Advertised broadband speeds should actually be realistic, UK tells ISPs

Enlarge / BT Openreach van and a coil of yellow broadband fibre cable awaiting installation in February 2017 in London, England. (credit: Getty Images | Richard Baker)

The United Kingdom’s telecom regulator, Ofcom, wants to strengthen an industry code that lets Internet customers exit contracts without penalty when broadband providers fall short of their advertised speeds.

Ofcom’s proposed changes would also improve the accuracy of speed information provided to customers before they sign up for broadband. Ofcom intends to add the new guidelines to its existing codes of practice for residential and business broadband speeds, which already “commit Internet companies who have signed up to them to give customers an estimated range of speeds they are likely to receive, as well as the right to exit their contracts penalty-free if their speed falls below a minimum level.”

The regulator described proposed additions to the code on Friday, saying that its plan is to: