Gap between broadband claims and delivery widens

[Simon]

The glaring gap between advertised broadband speeds and the services that consumers receive has widened, according to figures from telecoms regulator Ofcom.

Although UK broadband speeds increased by 10% - from 6.2Mbits/sec in late 2010 to 6.8Mbits/sec in May – the disparity between expectation and reality widened, leading to calls for changes to advertising practices.

The regulator said the average advertised speed in May 2011 was 15Mbits/sec, more than double the average actual speeds of 6.8Mbits/sec, sparking fears that consumers were being misled.

"The research is still telling us that some consumers are not receiving anywhere near the speeds that are being advertised by some ISPs," said Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/368899/gap-between-broadband-claims-and-delivery-widens

[pctech]

And the problem? Yep, BT.

[Simon]

On a positive note, the regulator said the arrival of BT's Infinity fibre product meant upload speeds were improving.

"The research found that BT's Infinity service ('up to' 10Mbits/sec upload speeds) continued to provide the highest average upload speeds, which at nearly 9Mbits/sec were more than twice as fast as any other service tested," the regulator said.

[Technical Ben]

Yep. I saw that earlier.
How about they just say "our customers get between 2mb and 50mb"?
Well, I guess most of them could not even match that! 

[Technical Ben]

Just noticed. IDNet could advertise "Up to 1000mb!"
http://www.idnet.net/news/article.jsp?id=82

[pctech]

They could with the small print *subject to deep pockets

[Simon]

I think it's better to be able to actually accomplish what you're advertising, as that would give a company a better reputation than one that makes wild promises it could never hope to deliver.