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Could Technical Jargon Be Confusing Consumers When It Comes to Buying Internet Services?

What do you call the network in your household or business? 

Are there shrieks of ‘Muuuum is the Wi-Fi down?’ or perhaps partners asking ‘What’s going on with the broadband babe?’ 

Or if you’re the boss of a SME, maybe you’ve got employees interrupting your meetings asking why the internet is lagging. 

What’s the most popular name for internet connections? 

Broadband Internet Service Provider TalkTalk engaged Axicom to commission a new online survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by OnePoll. The survey claims to find that the most popular name for home internet connections is Wi-Fi. 

A third of respondents said they describe their internet connection using the term Wi-Fi, with ‘broadband’ and ‘internet’ coming in second and third place respectively. 

The survey also quizzed respondents on their understanding of different wireless technology terms, with 76% of those asked saying they ‘confidently understand’ the term Wi-Fi. 

Less confidently understood was ‘fibre’ with only half of the respondents confident with their understanding of its meaning. Interestingly, ‘fibre’ is often a term flung around by telecoms companies to describe their broadband products and services, which begs the question – Do consumers actually understand what they are being sold? 

Do Consumers Understand the Internet Products and Services Being Sold to Them?

The results to this particular survey would suggest the answer is unfortunately no, with 69% of respondents admitting that technology-related jargon is difficult to understand. 

Perhaps then, the aim of this most recent online survey was to gather information on how ISP TalkTalk can market their products and internet services to potential customers – Both business and residential. 

If consumers are not understanding terms like ‘fibre’ then perhaps the focus on the term ‘Wi-Fi’ instead will increase understanding and thus sales. It does seem to be the renewed focus of their recent brand refresh, despite the technical terminology not being entirely correct. 

Does this therefore reinforce a misconception around the understanding of technical internet terminology, rather than provide an accurate explanation? 

What is your understanding of some of the terms used in the survey? You can see a breakdown of the most understood terminology below, given in percentages. 

There seems to be a healthy understanding of the terms Wi-Fi, Wireless, Router and IP Address. Those less understood were concepts like Latency, FTTP/FTTC, Mesh, PSTN and LLU. 

What Do TalkTalk Have to Say?

The Product and Propositions Director for TalkTalk shared the companies thoughts on their recent survey and how the results are influencing how they talk to their customers in order to ensure the best understanding of their services and products. 

“Wi-Fi is a staple in all our homes, yet as an industry we haven’t kept up with the times when we talk to our customers. At TalkTalk, we’re shifting to talk about Wi-Fi more and more, as it’s the connectivity – making sure streaming or browsing is seamless – that matters most for our millions of customers.

Our latest research tells us that people prefer to communicate in the same way that they speak, without jargon, and our industry should reflect that. We know we’re not perfect, and we have much to do, but this is the first step in delivering a Better Way to Wi-Fi for customers who just want transparency and information they can confidently understand. And this builds trust between us and our customers too.”

What Does Wi-Fi Mean to You?

Whilst the term Wi-Fi might still feel like technical jargon to some, most homes and businesses use Wi-Fi to describe a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network connection that originates from a router that distributes the broadband internet connection from your Internet Service Provider. 

Wi-Fi and Broadband are not the same thing, but consumers seem to be regularly using the term ‘Wi-Fi’ to loosely apply to their wireless internet connection as a whole. 

When this starts to run into difficulties is when an issue arises. Someone shouts ‘The Wi-Fi’s gone down!’ – What’s the problem? It could be that the router is faulty and not transmitting a signal to user devices. In this instance, the actual broadband connection coming from outside the property could be completely fine – It’s only the transmission of the signal that has the issue. 

Likewise, the router could be transmitting a signal to end users and their devices remain connected, but conference calls aren’t connecting. The problem isn’t the hardware, but the actual broadband connection coming from the ISP. 

2 very different problems but both labelled as a ‘Wi-Fi’ problem.

Do You Get Lost in Technical Internet Jargon? 

If you need reliable Wi-Fi for your business but find it hard to follow all the terminology, then don’t worry. Not everyone can be Wi-Fi Experts! Thankfully the wireless engineers here at Geekabit have all the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate your network and get you the best wireless connection for your premises. 

