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"Ofcom has set out new guidelines for ISPs, as the regulator published research showing the gap between advertised broadband speeds and real speeds is widening.

The regulator's revised Code of Practice, announced on Tuesday, calls for greater consistency and accuracy of information on the speeds available to end users. Ofcom will require ISPs to give their customers a range of achievable speeds, rather than the 'up to' maximum speed that is currently advertised.

Consumers will be able to leave their contracts without penalty if their maximum line speed is significantly below the bottom of their quoted range and the ISP is unable to solve the problem. The estimated maximum line speed must be given to the customer early in the sales process, as will clear written information detailing the ISP's fair usage and traffic management policies.

The Code of Practice is voluntary, but Ofcom says that all major ISPs have signed up."


Full article here: http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/networking/2010/07/27/ofcom-tightens-broadband-advertising-rules-40089658/

Very beautiful development in the favor of customer BJ, thanks for sharing.

I like the following part of the post specially:

Couple of months ago in Metro newspaper it was pointed out about the same issue for intention of ofcom, that in many areas the ordinary cooper cable is even not capable to support 6MB. So how a company could offer 20MB connection there  ???

Nice news indeed!

Regards,

gb

Does that indicts the broadband providers in Uk to invest more in their bandwidth and to improve their infrastructure to a more sophisticated WiMax? Or will they still stick to saying that up to speeds? I doubt ... ! ! !

Thanks for Sharing BJ,

As the report says, most of the ISPs have already signed even though it's a voluntary code of practice. It simply means they have to publish customers what the max achievable speed is than the usual 'up to' maximum speed.

gb,Srikanth,
Service providers doesn't have to keep up to the max speed of 20 MBPS everywhere. In these old copper cables area they shall (they are already doing it in fact) advertise the max achievable speed.

When you go for a new broadband connection, the service provider promises the maximum speed that they can offer on that line. This new rule make them stick to their promise otherwise customer can leave the contract without penalty.

-NS

Aye. We'll see whether the more honest providers stay in the game  :D

Thou shalt not bear false witness..

I doubt, that the broadband providers are even seriously considering upgrading to something like WiMax! It will not happen untill the regulators put some serious rules in place..