A step in the right direction
Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, today published a voluntary Code of Practice on broadband line speeds to which ISPs covering the overwhelming majority of broadband users, have signed up. The Code requires fixed line ISPs to take the following steps:
· Provide customers at the point of sale with an accurate estimate of the maximum speed the line can support;
· Offer customers the choice to move to a lower speed package when estimates given are inaccurate;
· Ensure all sales and promotion staff can explain to the meaning of the estimates provided at the point of sale;
· Provide consumers with information on usage limits and alert customers when they have breached them.
Ofcom’s stated concern is that consumers may be misled when choosing among broadband services by ISPs advertising headline speeds higher than users can actually receive.
Presumably because the Code is, at this stage, voluntary, it does not require ISPs to tell consumers the average connection speed under the Code. Nor does it cover mobile broadband services.
Ofcom will identify actual broadband performance across the country and will monitor compliance. If the voluntary approach proves to be ineffective, formal regulations will follow.
