Is your broadband keeping up the pace?

17 August 2012 16:37:08

UK broadband speeds are on the increase.

If your broadband speeds have failed to improve over the past couple of years, you might want to think about changing your supplier. New figures show that the average UK broadband speed has increased to 9.0Mbit/s - that's 2.5 times faster than the average speed recorded in November 2008. So if you haven't noticed any improvement in your own home, now's the time to compare broadband deals and see how much faster you could be surfing.

Brits switching to faster services
Britons are increasingly adopting faster broadband packages, with most of us no longer prepared to put up with slow download times. In the space of just one year, the average fixed-line residential broadband speed has increased from 6.8Mbit/s to 9.0Mbit/s, according to the latest research from regulator Ofcom.

It is thought that this rise in average speeds has largely been driven by migration to new 'super-fast' services, such as Virgin Media's package, which offers speeds up to 60Mbit/s, and BT's Infinity, which enables speeds up to 76Mbit/s. Almost one in 10 residential broadband connections is now super-fast, compared with just 2% in May 2011.

ISP upgrades also leading to improved speeds
Even consumers who have not upgraded their broadband package to a faster service or switched supplier are benefiting from greater speeds, according to Ofcom. The regulator revealed that many households are enjoying improved speeds at no extra cost as a result of ISP network upgrades.

For instance, BT has been upgrading its copper ADSL network and FTTC service, while Virgin Media has also been increasing the speeds of most of its broadband connections. Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, said: "Our research shows that the move to faster broadband services is gathering momentum. Consumers are benefitting from network upgrades and the launch of new super-fast packages, giving them faster speeds and greater choice."

Ideal time to review your deal
With speeds enjoying a general upward trend and suppliers launching super-fast deals, now may be the perfect time to consider whether you're getting an adequate service from your current ISP. Furthermore, you can be more confident than ever before of the speeds you are likely to encounter, as ISPs now have to comply with strict advertising rules when making speed claims.

Mr Richards added: "We are continuing to work with the advertising code-writing bodies and ISPs to ensure that speeds advertised reflect actual speeds experienced, to allow consumers the ability to make informed decisions when shopping around to find the most suitable package."

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