The research, conducted in partnership with broadband monitoring specialists SamKnows, shows that nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of UK fixed-line residential broadband connections had a headline or advertised speed of above ‘up to’ 10Mbit/s in May 2010, compared to just 8 per cent in April 2009.
Ofcom has also strengthened the Voluntary Code of Practice on Broadband Speeds which it introduced in 2008. ISPs who have signed up to the revised Code commit to give consumers a more accurate and consistent estimate of the maximum speed likely to be achievable on their line. ISPs also commit to help consumers improve their speeds and give consumers the option to leave their contracts early without penalty (within three months of signing up to the service) if they receive a maximum line speed that is significantly below the estimate they are given at point of sale and the ISP is unable to resolve the problem.
Details of the report, including ISP performances, can be seen on the Ofcom website, www.ofcom.org.uk