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Confusion over broadband speeds

February 10, 2009 at 1:28 pm

A recent report from the Office of National Statistics has revealed that broadband service providers are still failing to provide a fair and transparent service to consumers who are becoming increasingly confused by the world of broadband. The latest survey has shown that over forty per cent of broadband connections are currently running at speeds which are slower than 2Mbps.

This is pitiful when viewed in the light of Ofcom’s recent claim that the “average headline speed” had doubled in the space of one year to reach a figure of 4.6 Mbps. The statistics released by the Office of National Statistics were also based on the headline speed of the connection, rather than the actual speed. This is worrying for British consumers because the actual speeds they experience in their home on their computers could in fact be below the measured rate of 2Mbps. Ofcom recently revealed statistics which stated that around a fifth of British people are unhappy with the speed of their broadband service and would like to see it improve in the future.

Time and time again, Ofcom has released figures which provide us with an accurate measurement of how broadband use is evolving in the United Kingdom. However, its latest report has shown that consumers are remaining confused about their own broadband service, with over half of British customers feeling unsure about their connection speeds. Such confusion is simply compounded by the fact that the media write long articles about headline speeds and actual speeds, since many consumers do not understand the difference between the two.

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