Get in touch with our Hampshire, Cardiff or London based teams today to see how we can help. 

by admin
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Broadband Verification Scheme Launched by Ookla

Have you ever arrived at a conference, sporting event or hotel only to be greeted by a frustratingly slow internet connection? Whether you are trying to access work emails, share a clip of an amazing goal or just laze in your room binge watching your favourite show on your smartphone, we’ve all felt that frustration at a sinfully slow connection. 

If only you could check a venue’s connection quality before you book…

Ookla, a network testing business which collects consumer data through their popular broadband testing service Speedtest.net, launched a new Speedtest Certified™ scheme last week. 

The thinking behind this new scheme is to be able to offer people and businesses verification on ‘superior connectivity.’ Think places like hotels, stadiums, event venues, office buildings, and airports. 

As a consumer, you want to know these venues are going to be able to offer an excellent connection while you are visiting. As a business, you want to be able to offer verification of that excellent connection before they’ve even arrived. 

How Can You Prove to Customers that Your Business Offers Superior Connectivity?

As a business owner, you may be one of the many properties identified by Ookla who are keen to prove their connectivity to their potential customers, demonstrating their readiness to meet everyone’s connectivity expectations and needs. 

This new service from Ookla, Speedtest Certified™, is designed to give businesses the proof they need.

The newly launched program aims to provide a “trusted badge of excellence“ to venues like hotels, stadiums, airports, event venues and office buildings. Based on Ookla’s globally recognised reputation for mobile and broadband performance measurements, this verification of excellent broadband and connectivity will help businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors and show how committed they are to aiding their customers’ digital experiences. 

How Will Speedtest Certified™ from Ookla Deliver This Verification Scheme?

The entire approach will be data-driven, enabling the provision of comprehensive and objective assessment of a venues network. The following key variables will be measured:

  • The quality of Wi-Fi radio frequency (RF) 
  • Wi-Fi network configuration
  • Wi-Fi network security assessment
  • Network performance metrics
  • ISP backhaul

If you’ve trusted Ookla’s popular Speedtest platform to manage your own connectivity, then you’ll likely be excited at the prospect of knowing just how good the internet connection will be, BEFORE you arrive at an event or hotel. In the words of Stephen Bye (President and CEO of Ookla, Ziff Davis Division) the new Speedtest Certified™ scheme will give you ‘a seal of approval you can count on’ when it comes to reliable connectivity. 

5 Star Rating for Internet Speed

Properties that meet or exceed the rigorous standards of Ookla’s Speedtest Certified™ will earn themselves a high-value certification backed by the trusted Speedtest name. This trusted Badge of Excellence will give them a star rating out of 5 for speed and will be valid for 1 year, after which the venue must be re-certified to ensure they still meet the necessary connectivity standards to keep that status. 

Not only will they be able to share their Speedtest badge of honour for superior connectivity, businesses will also have access to Ookla’s Speedtest Certified Digital Platform. Here they will be able to:

  • Access personal insights
  • Benchmark performance against other Speedtest Certified Networks
  • Receive targeted recommendations for improvements

Can We Expect the Same for Mobile Connectivity?

The initial Phase One launch is aimed at Wi-Fi connectivity and performance inside properties such as the ones mentioned above. 

Phase Two of this programme will look at assessing cellular performance testing in terms of 4G/5G mobile. It’s likely we’ll see this rolled out in the coming months. 

What if Your Business Wi-Fi Isn’t Up To Standard?

This new Speedtest Certified™ scheme launched by Ookla is great – If your business or event venue has the superior connectivity that the standards insist upon. 

What if your internet speed star rating falls short and your venue’s connectivity doesn’t meet the required standards? 

There is always something that can be done to improve your Wi-Fi network and connectivity for customers. 

If your business struggles with slow Wi-Fi, an unreliable connection or any other Wi-Fi issues, then our Wi-Fi Experts here at Geekabit can help. 

Whilst you’re probably tearing your hair out with frustration, we actually love Wi-Fi problems like slow speeds, Wi-Fi dead spots or users unable to connect – Because we know what a huge difference we will be able to make to you and your business. 

Using globally renowned specialist measuring and testing equipment, we can get to the root of the problem. Though Wi-Fi Site Surveys, Planning & Design and Wi-Fi Installation we can get your business’ connectivity working just as it should be. 

We’ve helped hotels, warehouses, corporate offices and stadiums to name just a few. We can also help with event Wi-Fi! 

So don’t put up with dodgy Wi-Fi any longer – It’s time to call in the experts. Contact Geekabit today. 

