Misleading Broadband Advertising; True Lies and Broadband

Have you been fooled/tricked by your Broadband service provider? Well, you are not alone! Broadband providers’ terminology is notoriously misleading and tricksy. In the UK and elsewhere, the fact that telecom regulators have been forced to step in to create rules on what providers are allowed to say when referring to broadband speeds and allowances should remind us that what providers might say is not necessarily what they mean.

The two most controversial claims from broadband providers have been a hot topic for discussion over the past 12 months due to mounting pressure from the general public and Ofcom.

Up to 20/24Mbps Connection Speed

Misleading broadband speeds are incredibly common. Many broadband adverts claim to be able to offer their customers speeds up to 20Mbps or even 24Mbps but the reality is that these connections are delivered by ADSL2+ or ADSLMAX technology which is incredibly susceptible to attenuation, interference and other issues which result in slower speeds

A recent study by Ofcom in the UK found that the national average was more like 6.8Mbps. Some broadband providers advertising speeds of up to 20Mbps had an average speed of between 6.6 and 9Mbps.

Up to remains an acceptable way to advertised broadband although some regulators now say that at least 10% of customers must be able to achieve the advertised speeds and others suggest that typical broadband speeds are displayed on the advertisement.

Up to 40Mbps+ Broadband Speed

Up to 40Mbps or faster broadband deals are provided over fibre. In this case, the ‘up to’ seems much fairer. In most cases, fibre connections offer 80-90% of the advertised speed. No translation needed there.

Unlimited Internet Access

How many times have you heard that a provider is offering unlimited internet access, only to be charged when you have exceeded the fair usage policy?

How can broadband be unlimited if there is a cap on usage? In the UK from April 2012 there will be more rules on advertising deals as unlimited.

The regulator has now stated that the term “unlimited” can only be used in adverts if there are no charges or suspended services implemented as a result of exceeding any data thresholds.

Author Bio: This guest post is contributed by Choose, a site that helps UK consumers find the best broadband deals and the cheapest broadband.