Research by communications watchdog Ofcom shows that the average fixed-line residential broadband speed has increased by more than 25% over the last year, rising from 4.1Mbit/s to 5.2Mbits/s.
While that's good news, more and more broadband customers are seeing far lower speeds than the headline rates they signed up for.
Mike Wilson, broadband manager at moneysupermarket.com, said: "It has been a longstanding concern that customers are being misled when buying broadband packages and ... people are often lured into buying high-speed connections that the UK's infrastructure simply cannot deliver."
But there are steps you can take to speed up your broadband - and you also have rights to challenge your provider if you aren't receiving the service you were promised.
How can I speed up my broadband?
You can test what broadband speed you're receiving using through the moneysupermarket.com site and if it's lower than you thought, talk to your provider about what might be causing it.
Bear in mind that speeds cab vary depending on whether or not it's a popular time to be online, so may well find that your connection is slower in the afternoons and evenings.
Your internet service provider will be able to advise you on speeding up your internet. It might sound weird, but some electrical equipment can interfere with your broadband service, but can be fixed by fitting your phone sockets with special filters.
Perhaps your speed is being restricted because you've exceeded your provider's fair use policy, meaning it thinks you've downloaded more than your fair share. Again, you'll find out if that's the case by speaking to your provider - and you may be able to move to a better package to prevent it happening again.
Of course, there are some problems that cannot be remedied, for example, if you live too far away from your provider's exchange then you won't be able to receive the best speed on offer.
If you can't get anything close to the speed you need, it's time to switch.
Switching broadband providers
If you're ready to change internet providers in pursuit of faster speeds, you'd better make sure you're moving to a genuinely quicker service.
The Ofcom code of conduct is voluntary, but most providers have signed up to it and it requires them to give people an accurate estimation of the best speeds available to them. If you can't see that information when you go to sign up then give them a call before you agree a contract.
You can compare internet service providers using our broadband comparison tool.
Switching is simple but you may find some help in our video 'How to switch broadband provider'.
What are my broadband rights?
Most internet service providers (ISPs) have signed up to a voluntary Ofcom code of practice that means they have to be open about the speeds you can receive.
It means they must:
- Give customers an accurate estimate of the maximum speed available to them at the point of sale
- Resolve technical issues that are hampering speed
- Allow customers to move onto a lower speed package if they cannot receive the headline speed
- Provide customers with information on their usage limits and inform them if they go over
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