Imagery used with thanks from https://www.ookla.com/speedtest-certified

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Broadband Performance: A Must-Have for Estate Agents to Showcase Dream Properties

A recent survey highlights the critical importance for estate agents to offer broadband performance reports when marketing properties, particularly “dream property” offerings.

Recent research suggests that Estate Agents should be focusing on providing home buyers with broadband performance reports if they want to meet the criteria of buyers dream homes. 

The top ranked factor for the ‘dream home’ wish list when looking for a new property was reliable internet.

UK based platform Compare My Move assists home buyers, sellers, landlords and movers with the whole property buying process. They commissioned research with Front Door Comms and OnePoll, creating an online survey of 2,000 adults based in the UK, naturally representative of age, gender and region. 

62% Brits Looking for Decent Wi-Fi When Looking at a Potential New Property

The survey found that 62% of survey respondents put decent Wi-Fi as the number one feature they would want in their realistic dream property. Strong Wi-Fi came above a private driveway and a walk-in wardrobe. 

This would appear to highlight a shift away from fancy frills, instead favouring functional living and everyday essentials when looking for a new property. 

If you’ve ever had your internet go down for a significant length of time then you’ll know how much you rely on that connection. From the obvious things like logging onto your laptop to work from home, to the more taken for granted things like asking Alexa for a timer whilst cooking dinner or trying to listen to music – Having no Wi-Fi is excruciatingly frustrating. 

Since the pandemic when the UK was plunged into the world of working from home and home learning, Estate Agents have seen a dramatic increase in questions about reliable broadband when prospective buyers are looking at new property. 

So it’s little wonder that prospective home buyers want to know exactly what kind of broadband connection they could expect from a potential new home – And if Estate Agents want to make a sale, and Estate Managers want to find a tenant then they need to be providing information that shows the available broadband for that property. 

Reliable Broadband for High End Estate Agency

High End Estate Agents aren’t just matching High Net Worth Individuals with their latest luxury home – They need to give their buyers confidence that they will be moving into a well connected home with strong, reliable broadband. 

Co-founder and MD of Compare My Move says it himself – The results show that “people are prioritising convenience, comfort, and connectivity in their everyday lives. While high-end extras might look impressive on paper, it’s the things we rely on daily – like Wi-Fi and a driveway – that really make a place feel like home.”

And thus, this needs to be reflected in the way that Estate Agents (including High End) and Estate Managers are marketing their properties. 

Is Slow Internet the Dealbreaker That’s Losing You House Sales?

The survey reported above supports previous research from a few years ago when it was found that 20% of people would not buy a property if it had slow internet speeds. 

Similarly, the lack of super-fast internet is often a deal-breaker when it comes to house hunting with many prospective buyers viewing the Wi-Fi connection more important than the number of bedrooms. 

Whilst the size of a property is still important, Estate Agents must now recognise that for many house hunters the quality and speed of the internet is now on par with other deemed essentials. In Scotland and the Southwest, some prospective house buyers value the availability of high-quality broadband above everything else – Even house size. 

Estate Agency and Estate Management clients are least likely to compromise on high-quality broadband when looking for a new home. Decent Wi-Fi was deemed more important than local amenities and space. 

In addition to this, homes for sale that had a worse connection could see Estate Agents selling at approximately £5K less, based solely on whether a home had access to a 300Mbps connection or not. 

How Many Homes Have Access to Full Fibre? 

According to Ofcom, 20.7 million UK homes, or 69% of the total, have access to full-fibre broadband. This represents a significant increase from 17.1 million homes (57%) in September 2023. 

Specifically, Ofcom’s Connected Nations report in July 2024 showed that:

  • Full-fibre coverage has expanded to 69% (20.7 million) of the UK’s 30.1 million homes. 
  • This is an increase of 12 percentage points (3.6 million premises) since September 2023. 
  • Full fibre is more prevalent in urban areas (71%) than in rural areas (52%). 
  • Gigabit-capable coverage, including full fibre and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable, has reached 83% (25 million) of UK homes. 
  • Northern Ireland leads the way with 93% of homes having access to full fibre. 

SpeedScore from Geekabit Wi-Fi Experts

With over a decade of experience providing connectivity solutions to UK markets, Geekabit saw how house buyers, tenants and hospitality customers are getting more tech savvy and starting to ask Estate Agents and Estate Managers questions about internet speeds and reliability.

