Broadband providers needs to advertise truthful speeds
According to the latest survey, nine in ten broadband users want the broadband providers to offer actual download speeds in their advertisements. Over 90 per cent of the UK consumers found, the phrase "up to" misleading while referring possible download speeds, in Virgin/ICM's poll.
Over 90 per cent were unaware of the actual speed of their connection and 54 per cent said that they were not shocked to see the difference between the advertised and the actual broadband speeds.
According to the Ofcom’s Research published in the last month, 5.2M/bits was the average download speeds in the UK. This figure is just half of the advertised speed 11.5M/bits.
The regulator said that in some cases, Virgin has twice the speeds when compared to its rivals. The provider is to publish a table that will include the actual speed of the various broadband packages.
The use of copper wire networks by BT is one of the main reasons that caused the difference between real and advertised speeds. This offered slower service than Virgin using cable networks.
Network operator Orange to enter Mobile Broadband Network sharing deal
Orange, the Network operator has plans to join hands with 3 Mobile and T-Mobile in a mobile broadband network-sharing deal. In a statement today, it confirmed its plans to enter this joint venture.
Orange has plans to offers some thousand of its own masts to this new venture. In Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) joint venture each of the service providers collects their resources to reduce the costs and improve the mobile broadband signals.
In MBNL, 3 Mobile will remains as 50 per cent partner, while Orange and T-Mobile will be sharing the remaining 50 per cent. Everything Everywhere, the parent company will run it.
The previous rivals have joined at the beginning of the July with over 30 million customer base to become the biggest communications company in the UK.
Global disparities in the availability of broadband
According to an organization, more action has to be taken to facilitate worldwide access to broadband.
Vast disparities in the accessibility and affordability of broadband is been emphasized by the International Telecommunication Union. According to the research BRIC countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China have broadband uptake below ten per cent.
In case of poorer countries the broadband access was less than one per cent and the costs for broadband was 100 per cent of a standard monthly income. In contrast, three out of ten people residing in the richest countries of Western Europe's have broadband access. About twenty-nine per cent of the population in the UK has access to broadband connection costing 0.63 per cent of their average monthly wage. When compared to the developed countries, this is the lowest ratio.
Broadband in China was the most expensive costing seven per cent of monthly wages, suggests the findings.
The report commissioned by the Broadband Commission for Digital Development was designed to suggest the significance of broadband for global growth.
Richard Branson, is one among the members of this organization. The similar significance given to the electricity networks is given to broadband, suggests the organizations. It has hinted the importance of universal broadband access to attain Millennium Development Goals.
Virgin Media Claims ISPs con the Broadband Subscribers
Virgin Media declares that the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are swindling the users subscribing for the Broadband, which fall behind in its claim to provide the earlier stated speeds.
More and more of the users make the payment for high- speed broadband connections, as per Jon James, Executive director of broadband at the Virgin Media. However, he states that not many are able to obtain the speed expected when they registered.
Jon James meanwhile states ambiguous promotions from "deceitful" ISPs as chief cause. He further added that ISPs should better reveal their actual monthly data limit, thus influencing the users on their decision to dole out cash.
Neil Berkett, the Virgin Media chief executive has further urged the additional providers to concede to their actual speeds, as is expected by the users to receive.
Advertising Standards Authority to Monitor Broadband Provider Websites
The advertising Watchdog in the UK, Advertising Standards Authority includes its remit to swathe the advertising material found on the websites of the Broadband Provider’s.
ASA will makes certain that, starting from 2011, the advertising materials found on the websites of service providers like the BT, SKY and Virgin Media will fall in line with the high standards of the added media.
The prolonged remit, mainly covers the body supervising messages on the social sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Meanwhile, Lord Chris Smith, the Chairman of the ASA also claims to have got over 4,500 complaints pertaining to the advertising methods found on the website, from 2008.
