Broadband speeds improving

Broadband speeds improving

Broadband speeds across the UK are getting faster, according to Ofcom, the telecoms industry watchdog.

In November 2008, the average broadband speed was around 3.6Mbit/s. Now, in 2013, this has speeded up to an average of 12Mbit/s, Ofcom figures show. This is the equivalent of a 234 per cent increase.

Many consumers and businesses are opting to upgrade to superfast broadband where possible and ISPs are also upgrading their networks to boost internet speeds. However, the research highlights that some areas of the UK are being held back by their inability to access broadband internet at present.

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, said, "Our research shows UK consumers are adopting faster broadband packages to cater for their increasing use of bandwidth-heavy services such as video streaming."

He added, "The increase in the average number of connected devices in UK homes is also driving the need for speed. Internet providers are working to meet consumer demand through network upgrades and the launch of superfast packages, giving consumers faster speeds and greater choice."

The research found that cable broadband speeds increased the most, up by 10.4Mbit/s (58 per cent) to 28.3Mbit/s in the six months to November 2012. Speeds for fibre connections also increased by 9.4Mbit/s (30 per cent) to 41.0Mbit/s over the same period, whilst average speeds for ADSL broadband increased by just 0.2Mbit/s (3 per cent) to 6.0Mbit/s.

The research found that broadband users are still experiencing network contention – when networks become more congested at peak times. Choosing a specific business broadband package or managed service is one way to help avoid this and ensure your business is always on the most reliable service.

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