O2 wins broadband speed test

The winner of moneysupermarket.com's first quarterly speed test is O2 for its 8 Mb package, which leads the way offering the greatest actual speed at 5.39 Mbps.

Over 20,000 speed tests were carried out during the last quarter, with Sky and Talk Talk emerging behind O2 as the second and third fastest providers for 8 Mb packages. O2 also leads the way with its high speed packages of 16 Mb and 20 Mb, offering an average speed of 8.15 Mbps.

Rob Barnes, head of broadband and mobiles at moneysupermarket.com, said: "O2 has sped its way to the top of the broadband league offering a great package. However broadband in Britain is still lagging, especially when the second best connection is only half the advertised speed. Ofcom's voluntary code may be a step in the right direction, but it's a step being made at a snail's pace."

The speed tests highlighted the average broadband speed in Britain is just 2.97 Mbps, which goes someway to explaining why one in four (25 per cent) broadband users feel they don't have sufficient broadband speed to meet their browsing habits.

The speed tests, carried out on connections advertised between 2 Mb and 24 Mb, show for best value, people should look at 2 Mb products. The results show they achieve an average speed of 2.11 Mbps at an average cost of £10 per month. The packages offering least value for money are those with speeds greater than 16 Mb. The average cost is £18.60 but the average speed is just 7.02 Mbps.

Barnes continues: "As our awards show, there are some great value packages out there and many can be purchased in a bundle deal. However, its clear people's browsing habits demand more speed, or at least to get what they pay for.

"Ofcom's code of practice can't come into force soon enough, although it's hard to see why the code is voluntary as advertised speeds are a mile away from reality. The broadband market is approaching a buyer beware mentality, and it's Ofcom's duty to correct this and protect the consumer."

Broadband users can test their connection against the speed they pay their provider for by visiting: moneysupermarket.com/c/broadband/speed-test/