Broadband News

Be launches online speed estimator

Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

Super-fast broadband provider Be Broadband has launched its own online speed tester, in a bid to improve transparency (29-08-08).

As well as showing customers what speed they’re currently receiving, Be Broadband (www.BeThere.co.uk) - which is owned by mobile phone giant O2 (www.O2.co.uk) hopes that its new service will highlight its commitment to Ofcom’s voluntary Code of Practice announced in June.

The new code requires providers to be more honest about the actual speeds that they can deliver instead of just advertising top speeds which are rarely, if ever, attainable.

Felix Geyr, Be Broadband managing director, said: “Be Broadband has always been proud of its performance and with the launch of this speed estimation tool, new customers can check the speed they will receive, rather than the 'up to' that other ISPs provide.

“We feel it is a step in the right direction for the broadband industry to cut through customer’s confusion and improve customer trust in their services.”

Be Broadband offers download speeds of up to 24Mb and uploads of up to 2.5Mb - some of the fastest speeds in the country. However, due to line distance and traffic congestion, Be customers received an average of 6.1Mb last month according to the BroadbandChoices.co.uk monthly speed test.

Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “The higher the advertised top speed, the harder it is to deliver and 6.1Mb is still a respectable speed. However, a lack of understanding about the way that broadband works can result in a lot of disgruntled customers.

“It’s great that Be is working to highlight the fact that its customers won’t necessarily get their “up to” speed, and hopefully this will inspire other ISPs to follow suit, bringing greater transparency to the market as a whole,” he concluded.

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