Thus, we launched our innovative Internet Connectivity Measurement Platform – Geekabit SpeedScore. 

This gives Estate Agents and Estate Managers a variety of tools to help provide an independent certification of internet speeds and connectivity. Ideal if you’re trying to make a sale by proving the speed and connectivity of a property’s internet. 

Whether it’s a high end luxury property or the dream home of the average buyer, a clear, concise and accurate presentation of a property’s broadband could be the leverage to close that sale. 

You can read more about SpeedScore here. 

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Does Summer Heat Affect Your Wi-Fi? Your FAQ’s Answered

We’ve been enjoying much sunshine here in the South of the UK these last few weeks, complete with a mini heatwave back in April. Around that time some delightful media outlets were circulating articles, scaring internet users into thinking that the higher-than-usual temperatures were going to wipe out their Wi-Fi and block their broadband. So is this fact or fiction?

Despite the odd Spring rain shower here and there, we’re set for more warm weather over the next fortnight, so we thought it as good a time as any to set the record straight about Wi-Fi in hot weather and hopefully put your minds at rest by answering your frequently asked questions.  

“Will my broadband stop working in hot weather?”

The simplest answer is no. Hot weather is unlikely to disrupt your internet connection if you are exercising some common sense that you would extend to all electrical devices. In other words, if you keep your router out of direct sunlight then you’re not likely to run into heat-related problems. 

“Has a heatwave ever caused a Wi-Fi outage?”

Technically, the answer is still no. However due to an unprecedented and extreme (albeit brief) heatwave back in July 2022 where UK temperatures soared to 40 degrees for the first time, internet service providers did take measures to protect broadband cabinets. 

Over the course of 4 days, 2 of which recorded extreme temperatures, some ISP’s re-deployed engineers to monitor the cabinets and keep them as cool as possible. Hilariously, this included sheltering them from the sun with umbrellas and leaving the doors open to increase air flow. This novel approach in such unprecedented heat appeared to work, with no reported outages across various network providers.

“Can routers and other internet hardware overheat?” 

As we’re sure you are aware, most electronic devices emit at least a small amount of heat, and that includes your router. This means that theoretically, it is possible that your router could overheat in high temperatures. 

Thankfully, most manufacturers of said hardware take this into consideration when designing their devices, meaning that most are able to operate at temperatures of up to approximately 40 degrees (check with your manufacturer for specifics). 

There is a chance that devices and hardware could continue to function in temperatures exceeding their stated tolerance, but that is of course dependent on individual experience and will vary between manufacturers.

Let’s not forget that our broadband router isn’t the only device or piece of hardware that could struggle in high temperatures. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices could also experience problems if we were to experience a heatwave. 

“What happens if a router overheats?”

If a router becomes close to overheating or does indeed overheat, the first thing to happen will be an attempt to lower the heat output to protect itself from damage. This will likely lead to a degradation in performance instigated by the device’s processor and affect response times on the device’s user interface. This would likely then impact your LAN in terms of connection stability and Wi-Fi speed.

Most electronic devices, including routers, will restart themselves if they get too hot. Despite potentially causing your connection to drop, this should resolve itself quite quickly and cause minimal problems once it’s back online. 

Complete hardware failure due to overheating is rare, and certainly not something we would expect to see in temperatures sitting in the mid-twenties. We’ll check back in in July if we’re approaching 40 degrees again.  

Keep Your Connection Cool This Summer By Following These Warm Weather Wi-Fi Tips

Hopefully you are already in the Common Sense Club where you keep electricals out of direct sunlight and away from other sources of heat. Keep doing what you’re doing! 

Here are a few other tips to keep your Wi-Fi from wilting in the warmer weather.

  • Choose the coolest room possible to place your router. This is usually a room downstairs and with thick external walls. Of course, the coolest place in the house may not be the most conducive to a reliable, strong connection throughout your home so you will have to weigh up the pros and cons.
  • Locate your router on a surface that enables good air flow and the ability for heat to escape. Wall-mounted can be a great option, although do bear in mind whether the wall is south facing and radiating absorbed heat from outside.
  • If we were to experience a heatwave similar to the one in 2022, then purchasing a cooling mat for your router could be a useful option. An similar alternative would be to point a standard fan in the direction of the router to keep the air as cool as possible and improve air flow around the device.
  • Did you know that you can disable non-critical router services? If not then perhaps it’s best you don’t try. If yes and we’ve just reminded you, then you could try lessening the load, thus reducing heat output and hopefully increasing functionality in extreme hot weather.
  • If your router is overheating due to indoor temperatures and you don’t actually need it to be switched on, then consider turning it off for a while to cool down. We do not recommend doing this often (not more than once in a day) and especially not if you are on an DSL/ ADSL/ FTTC connection.
  • In general, older devices are less tolerant to heat and are more likely to overheat. It could be worth considering replacing an old router for a newer model if you encounter persistent connection problems in hotter weather. 

