Customers are to receive a more transparent package of services under a newly announced deal between ISP companies and the regulating authority, Ofcom
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7437097.stmThe way broadband speeds are advertised is to be regulated under a voluntary code published by Ofcom.
It wants companies to publish accurate estimates of the maximum connection speeds people can expect before they buy broadband packages.
Some 32 Internet providers, covering more than 90% of UK broadband customers, have agreed to the code.
The media regulator also says customer Internet satisfaction has fallen in the past year.
Ofcom is also undertaking what it says is the UK's "most authoritative and comprehensive broadband speed survey" to identify broadband performance across the country and its relationship to advertised speeds.
There are several steps that fixed-line Internet service providers (ISPs) - ones that use cables - are required to take under the voluntary code.
These include
* Providing customers with an accurate estimate of the maximum speed that the line can support, whether in a shop, over the Internet or on the phone
* Resolving technical issues to improve speed
* Offering customers the choice to move onto a lower speed package when estimates given are inaccurate
* Providing consumers with information on usage limits
* Alerting customers when they have breached usage limits
Anna Bradley, chair of Ofcom's Consumer Panel described the creation of the code as a "welcome move".
"It addresses the concerns that we raised with Ofcom last year about the mismatch between the speeds that people think they are buying and what they actually get," she said in a statement.
I agree this is a welcome move but has the regulator sold us out cheaply as this is purely a voluntarily operated set of measures, there will be no legal requirement behind these new proposals so its likely things get worse before we see any real changes.
