Broadband News

Calls for greater transparency on broadband speeds

Tuesday, 02 March 2010

By Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

Karoo Broadband, service provider for Hull and East Riding, has launched a “speed map” showing actual download speeds across its network and calling for greater transparency from other ISPs.

“One of the most frustrating aspects for consumers is that the service they sign up for doesn’t always match the ‘up to’ speeds that are advertised by broadband providers,” said Nick Thompson, director of consumer and publishing services at Kingston Communications (KC), which owns Karoo.

KC operates a monopoly in the Hull and East Riding areas as the only broadband provider in the region.

Speed is a key issue for broadband users as people increasingly use the internet for bandwidth-hungry applications such as streaming and downloading TV, video and music, added Karoo, pointing out that broadband speeds not only fluctuate across networks - getting slower the further you get from the telephone exchange - but customers are often unsure what speeds they can expect as providers only give out the maximum “up to” speeds - which very few people can actually achieve.

“Using KC’s Speed Map, broadband users can now check and compare actual broadband speeds, on any given post code, before signing up or moving home,” added Thompson. “With last year’s Digital Britain report calling for greater transparency, we are urging other providers to follow our lead.”

KC claims that 83% of its customers on an ADSL2+ connection receive an average 6Mb or more and almost 100% receive minimum speeds of 2Mb, adding that it was making “significant investments” to the last few areas that cannot yet receive at least 2Mb.

Michael Phillips, Broadbandchoices.co.uk product director, added: “It’s great that Karoo is doing more to improve the transparency of speeds for its customers and broadband providers across the board should follow its lead and make it easier for consumers to see what kind of speeds their going to get before they sign up.

“Despite widespread media coverage over broadband speeds, many people still think that they’re going to get the advertised ‘up to’ when they sign up. But a variety of factors, from traffic management to distance from the exchange, can affect download speeds and very few people will ever get anything like the 8Mb or 20Mb broadband they’re expecting - resulting in disappointment and frustration.”

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