UK Regulators Say UK Speeds Lacking Finds many customers getting 45% of advertised speeds... Tipped by Jon 
UK regulatory agency Ofcom conducted ten million tests of 1,500 UK homes over 30 days, and found that UK consumers are receiving just 45% of advertised broadband speeds (see Times Online, BBC). The study results note that one in five customers paying for an 8Mbps connection is lucky to see just 2Mbps, and undelivered speeds and congestion are usually worst not during the week -- but on Sundays between 5pm and 6pm. Last month, Ofcom launched a new voluntary consumer code, requiring ISPs explain how technical factors may slow down speeds and give help and advice to consumers to improve the situation at home. Ofcom says they'll release a second report in the spring citing the performance (or lack thereof) of specific ISPs.
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  woody7Premium
join:2000-10-13
Torrance, CA | hmmmm.... we need to do this in this country.... 
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BlooMe | |
|  |  hopeflickerCapitalism breeds greedPremium
join:2003-04-03
Long Beach, CA
kudos:1 | Re: hmmmm.... if you need anything above 2Mb then you must be a pirate | |
| | |  jt4
@comcast.net | Re: hmmmm.... not really. i play game online and downgrade multi player maps that are about 1 to 2 gbps | |
| | | | | | Re: hmmmm.... "one in five customers paying for an 8Mbps connection is lucky to see just 2Mbps"
That's terrible. | |
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 Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4
1 edit |  Ofcom's Guide on how to speed up broadband is pathetic
»www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/guides/bbspeeds.pdf
How to speed up your broadband service
If your broadband speed is lower than you expected, your ISP
should be able to give you advice. Some broadband services can be
affected by electrical interference and your ISP should be able to
recommend ways that this can be reduced (e.g. fitting additional
filters to your telephone sockets);
You may find that your broadband speed is a lot slower at some
times of the day. Like the roads, internet speed depends on how
much other people are using it. At peak times (usually afternoons
and evenings) your broadband speed may be slower;
Your speed might be being cut by your ISP if you have breached
their fair usage policy. If your speed has been cut in this way then
you may want to contact your ISP and ask them why and how you
can avoid being affected in this way in the future. If your ISP has
signed up to the Code, they should tell you this automatically;
Moving to a faster broadband package can help but you may not
always be able to get the higher speed because of where you live.
Your ISP should be able to let you know whether you can get a
higher speed package, and what the maximum speed your
particular line can get; and
Switching your ISP may improve speeds. Comparison websites and
‘best buy’ guides can provide consumers with an indication of ISPs
with good speed performance, and also let you know whether
other customers are happy with that ISP. I looked thru the full report »www.ofcom.org.uk/research/teleco···an09.pdf
and the advice to switch ISPs is not very helpful since the report refused to break out the stats by ISP. They say maybe some time in the future. Sounds like the ISPs still have some control over Ofcom.
The report also did not break down any stats by DSL(80% of users) vs cable(20% of users). Though they do mention that cable does better in getting closer to advertised speeds than DSL does.
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| | woody7Premium
join:2000-10-13
Torrance, CA | Re: Ofcom's Guide on how to speed up broadband is pathetic said by Romney2012:If this is what they see as a helpful guide to the consumer on "How to speed up your broadband service", they sound as about as effective a regulator as the FCC. » www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/guides/bbspeeds.pdfHow to speed up your broadband service
If your broadband speed is lower than you expected, your ISP
should be able to give you advice. Some broadband services can be
affected by electrical interference and your ISP should be able to
recommend ways that this can be reduced (e.g. fitting additional
filters to your telephone sockets);..............
_____________________________________________________________
This goes a longer way than what you get in this country!
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BlooMe | |
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| | Electrical noise That's what the UK gets from letting BPL run amok.
It doesn't just interfere with ham radio, it interferes with everything! | |
| | |  funchordsHelloPremium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Yarmouth Port, MA
kudos:5 | Re: This reminds me of my DSL days said by pandora:This brings up a point about comparing broadband speeds and access by country. Do we compare the actual broadband speed subscribers get, or are we comparing the speed ISP's claim to be providing? I've seen both types of reports over the past year -- it's a valid question and one you should ask whenever you are reading one of those reports.
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon -- KJ7RL
...just some more roadkill on the Information Superhighway... | |
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funchordsHelloPremium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Yarmouth Port, MA
kudos:5 | Ofcom continues to be a Toothless Wonder Seems I remember this very same set of facts last year: the UK's speeds were far under the publicized rates and OFCOM gave nothing but lip service.
This was December 2007 -- »www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/19···ed_code/ -- Ofcom's Consumer panel urges a clamp down on broadband speed deceit, and
This was June 2008 -- »www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/copbb/copbb/ -- Ofcom's response is an ISP voluntary code of conduct.
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon -- KJ7RL
...just some more roadkill on the Information Superhighway... | |
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This reminds me of my DSL days