customers the factors which determine the actual broadband speeds they can receive and give guidance on how to improve their connections.
Dissatisfaction with broadband is twice as high in rural areas – especially the east Midlands, Wales and Scotland – than it is in urban areas. In fact the research, which was based on 7,000 tests of the connections of 1,500 homes over a 30-day period, shows the widening gap between the broadband speed "haves" in cities and the "have nots" in the countryside.
Speeds are lower in the country because of the technology used for broadband services. All broadband providers except Virgin Media have to use BT's copper lines to connect people's homes to the internet. The longer the line between house and the local telephone exchange, the slower the speed. Lines tend to be shortest in urban areas and speeds are on average 15% faster than those in rural areas.
Consumers in London receive the fastest average speeds, according to the Ofcom report, with those in the north east of England, Wales and Scotland receiving on average the slowest speeds.
Closing the so-called digital divide has become a political issue. Earlier this week, David Cameron said a Conservative government would put all homes within the reach of high-speed broadband networks within 10 years.
"In Britain we have some of the slowest broadband speeds in the developed world and when it comes to investing in next generation broadband networks, like fibre optics to the home, we're doing very badly compared to countries like Germany, Japan and America," he said.
Later this month new communications minister Lord Stephen Carter will publish his initial thoughts about creating what he calls Digital Britain, which is expected to look at ways of expanding the roll-out of super-fast broadband services across the UK.
BT has plans to spend £1.5bn bringing the next generation of super-fast broadband within reach of 10m homes, or about 40% of the population, but getting the whole country within the reach of such networks is going to cost billions more.
• The full Ofcom report can be found here
Rick Wray
Thursday 8 January 2009 17.55 GMT
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
