Broadband Guide

Broadband Speed League Table

Broadband speed league table - Aug. 2008

And the winner is...

The results of our August Ultimate Speed League are in. With many broadband providers claiming to offer supersonic connection speeds, it's important to know who's living up to the hype, and who's lagging behind in the slow lane.

Using the results from our downloadable speedtester, we have calculated the average speed of each provider, and we are proud to bring you this months ultimate speed league table.

Superfast Packages

This table compares suppliers and their packages of over 10Mbps, including up to 16Mbps, up to 20Mbps and up to 24Mbps.

Provider Average Mbps
1 Virgin Media 6.5
2 O2 Broadband 6.2
3 Be Broadband 5.9
4 Sky Broadband 4.3

Medium Broadband

This table compares broadband suppliers with medium broadband packages of up to 8Mbps.

Provider Average Mbps
1 O2 Broadband 4.2
2 Karoo 4.1
3 BT Broadband 3.1
4 Orange 2.9
5 Sky Broadband 2.8
6 TalkTalk 2.8
7 Tiscali (Now owned by TalkTalk) 2.7
8 Tocan 2.7

Light Packages

This table compares suppliers and their light broadband packages of up to 2Mbps.

Provider Average Mbps
1 Virgin Media 1.6
2 Orange 1.6
3 Tiscali (Now owned by TalkTalk) 1.4
4 Sky Broadband 1.3

These tables use data collected from August 2008, and use data only from providers who have done 1000 or more tests over the month. None of the results have been deleted, adapted or manipulated – these tables display honest results and allow you to see the truth behind your ISP’s claims.

Are you getting what you ordered?

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Comments

I am also a Virgin Media customer (ADSL) and like Barrie Sharples (Sep. 14) have just been sent a letter tempting me to sign up for an 8MB broadband package which is all very well, but I have yet to meet someone in my area who can acheive this speed regulalrly as advertised. I can only get up to 2.2MBps. although recently it seemed a lot slower, although I nthink (hope) Virgin have sorted that out. They are all at it; offering you a nice big juicy carrot of up to 8MB which is hardly realistic unless you are on a superfast package. Seems the phrase to look out for is "up to" - sort of leaves the door open, doesn't it? - Oct 22 2008 1:39PM
Mark Pawlikowski, Streatham, London. UK

As a BT Broadband customer I must say that I get a satisfactory service. I am signed up for BT Option 2 (up to 8 Mbs) and I am 500m from my serving exchange with a limit of 6.5MBS. I average 5.8MBs and I find the service reliable. Why would I want to cahnge supplier if the line has a restriction anyway? I will consider an improved service from BT if they offer it but as my needs are met why pay more for something I may not use? - Sep 21 2008 11:42AM
John Williams, Warrington

As a Virgin Media customer, (ADSL) I was tempted to sign-up for an "Up to 8mb" package.(Previously on a 2mb package)
Just occasionally I achieve speeds up to 2mbps, looking into this I found that my local BT telehone exchange has a max speed potential of 2mbps!
How can an ISP offer such carrotts when the simple fact is, I cannot even achieve one third of this, for most of the time!

- Sep 14 2008 12:30PM
Barrie Sharples, Harrogate, North Yprkshire, England