| A recent study of broadband users has highlighted | | | | Rob Barnes, head of broadband at a price |
| that 44 per cent of customers are getting only half | | | | comparison site, commented "As most people are |
| of the promised download speeds from their ISP's. | | | | only achieving half the speed they signed up for, a |
| The study conducted a survey of 43,000 people, | | | | typical film of 500Mb could take up to four hours to |
| 61% of which chose their ISP because of the speeds | | | | download, instead of 60-90 minutes. If you're |
| that were promised to them. The problem is caused | | | | downloading a podcast of 50Mb, you'd expect it to |
| by ISP's advertising the maximum possible download | | | | be downloaded within 10 minutes if using an 8Mb line, |
| speeds, but more often than not, these speeds are | | | | on speeds less than this you could be waiting up to |
| only possible in select areas. | | | | half an hour. |
| The British phone network is responsible for delivering | | | | "As the downloading culture continues to grow, |
| broadband to the homes of millions of users. Most of | | | | broadband speed becomes even more important. |
| this is accomplished by using the traditional copper | | | | Thankfully, Ofcom has decided to step in and |
| wires that were never originally designed to cope | | | | question six of the biggest Internet Service |
| with dealing with high speed data transfer. Britain is | | | | Providers, looking at the speeds they advertise and |
| seriously lagging behind the rest of the world when it | | | | what people actually receive. From this consultation, |
| comes to broadband speeds. BT are investing | | | | providers should be required to give clear, |
| £10bn to try to update the UK network but | | | | transparent advice on the speeds people will be able |
| it's looks as though it could take possible many years | | | | to achieve; perhaps providing a test, like O2 |
| to catch up with the world leaders like Japan and | | | | broadband, as part of the process when they sign up |
| France. | | | | to a new deal. In the meantime I'd recommend |
| We are fast becoming a nation of download addicts, | | | | anyone who wants to download large files, such as |
| with music being the number one download choice, | | | | films, to opt for a connection of 16Mb or faster with |
| followed by games, films and pod casts. With the | | | | unlimited download capabilities. Providers such as Be |
| ever growing numbers of people who downloading | | | | Broadband, Virgin Media and Sky Broadband all offer |
| increasing amounts of data, speed is becoming the | | | | this. |
| number one factor when choosing their ISP. | | | | |