Nine in ten internet customers misled by advertising about broadband speeds
Suppliers boast 'up to' a certain figure but often fall well short
NINE out of ten internet customers are being misled by advertised broadband speeds, a report said yesterday.
Current rules allow suppliers to boast download speeds “up to” a certain figure if just ten per cent of users can achieve them.
Yet, especially in rural areas, speeds fall well short at key times — such as after 6pm when parents are trying to browse the net while their children watch catch-up TV.
The Local Government Association said switching from “up to” to “average” advertised speeds would be more accurate.
It also wants upload speeds clearly marked to help small businesses and users of social media.
The Government has targeted minimum download speeds of ten megabits per second by 2020. There is likely to be a million households still under that next year.
This would allow a family to watch a high-definition film and TV show at the same time as making a video call.
At the moment speeds in many remoter areas often fall well below 2Mbps.
LGA spokesman Mark Hawthorne said: “Good digital connectivity is a vital element of everyday life for residents.
“It can help them cut household bills, shop online for cheaper goods, stay in touch with distant relatives, access their bank accounts and even run their own businesses.
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“As central and local government services increasingly become ‘digital by default’, more people will need to have faster and more reliable speeds.
“The headline ‘up to’ download speed, which can be advertised legally, is misleading.
“It does not reflect the reality of broadband service received across the country.
“Broadband users deserve greater honesty and openness about the download and upload speeds they are likely to receive depending on their location.”
Councils also want watchdog Ofcom to monitor the performance of connections, especially during peak hours.