Genie Ventures

The majority of products from the likes of 3, O2, T-Mobile and Orange are advertised at 'up to' 3.6Mb, although the average user experience was just 0.87Mb – only 24% of the alleged top-end speed.

The speed test, specifically designed for mobile broadband and carried out throughout 2009, showed that of more than 3,600 tests, only 16 (about 0.5%) managed a speed of more than 3Mb, making a mockery of the advertised top speeds. The statistics follow reports from Ofcom earlier in the year that showed fixed-line broadband products, many from the same companies, also failed to live up to their advertised capabilities.

The majority of the tests (65%) were slower than 1Mb, with more than half of these (39%) actually below 0.5Mb. Some 26% got results between 1Mb and 2Mb, with less than 7% getting 2-3Mb. There was a barely noticeable increase in speed across the year, but nothing like the kind of wild predictions made by some that suggested mobile broadband would soon rival fixed-line for speed.

Broadband Genie editor Chris Marling commented: “Once again it would seem the mad rush to secure the early adopters has exceeded the ability of the product to live up to over-hyped expectations. It's a real shame too, as mobile broadband can be perfect for a lot of uses, even at speeds below 1Mb. But consumer expectations are not being met, which could lead to burn out and a slow in sales.

“Mobile broadband has proved invaluable to many users. Students, business travellers, holidaymakers and people who struggle to get a fixed-line connection have really benefited, along with many others. It’s really taken off, especially with the popularity of the free laptops offers, but we are inundated with complaints from customers who feel they have been lied to, once again, by the mobile industry. These sales techniques, as well as the quality of customer service and tech support, really have to change.”

Notes

The Broadband Genie mobile broadband speed test is run in conjunction with Think Broadband. Its servers send a small amount of data to and from a user's machine to test both upstream and downstream speeds, reporting the average speed to the user. For full details, see the speed test at http://mobile.broadbandgenie.co.uk/speedtest

Broadband Genie is the UK's leading independent broadband and mobile broadband comparison website, providing consumers with an unbiased source of information on broadband prices and contracts and allowing them to compare broadband providers in an independent environment. Broadband Genie was launched in March 2004 as the first dedicated consumer comparison site for broadband, while Mobile Broadband Genie was the first independent mobile broadband comparison site, launched in October 2007. Both sites are among the most popular sites in their respective fields, and regularly feature in the national press. http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk / http://mobile.broadbandgenie.co.uk

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All queries and interview requests should be directed to Chris Marling at Broadband Genie:
t 0844 415 5531 / f 0871 6618553 / m 07908 327303 / chris.marling@genieventures.co.uk