Broadband now faster but not up to speed

[BGonaSTICK]

Broadband speeds have more than quadrupled since 2003 but many users still aren't receiving the level of service they think they are getting.

The average UK broadband speed is 2.03Mbps, according to research from independent broadband information site thinkbroadband.com. Similar figures taken from 2003 showed an average download speed of just under 500Kbps.

But speeds are often slower than broadband users expect, given that many providers promise speeds of 'up to' 8Mbps -- which can vary based on time of day or the number of people who are online.

Andrew Ferguson, editor of thinkbroadband.com, said broadband providers could do better at informing customers of speeds they can realistically expect to get.

He said not everyone understands that ADSL provides inconsistent connection speeds.

Ferguson also suggested new, bandwidth-intensive services such as IPTV have the potential to cause even slower broadband speeds. "A provider only needs around 1.5 per cent of users to make use of, say, the BT Vision product at the same time to use up all the capacity," he said.

"The UK does not yet have the infrastructure to support millions watching EastEnders via broadband at the same time," he added, because of the high cost of retaining spare network capacity for times when online traffic is high.

The research comes from 365,000 download speed tests carried out by thinkbroadband.com during the peak period of 18:00(GMT) and 22:00(GMT), from October 2006 to the end of January 2007.

[diapason]

Wanadoo promised me 8 Mbts and the icon on my computer now shows "connected at 7.6 Mbps. However, a line test using thinkbroadband reveals that my average is 2.1 Mbps. When I queried this, Wanadoo told me that the 7.6 Mbps is the speed at which the little modem (speedtouch) they sent to me speaks to my computer.

The download speed is about 2.1 and can vary down to 0.9. - and yet, they were going to charge me £20 for "upgrading to 8 Mbps", but agreed to waive the £20 fee when I pointed out to them at the time (some months ago) that our lines could not deliver that speed. They then said that they would refund the £20 and upgrade me all the same, but there's no sign of 8 Mbps when I do the line test. I wonder if they're telling me the right story - any answers will be welcome.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by diapason

Wanadoo promised me 8 Mbts and the icon on my computer now shows "connected at 7.6 Mbps. However, a line test using thinkbroadband reveals that my average is 2.1 Mbps. When I queried this, Wanadoo told me that the 7.6 Mbps is the speed at which the little modem (speedtouch) they sent to me speaks to my computer.

The download speed is about 2.1 and can vary down to 0.9. - and yet, they were going to charge me £20 for "upgrading to 8 Mbps", but agreed to waive the £20 fee when I pointed out to them at the time (some months ago) that our lines could not deliver that speed. They then said that they would refund the £20 and upgrade me all the same, but there's no sign of 8 Mbps when I do the line test. I wonder if they're telling me the right story - any answers will be welcome.

You've got ADSL Max. Which is basically a service that offers the fastest that your line can support and not an actual 8Mbps service. Your modem is SYNCING with the exchange at 7.6Mbps but because of your 'contention ratio' your having your 8Mbps shared between you & probably 50 other people. Hence the slow download speeds.

[diapason]

Thanks, Gav - so if I had agreed to pay their £20 I would have well and truly "had"!!

[BGonaSTICK]

My modem connects at 5mbps but I only ever achieve around 3 (max). I'm on ADSL2+ which has a theoretical maximum of 32mbps (although advertised as 'up to 16mbps')

[diapason]

Here's a little triumph. I phoned Wanadoo to explain the apparent lack of speed of connection, and they told me that the "frog" which I had can only cope with speed up to 2 Mbps.

Their packages are now £14.99 for the "Starter Pack" which is 2 Mbps and 2 Gb limit, or £19.99 for unlimited downloads and 8 Mbps speed. Now, as they had been overcharging me for months for what I get, they agreed to send me a wireless router and box which would connect at 8 Mbps for £12.99 per month. The box arrived today and all is wired up and working well - cost £12.99 - but I also have to expect a facility to make free phone calls within 10 days, and the blurb suggested unlimited downloads (not just 2 Gbs) so I suspect I have their £19.99 package for £12.99 because I complained. Finally, on testing the line, I am connected at 5.1 Mbps which seems reasonable. Once the bill comes in I'll let you all know!

[BGonaSTICK]

Cool! Another victory for the lesser-spotted British complainant!

I'd settle for 5.1bps at the moment, let alone 5.1Mbps

I might even complain about it, I'm that fed up. It's just the thought of that 'You are held in a queue and your call will be answered as quickly as possible...' :-X plus the fact that I know that this is as good as it gets anyway.

[diapason]

Yes, you can't beat the Scots for kicking up h*ll !!!

[diapason]

Well, I've now got my broadband operating between 5 and 6 Mbpts but sometimes going down to 0.9 when things are busy. I also can make free phone calls to anywhere in the UK using a phone plugged into the Wanadoo Livebox AND my first bill is for £12.99 - so they HAVE given me the £19.99 package for £12.99 as a compensation for overcharging me for months! - AND it's all working well!!

[BGonaSTICK]

Nice to hear a good-news story for once