Ofcom is seeking volunteer consumers to take part in a new grand-scale research project into broadband speeds.

The media regulator has often expressed concern that the download speeds advertised with broadband packages exceed those that are practically available.

Through the latest project, the organisation will spend two years gaining further insight into the extent of the problem within the domestic broadband market.

It claims that the average 'up to' headline speed was 7.1Mb in April 2009, whereas the actual mean was just 4.1Mb.

Broadband customers who volunteer to participate in the project will be granted access to their own connection data, allowing them to track their internet service provider's performance.

"We'll be publishing our findings every six months and the next phase of our research will test some of the fastest advertised broadband packages on the market today," Ofcom stated.

Last month, the regulator welcomed the creation of the Body of European Regulations in Electronic Communications, which will supervise telecoms industry compliance across the European Union.