If the temperature outside is pushing 40 degrees like July 2022, then it’s likely you’ll be hanging out by the fridge door and/or dousing yourself in ice water. These might cool you down but are definitely not recommended for your router unfortunately. 

If your house is 40+ degrees and your router is struggling to function then it might be time to step away from the internet and go outside to find a shady spot with as much breeze as possible. 

But for the time being, let’s enjoy these comfortably warm mid-twenty days with a strong, steady Wi-Fi connection in one hand and a cold beer in the other.

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Starlink Reach 4.6 Million Users Worldwide

Over the last 7 months, the Starlink satellite broadband service from SpaceX has amassed a whopping total of 4.6 million users globally. The recent rapid growth of an additional 1.6 million users in less than a year serves as a significant milestone for the company which now encompasses 118 countries and territories across the world. 

Why has Starlink seen such rapid growth recently? 

Starlink reported 3 million satellite broadband users back in May 2024. In the 7 months since, the company has supported its growth by focusing on expanding its services, with the introduction of 27 new markets activating Starlink connectivity. 

Back in April, we blogged about Starlink expanding their broadband capacity here in the UK by increasing the number of gateway antennas at multiple UK sites and by adopting additional bands. 

This was followed just a few months later with the launch of their mini dish and roaming service, also available here in the UK. 

With new markets and growing connectivity to support, Starlink needed to ensure they have the infrastructure to support this connectivity. So they launched 89 new satellites into their ever-increasing constellation. 

There are currently over 7000 active Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These include 350 satellites that are designed to directly connect with LTE phones. 

Their commitment to the necessary infrastructure means that Starlink can provide reliable, high-speed internet access even in some of the most remote, hard to reach areas.  

What is Starlink planning next?

Next on the cards for Starlink is the SpaceX launch of its third generation (V3) Starlink satellites. These are due to be launched by SpaceX’s upcoming launch vehicle, Starship.  

Each launch of a new V3 satellite is estimated to add 60 terabits (Tbps) of capacity to the Starlink network. This would significantly outpace the 3 Tbps capacity provided by SpaceX Falcon 9 launches. 

Despite the Starship launch vehicle still undergoing tests in the development stages, it is widely expected to revolutionise satellite deployment. Starship will enable SpaceX to deploy more advanced satellites, providing a larger payload capacity. This in turn means a 10 fold increase in bandwidth and reduced latency for Starlink satellite broadband users. 

Why does it matter about Starlink?

Through the growth of Starlink, especially the rapid growth we’ve seen recently over the past 7 months, we see the potential to reshape internet connectivity on a global scale. Starlink achieved cash-flow breakeven by the end of 2023, showing the world the increasing profitability of satellite broadband. 

It is the belief of Gwynne Shotwell, COO at SpaceX, that the introduction of the new launch vehicle Starship will “position SpaceX as one of the world’s most valuable companies.”

Starlink appears to be going from strength to strength, providing a much needed digital bridge to those in remote, underserved locations and communities. Not only do they deliver a high-speed internet connection to those who otherwise struggle to access broadband, but they are also making it affordable.

The V3 satellites set to launch with the emergence of Starship will likely see Starlink become even more of a fundamental part of connectivity across the globe. 

Fast Wi-Fi Hire for Events with Starlink via Geekabit

If you’re looking to hire Starlink Internet for your next event, we can provide a managed expert service.

Have you been let down before by traditional internet suppliers? Our expertly managed Wi-Fi hire service will allow you to have a fast, stable and speedy Wi-Fi network in areas that other suppliers have previously struggled. 

Our Starlink event kit for Wi-Fi hire can be deployed very quickly for even the most last-minute of events, especially helpful in situations where you’ve been let down by another provider. 

Our fleet of Starlink routers and dishes are available to support any event where resilient and fast internet needs to be deployed at short notice. If your event is being held in London, Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset or Wiltshire and you’re interested in reliable event internet then get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts today.  You can find out more here. 

