Ofcom & Broadband Speed

[Conniff]

The regulator's revised Code of Practice, announced on Tuesday, calls for greater consistency and accuracy of information on the speeds available to end users. Ofcom will require ISPs to give their customers a range of achievable speeds, rather than the 'up to' maximum speed that is currently advertised.

 

Consumers will be able to leave their contracts without penalty if their maximum line speed is significantly below the bottom of their quoted range and the ISP is unable to solve the problem. The estimated maximum line speed must be given to the customer early in the sales process, as will clear written information detailing the ISP's fair usage and traffic management policies.

 

The research suggests that Virgin Media's cable service delivers real speeds closest to those advertised: a claimed 10Mbps service delivers 8.7Mbps on average, while a 20Mbps service achieves an average 15.7Mbps in reality. Virgin's premium 'up to 50mbps' service delivered around 36Mbps on average.

 

 

The full document is behind the link.

Edited July 27, 2010 by Conniff

[LittleMissHappy]

How can you actually know what speeds you are getting???

 

 

Always wondered this:confused:

[locutus]

Length and quality of line and congestion of server are the main 2 things that effect the speed you achieve.

[kiptower]

try www.speedtest.net

[Conniff]

Speed tests are not the way to check the speed you are getting. Besides the contention of your home line, there is the contention of the line from the server and the upload speed of that server and the size of it's pipe. You can do half a dozen checks with a speed test site and not get the same response with any of them.

 

The best way to check what download speed you are getting is to go to somewhere with some big downloads, a game server is ideal, then click on download of 4 of them and note the speed of each, then add them together. You can cancel the downloads once you have noted the download speeds of all of them.

 

And don't forget to knock off your upload speed from the claimed figure.

Edited July 27, 2010 by Conniff

[Deb T]

I wish they'd do something for LLU at BT Exchanges and hurry them up in allowing an exchange to have LLU etc.

 

I use bt for broadband because I have to use bt as they are the only ones in my exchange but my neighbour 80yds away uses Sky and as they're on a different exchange to me then they're able to use Sky via the exchange.

 

I can use most broadband providers but because my exchange only has BT operating out of it any broadband supplied has to use BT''s exchange so to speak...

 

For example, my parents live in an area where the exchange has LLU and so they use Sky as their broadband provider and because they subscribe to Sky Tv they get their broadband thrown in for free....they also have Sky Talk as opposed to bt as the phone provider, all in all my parents pay £35 for Broadband at 20mbs (currently around 12) inclusive of Sky tv with a sky+ box and sky talk.....

 

I pay bt £18 for broadband + £12 for bt line rental + £5 for anytime calls....and my broadband is stated as up to 8mbs currently 2.5mbs So both my parents and I pay £35....but they get faster broadband + they get sky tv basic package with a box that records the tv and also they get UK (usually Scotland) call centres where as I almost always have to speak to India and which is difficult at the best of times.

 

I hate BT and if I could leave them I would, their contention ratio is ok, but the connection is flaky and the speeds are dire but more is their value for money, it's awful (as is their BT Vision)

 

Talk about value for money,...not!

[Guest]

'traffic management' by your provider may also affect your currently available speed, (rather than your sync/connection speed), at any given time.

[Zubair2.2]

T'is a shame that BT aren't goign Fibre optic in the London area, those 'wise' people over there think its the best to start doing it in Cornwall.

[locutus]

Well, fttc will benefit people living further from the exchange more, and as this is typically rural areas this is probably why they are focusing on Cornwall and the likes. Personally I think BT should have done this a long long time ago!