UK broadband gains speed

Average broadband speeds grew 22% during 2009, research by analysts at internet comparison site broadband.co.uk has revealed.

BT's broadband speed increased by 24%, Plusnet's rose 28% with its up-to-20mbps deals, and Virgin Media's improved by 22% with its 50mbps fibre optic packages.

"At the start of the year the average broadband speed test UK-wide was 3.667mbps. At the end of the year this had grown to an average speed of 4.478mbps, a rise of 22%," said Edd Dawson, editor of broadband.co.uk.

Dawson said, "The providers that show stagnation are those which have not rolled out new, higher-speed products during the past year, so we will watch with interest as to how they respond to competition over the course of 2010."