| According to a report issued by Ofcom, many | | | | installed with fixed line broadband, 24% of whom |
| broadband users in the UK receive, on average, only | | | | possess a connection capable of supporting 10Mbps |
| 46% of the speed they are paying for. In some | | | | or more. |
| cases, ISP's are advertising maximum speeds which | | | | However, just because they are capable of |
| are not received by any customers at all. | | | | supporting such speeds, does not necessarily mean |
| The research by Ofcom concluded that 97% of | | | | that the consumer will receive them. For example, |
| consumers do not receive the level of broadband | | | | DSL services offering "up to" 20Mbps were found to |
| which was advertised to them, and for which they | | | | be highly misleading. Only 2% of those tested |
| are paying each month. Despite the rise in average | | | | received speeds in the range of 14-20Mbps, while |
| speed experienced by consumers, less than half are | | | | 65% received 8Mbps or less. |
| getting what they were sold. | | | | Following these findings, Ofcom hopes to reform the |
| In April 2009, the average broadband speed was | | | | way in which broadband is being sold to customers, |
| 4.1Mbps, whilst the average advertised speed was | | | | as well as providing a new code of conduct for the |
| 7.1Mbps. In May 2010 it is believed that the average | | | | industry. The latter aspect allows consumers to |
| broadband speed has risen to 5.2Mbps, with the | | | | cancel their contract within the first three months |
| corresponding average advertised speed increasing to | | | | without a penalty if the speed they are receiving is |
| 11.5Mbps. In the space of these 13 months Ofcom | | | | not as advertised. |
| has recorded a decrease in the percentage of | | | | This review of broadband advertisement and industry |
| average advertised speed being received by | | | | conduct will be a welcome feature for many people. |
| consumers, from 58% to 46%. | | | | It isn't only the individual consumer who will benefit, |
| The report demonstrates the changing face of Uk | | | | but also businesses and organisations online who rely |
| broadband, with a dramatically increased percentage | | | | heavily on the internet. Everything from online stores |
| of the population now connected to a broadband | | | | to UK SEO firms will benefit from the increased |
| service. Ofcom states that 65% of UK homes are | | | | accountability and transparency of ISP's. |