Ofcom figures 'highlight broadband variability'

The variability of different broadband technologies is highlighted by the findings of a recent Ofcom investigation, says PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

In a study of the broadband market, Ofcom found the average connection has an access rate of 6.2 Mbps, compared with an industry average of 13.8 Mbps cited in advertisements.

However, PwC's telecoms strategy team director Brian Potterill suggests that the specific technology used in supplying the connection could have an impact on whether the top speed of the line can be achieved in reality.

"Cable and fibre are more likely to do what they say [in the advertisement]," he observes.

"This should not be a surprise, given the nature of the technologies."

Rather, he argues that the report helps to detail the last-mile limitations of ADSL when premises are located a long way from their nearest branch exchange.

As consumers upgrade their connections to higher line speeds - perhaps including fibre or cable links in place of ADSL - he notes that the actual data rates achieved are seen to increase accordingly.