Broadband consumers given more rights if connection speeds fall short

Ofcom has confirmed that it will be bringing in new guidelines for internet service providers later this year that will give consumers the right to walk away from their contracts if broadband speeds dip below what has been promised.

The proposals were first made in October last year, but the regulator says it will bring in the new rules in a year's time. Providers will have 30 days to improve the broadband connectivity once the level has dropped below what has been advertised. If they fail to bring it back up to speed, the consumer will be able to break the contract.

The new guidelines also enforce the advertisement of realistic peak connection speeds at the time a consumer signs up to a contract. All types of broadband connection are included in the new guidelines, including fibre, copper or cable.

Lindsey Fussel, consumer group director for Ofcom said that it is important that broadband users are aware of “what they are signing up to” when they take out contracts with ISPs.

She added: "These protections will close the gap between the broadband speeds people are sold, and what they actually receive. And to give people extra confidence, we are making it easier to walk away - without penalty - if companies fail to deliver."

The changes will be fully introduced from the end of March 2019, but providers have already been notified and told they have a year to modify the way they measure connection speeds in order to adhere to the new guidelines when they come into play.