Broadband speed in the UK has averaged 6.8Mbps (megabits per second) but it is not fast enough as advertised by the service providers, according to a report released by UK telecom regulator, Ofcom.
The data from Ofcom revealed that almost half of broadband users are now on packages with advertised speeds above 10Mbps but few customers receive the advertised speed.
Data released by Ofcom showed the broadband speed has increased 10% around the country in the six months ending May, reaching 6.8 megabits per second (Mbps) compared with 6.2Mbps in November 2010 while the average advertised speed by the operators was 15Mbps.
The study found that more than a third of customers on services advertised as "up to" 24Mbps actually received speeds of 4Mbps or less.
The largest gap between the claimed speed and received broadband speeds came with copper-based DSL phone lines, used in more than 75% of UK homes.
The average advertised speed was 15Mbps, 8.2Mbps faster than the average actual speed.
The report found that superfast broadband is now available to 57% of UK homes.
Ofcom urged the service providers to change in advertising guidance so that consumers will be able to make more informed decisions based on the advertisements.
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said, "The research is still telling us that some consumers are not receiving anywhere near the speeds that are being advertised by some ISPs."
