Broadband providers are fibbing about their speeds

Internet service providers may be forced to sign up to a new advertising code after Ofcom revealed that the UK's broadband customers are paying for download speeds that are often only half the speed advertised.
 
The regulator's latest survey discovered that the discrepancy between advertised speeds and reality is now 54 per cent. The average package is sold as 11.5 megabits per second (mbps) but in fact only delivers 5.2mbps.
 
And although average fixed-line residential broadband speeds did actually increase by more than a quarter in the year to April, the performance claims of providers have jumped even more, meaning that the previous shortfall of 42 per cent has now leapt to more than 54.
 
Ofcom has drawn up a voluntary code of conduct that allows customers who suffer from very slow internet access to cancel their contracts without being penalised. It is also working with the Advertising Standards Authority on new advertising guidelines.
 
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards wants ISPs to be banned from advertising connection speeds that are theoretical rather than practical. Some ISPs cap their services below the maximum speed they advertise to maintain a stable service.
 
"Speeds should only be advertised if they're actually achievable by some customers," said Richards. He also said providers should use a "typical speed range" figure rather than a maximum in their adverts
 
Robert Hammond, of Consumer Focus, said: "If consumers pay for a Ferrari-style internet service, they should not get push-bike speeds. The Advertising Standards Authority should take a tough approach."
 
The difference between claimed and actual speeds is partly down to the fact that providers are improving the methods they use to deliver broadband, but the lines running into the homes of consumers are not so efficient.
 
BT's switch to ADSL2+ technology, for example, means that they now claim a top speed of 20mbps, which is more than double their previous best of 8mbps. The problem is that customers, who rarely enjoyed speeds of more than 7mbps before the upgrade, have not seen their speeds increase by an equivalent amount.
 
O2 and Sky topped the rankings for ADSL providers by delivering speeds of 5mbps and 4.9mbps respectively for packages sold as up to 8mbps. Virgin Media's cable network beat all ADSL providers. It offers 10mbps and delivered 9mbps. ·