This news is expected to follow a statement issued by Neil Berkett, the chief executive of Virgin Media that its competitors would have to make known their regular broadband speed, in place of the impracticable “up to” statistics.
ONS finds an increase in broadband access
Office for National Statistics, OSN finds that 19.2 million households in the UK have broadband access. In comparison to the last year, the number of people accessing the broadband in the UK has increased significantly, suggests the latest figures.
The reports based on a study of by the Office for National Statistics states 19.2 million UK households with broadband access that totals to 73 per cent of all the UK homes with broadband connection.
When compared to the figures in the last year, the number increased to 900,000 and five million compared to the figures of 2006.
The study also revealed that 38 million people in the UK are internet users, while more than 30 million get online daily.
According to Mark Williams at ONS, the usage is connected closely with several socio-economic and demographic indicators. Less educated people and low income groups will access the broadband rarely.
Ofcom, telecoms industry regulator has revealed that UK has reached 71 per cent, previously this month.
Support from Huawei for BTs fibre optic broadband
By offering plenty of access products, Huawei extends support for the rollout of BTs fibre optic broadband. BT gets the support from telecoms solutions provider, Huawei to deploy the broadband connection across the UK.
High-speed broadband network is being connected to various locations across the country and very recently the provider has announced the addition of over 1,000 homes and businesses in Tettenhall to the network.
Huawei offers support for the rollout in the form of various access products that are developed to minimize the operation and maintenance costs.
Steve Robertson, Chief executive of BT Openreach said that the two companies had a solid working relation over the years. The relation is further strengthened by choosing the Huawei as their strategic partner to rollout the Next Generation Access across the country, he said.
He also said that they have plans to invest £2.5 billion in the fibre optic cable broadband service.
Improved broadband speed will not boost online television viewing
According to a latest survey, faster broadband speeds will not increase online television viewing. On behalf of the MediaGuardian Edinburgh Television Festival, over 4,199 people were surveyed and half of them said that they will not watch television online if the broadband speed were increased.
About 82 per cent said that they watched television online because they missed the initial broadcast. Regular online television viewers watched in small instalments.
There were 43 per cent who said that they took 15 minutes a day to watch television online. More online audiences were not attracted by huge events.
Although the viewing figures were expected high, only two out of ten consumers watched online screening of the World Cup this season.
James Bates, Deloitte's media and telecoms partner said that they can challenge the notions that more viewers will switch on computers for viewing online television after initiation of faster broadband.
He added that there is no link between faster broadband and the usage of online but people will watching online videos will believe that they have adequate speed.
BT broadband ad banned by the UK's advertising regulator
BT’s broadband advertisement has been banned by Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for claiming false broadband speeds. Since they failed to find any proof supporting the claim the UK's advertising regulator planned to ban BT broadband ad. It said that it had advertised unproven quality of its broadband offerings.
In TV ad, print and radio advertisements BT claims to offer 20MB broadband speeds even during peak time.
The advertisement was an extension of Adam and Jane series. In the ad the estate agent tries to access website to show properties to Jane but fails to do so due to the peak hour traffic, wile Jane was successful to access the same websites at great speeds.
Rivals of BT, TalkTalk and Sky broadband and members of the public had reported the complaints to ASA.
Broadband deal from PlusNet to end soon
The three months free broadband offer from PlusNet will end very soon and customers who want to benefit from this offer should hurry.
The home phone and broadband provider PlusNet has introduced this promotion on July 20th 2010 and it is valid only till August 31st. This offer is applicable to customers who subscribe to this offer before the last date.
The PlusNet contains Value and Extra packages and customers subscribing to this broadband deal can enjoy up to 20Mb/s download speeds free of cost for the first three months in the contract.
Subscribers under this scheme need to pay £11.25 per month as the home phone line rental during the discounted period. In addition, it offers evening and weekend calls for free of cost.
After the first three months ends then the broadband deal will go back to the standard monthly prices. PlusNet extra begins at £11.49 and PlusNet value is available at £6.49.
