| In light of new guidelines due to be | | | | they are getting. If it's significantly |
| brought into force early in 2008, | | | | lower than the speed originally quoted, |
| broadband providers could face legal | | | | the customer has the option of switching |
| action if they do not give accurate | | | | free to a different package or backing |
| information to customers when they sign | | | | out of the deal with no penalties |
| up. This welcome ruling was put into | | | | incurred. |
| motion by Ofcom, the technology | | | | For most of the broadband users in the |
| watchdog. | | | | UK, this ruling could not have come too |
| The rule mainly covers the question of | | | | soon. When Computeractive magazine did a |
| the connection speeds, which there has | | | | study back in September 2007 it found |
| been some controversy over in recent | | | | that 62% of people who used its |
| months. It was discovered that customers | | | | speed-testing software were getting less |
| were paying for speeds advertised as 'up | | | | than half the speed advertised by their |
| to' 8MB, 16MB or even 24MB, when in some | | | | ISP. For example, on an '8MB' |
| cases were only getting perhaps a | | | | connection, the actual average speed is |
| quarter of that. | | | | 2.7Mbps. That's just a third of the |
| Providers argued that the 'up to' | | | | speed the customer would be paying for. |
| wording indicated that the advertised | | | | It can sometimes make a difference if |
| speed were only a maximum and not a | | | | you pay a higher price. cheap broadband |
| guarantee, but Ofcom's stance was that | | | | packages tend to have a higher |
| it was misleading, and there was too | | | | contention rate, which means you're |
| much difference between advertised and | | | | sharing your bandwidth with more people |
| actual. They have called for a 'typical' | | | | and therefore getting a slower speed. |
| speed to be shown instead - much like | | | | Paying a higher tariff can sometimes get |
| the typical APR on credit cards. | | | | you a lower contention, but you may need |
| The new code states that broadband | | | | to ask about this as not all providers |
| providers must assess a customers line | | | | advertise it. |
| and give accurate, clear data as to what | | | | If you're unhappy with your current |
| speed they can expect from their line, | | | | connection speed, try and wait until |
| provide information about things that | | | | this new ruling comes into force before |
| can affect line speed, and also contact | | | | switching ISP's. You may find you get a |
| them two weeks after the service | | | | faster speed and better deal. |
| installation to let them know what speed | | | | |