Major ISPs sign up to code of practice

A series of major internet service providers (ISPs) have been praised by industry watchdog Ofcom for signing up to a code of practice.

The code has been introduced to encourage greater transparency in advertising details about broadband deals, after a series of controversies in recent months in which some ISPs were criticised for their lack of clarity.

In signing up to the code, ISPs have agreed to communicate technical details in a way that consumers can easily understand as they search for higher speeds at lower costs on which to run applications such as VoIP solutions and download media content.

Claudio Pollack, director of consumer policy at the regulator, said: "Ofcom welcomes the mobile operators' commitment to give their customers better information about mobilebroadband services."

The Principles of Good Practice include letting customers know what could affect the speed of the connection they receive and how much they will be charged for roaming access.

The major ISPs are currently under pressure to invest in next-generation broadband networks.