14 October 2008
Websites which test the speed of broadband connections will be unable to give accurate readings for superfast services, according to Virgin Media. The broadband provider is launching a new service offering up to 50 megabits per second (mbps) and claims congested testing sites are likely to provide imprecise results when analysing this and other superfast broadband connections. It argues that at the moment, with providers offering top speeds of around 20mbps, online speed measurements can be as much as 40% inaccurate. When Virgin's 50mpbs service is launched - and when other providers follow suit - the results are likely to contain even bigger discrepancies. "Customers increasingly rely on speed test comparisons to choose their broadband provider, so we are working with speed test sites to help them accurately measure all broadband services, including our new superfast offerings, " said Jon James, Director of Group Strategy at Virgin Media. Meanwhile, BT is extending its fibre optic broadband trials and offering speeds of up to 40mbps to internet users in London's Muswell Hill and Whitchurch in South Glamorgan.