3rd Oct 2014 11:49
LONDON (Alliance News) - The latest data from UK telecoms regulator OFCOM shows the average broadband speed through cable connections is now faster than that of fibre.
In the six months form November 2013 to May 2014 the average speed delivered by cable broadband reached 43.3 megabits per second, beating the average speed for a fibre connection of 42.0 megabits per second for the first time.
Other findings included a rise in the average of actual UK broadband speed of 5% to 18.7 megabits per second, and a higher level of customers taking up so called "superfast" services to 28% of connections from 24%.
Virgin Media Inc scored the fastest download speed with its 'up to' 152 megabits per second cable service, which saw an average speed of 141.9 megabits per second. In second place was BT Group PLC's 'up to' 76 megabit per second fibre package which had an average speed of 62.0 megabits per second.
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC's 'up to' 38 megabit per second package saw the least degradation of speeds at peak times, meaning the hours in which the highest volume of people are accessing the network. EE's package offering the same speed had the greatest level of degradation during peak hours.
The figures also showed that the drive to improve broadband connections in rural areas is working; although average speeds were still lower than in urban and suburban areas, rural areas saw a bigger increase in average speeds than in other area, which Ofcom said could suggest that the gap between speeds is narrowing.
Shares in BT were trading up 0.2% at 374.35 pence Friday afternoon, BSkyB was trading up 1.5% at 888.22 pence.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; [email protected]; @HanaSSAllNews
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