Guide to Broadband Speed
There are many factors that can stop you getting the broadband speed you have paid for – but how do you
know what speed you are receiving?
Quick Links:
How to test your broadband speed
There are many different broadband speed test services on the market, some of which are unreliable because they only measure your speed there and then.
There are also rumours that some broadband providers can make their speeds look faster by tricking the broadband speed test itself, so be aware of this when
testing your speed.
Fortunately Moneysupermarket.com has now installed a speed test service allowing you to track your average broadband speed.
Use the moneysupermarket.com
broadband speed test
now.
The moneysupermarket.com broadband speed test works by performing several tests on your connection to give you an accurate assessment of your broadband speed.
The speed test is extremely accurate as it uses a system clock to judge your downloads over an average period. It has a built-in list of service providers –
so if you are in the UK, the broadband speed test should be able to assess your connection no matter where you are or who your broadband provider is.
And the best part about the moneysupermarket.com broadband speed test is that it is completely free. There is no need to download an expensive package on to
your computer and there is no risk of picking up viruses or spyware using this tool. It simply gives you an honest and impartial analysis of the download speeds you receive.
What to do if you are unhappy with the results of your speed test
If you find you are not receiving anything like the speeds you expected when you bought your broadband package, there are several courses of action to consider.
i) You can contact your internet service provider and ask them if there is anything they can do to increase your speed. The fact is that they advertise speeds “up to”
the mark you are supposed to receive – and therefore, it is not false advertising if you don’t actually get close to the speed you desire. However, if they fear they may
lose your custom they might be willing to upgrade your package to increase the likelihood of you receiving faster speeds.
ii) You could choose to move to a different broadband provider. Bear in mind however, that this will not guarantee you faster speeds – and you will be tied into a new fixed
term contract.
iii) Alternatively, you could downgrade your package to one that offers slower download speeds to avoid paying extra for
a service you’re not receiving. Of course you should carry out several broadband speed tests before taking this course
of action to ensure your connection is not being affected by external factors, such as the weather.
Moneysupermarket.com recommends…
If you want to know more about your broadband speed carry out a speed test on several occasions at different times of the
day to receive an honest perspective on the rate of your internet downloads.
If you’re not happy with the service you receive, contact your internet service provider and see if they can upgrade you without any extra charge. If not, then use the
broadband comparison tool
to search for a broadband package that’s more appropriate for you.
