Speed tests of broadband slammed by Virgin Media

Websites that speed-test broadband are misleading customers according to the repeated accusations from Virgin Media.

The measurement metrics that are user by many of these website were inaccurate said the ISP, which currently offers speeds of up to 50Mbps over its fibre-optic broadband services.

According to Virgin the Broadband.co.uk site was accused of “releasing monthly results using inaccurate data”, whilst “inconsistent results” were given by Numion.com, speedchecker.org and broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk.

The criticisms that Virgin made was, however, based on information that was out-of-date according to Janusz Jezowicz of BroadbandSpeedChecker.co.uk.

He said “We have improved our infrastructure since January and have worked with Virgin Media to pass their tests. However, the press release is based on the tests done before our upgrade of the infrastructure and does not reflect that our users get very high accuracy also on 50Mbit connections.”

There were a number of sites that Virgin didn’t criticise, as the ISP was happy that Thinkbroadband, IPSReview.co.uk and Speedtest.net were capable of assessing line speeds accurately with the technology they had on their sites.

Jon James from Virgin Media said “Many of these sites profess to be ‘experts’ and some even generate sales from broadband providers so I am sure that consumers would find it alarming that they are unable to represent speeds accurately. We are pleased, however, that our campaign has kick-started most of these sites into action and we will continue to work with those that are non-compliant to get them to the standard that they need to be.”

Virgin’s commitment to the accuracy of speed tests were praise by one of the major broadband information sites that Virgin claimed was unable to measure the line speeds of any of its products.

A spokesman for the site said “We are encouraged that Virgin Media is championing accurate speed measurement because, as Ofcom recently highlighted, the average speed being received by broadband customers is currently only 49 per cent of that being advertised by ISPs.”

It was further pointed out that the site was able to measure speeds on many UK broadband packages by the spokesman.

He said “Our speed tester is accurate for measuring speeds up to 8Mbps which is the most popular speed in the UK at present and we are cooperating fully with Virgin Media to improve our speed tester’s ability to accurately measure the super-fast packages.”