Virgin Media claims online
speed testing services will not be up to the job when testing
its forthcoming 50mbps broadband service.
Broadband users often use online speed testing sites to make
sure they get what they pay for, but Virgin says busy and congested
online testing sites cannot give accurate readings for its faster
service.
Virgin Media now intends to
provide its own monthly tests to show actual speeds received by
customers, but many users will no doubt be sceptical if the tests
are not independent.
Virgin claims that measurements on online testing sites can be
out by as much as 40%, and that when its current top speed of
20mbps increases to 50mbps, the problem will be exacerbated.
BroadbandChoices, which is a provider of speed tests, is working
with Virgin on the problem.
Michael Phillips,
BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said, "The new 50Mb
product Virgin Media is launching is ahead of current testing
technology. Consumers come to us for reliable information and we
share Virgin Media's desire to improve the accuracy of speed
testing."
One way round the problem is to provide consumers with a
hardware product that connects to their modem to give more accurate
readings, a system supported by regulator Ofcom.