Crystal Clear Broadband campaign proves popular

A petition that has been set up on the 10 Downing Street website in support of clearer broadband information relating to Internet speeds has been quickly gaining momentum according to recent reports. The Crystal Clear Broadband campaign was set up recently after testing revealed that under fifty percent of broadband consumers were receiving the broadband speeds that they had signed up for. In fact, according to research and test results around sixty two percent of broadband users were receiving speeds of below fifty percent of the speed that they should have been receiving.

A number of broadband agencies and professionals are involved in the setting up of the campaign, the aim of which is to improve the clarity of broadband speeds for consumers and to ensure that Ofcom, the communications regulator, and the broadband industry as a whole works to improve transparency for consumers when it comes to their broadband speeds. The level of consumers failing to receive their full Internet speeds was obtained through performing nearly two hundred thousand speed tests.

According to reports the petition has already received over one thousand signatures. It aims to ensure that Internet Service Providers are clear about broadband speeds before the consumers actually signs up to a contract. It also calls on Ofcom to introduce independent speed testing to benefit consumers that want to get further clarification on actual speeds that different service providers offer.

One broadband industry professional stated: “ISPs need to be clear about the sort of speed each line can support – before customers sign up. ISPs have the tools to give much better estimates for consumers but refuse to because the maximum number is a better sales pull. We also think that a fairer way to promote broadband deals would be to advertise a ‘typical speed’ instead of the maximum rate which is rarely achievable.”