Ofcom has recently revealed the results of its latest broadband speed tests and it makes interesting reading for any freelancers looking to achieve the swiftest possible broadband connection in their home office.
One of the key issues raised by Ofcom is the discrepancy between advertised internet speeds and those which can actually be achieved. They reveal that although actual broadband speeds have increased by over 25% over the last year, the gap between real and advertised speeds has got wider.
The reason for the discrepancy is, of course, due to those old copper lines which were originally designed for phone calls being unable to handle the extra responsibility of delivering fast broadband. It can also be due to electrical interference. This makes advertised speeds merely theoretical.
Ofcom is none to happy with this state of affairs and so they have strengthened the voluntary code of conduct for participating Internet Service Providers to more accurately present the maximum speeds likely to be achieved on their line.
> These league tables show broadband speeds for May 2010 as researched by Ofcom:
So, Virgin come top of the league largely because they provide the broadband via cable.
Chris Marling, editor of comparison site Broadband Genie, commented: “The average speeds make predictably depressing reading and while many will complain about the new system being introduced, the industry only has itself to blame.
“We have been calling for an end to ‘up to’ speeds for a long time now, as it is clearly a ridiculous concept. An average actual speed of 6.5Mb on lines supposedly capable of 20Mb or higher starkly confirms that. It was only a matter of time before the ASA and Ofcom were forced into action.
“The UK’s broadband suppliers had ample time to come to their senses, but once again waited to be regulated against before acting on their own accord. Only Virgin Media comes out of this round of testing with any credit, although O2 and BE can at least claim to be making the best of our groaning DSL network.
Image by Hiking Artist ~ cc