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How Does Your Broadband ISP Rank by Quality and Speed? 

Internet benchmarking firm Opensignal, the internet benchmarking firm, has published their “definitive” 2024 Fixed Broadband Experience report this December. The report looks at various UK internet service providers and then separately across 12 of its regions (inc. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), judging them in terms of performance indicators.

With people all over the country potentially relying on a strong, reliable broadband service to connect with family and friends this Christmas – Which broadband provider came out on top for 2024? This latest Opensignal report found Virgin Media to have the top performance scores on a national level. 

However, when looking at individual regions, the results differed.

How do Opensignal collect their performance data?

The data used in December’s Opensignal round-up of 2024 report uses crowdsourced data collected via their benchmarking app and services by end-users. It was collected between the 1st July and 28th September 2024. 

It’s worth noting that the following things could also affect any testing of broadband performance:

  • Poor home wiring (ADSL and FTTC lines)
  • The end-user’s choice of package (e.g. 1Gbps could be available, but people may pick a slower option)
  • Local network congestion 
  • Slow home Wi-Fi 

Interestingly, the report also includes data from some mobile broadband providers and satellite broadband services, providing notable comparisons between the more traditional broadband providers and the alternatives for places where they don’t work so well. For example, the report has data from users utilising Three UK and Starlink mobile and satellite broadband services. 

How does the Opensignal report on UK broadband categorise user experiences? 

The report categorises user experience of broadband performance based on different measurements:

  • Consistent Quality
  • Download Speed
  • Upload Speed
  • Video Experience 
  • Reliability Experience

Which ISP’s have provided the best broadband this year?

As we said at the start of this article, Virgin Media came top overall, rating the best user experiences across all 5 of the above categories. 

In simple terms, out of all of the UK’s broadband providers, users with Virgin Media during the last quarter of 2024 had:

  • The best available experience when streaming video
  • The fastest average download and upload speeds
  • The most reliable connection
  • The most consistent fixed broadband experience

If we take a look at 2 of the categories that are perhaps most of interest – Consistent Quality and Download Speeds – We can compare and rank the UK ISP’s. 

Consistent Quality
Virgin Media90.4
Vodafone88.4
Plusnet87.1
BT86.6
EE83.1
TalkTalk82.6
Sky Broadband76.9
Three UK72.3
Download Speeds Mbps
Virgin Media157.4
Vodafone77.5
BT62
Three UK54.8
Sky Broadband52.5
Plusnet52.4
TalkTalk48.8
EE45.9

It’s worth pointing out that almost all of the customer base of Virgin Media are in urban areas and are on broadband lines of 100Mbps or faster, which helps massively in this type of study. 

At the opposite end of this, providers that have connections from varied broadband technologies (ADSL, FTTC, FTTP) with a mixture of slower and faster lines are going to be at a bit of a disadvantage. 

What do Virgin Media have to say about being awarded ‘best’ ISP for 2024 by Opensignal? 

Their Director of Connectivity, Gareth Lister, said:

“We’re committed to providing our customers with fast and reliable connectivity, so being recognised by Opensignal as the best performing provider across all five categories is fantastic news. It is testament to our ongoing investment and hard work to give our customers the best broadband experience possible.”

Regional data shows smaller ISP success

When looking at the data with a more regional focus, we start to see more of the smaller UK internet service providers and alternative networks securing wins across the different categories we mentioned earlier. 

Networks like:

For the London area, CommunityFibre is a strong choice for consistent fixed broadband experience. Up in Scotland, the winner of the most performance categories was Hyperoptic broadband. And in the north of England it’s YouFibre that outperforms the other ISP’s. For Wales and Northern Ireland, Virgin Media were once again the most awarded provider. 

As much as we would love to lay out all the results by region for you here, it would take us all day! But you can have a read of the full report here, where you can check out your local region and see which broadband providers are successful in your area. 

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Are You Paying for Broadband Speeds You Don’t Actually Need? 

According to GoCompare, you could be one of 9.5 million UK homes that are paying for broadband speeds you don’t even need. 

34% Paying for Broadband Speeds They Don’t Need

Comparison website Go.Compare have recently shared a new survey where data gathered from YouGov and some other sources claim to show that 34% of respondents are paying for broadband speeds that they don’t actually need. This equates to 9.5 million households, with an estimated £53 million spent each month on “unused speeds” – That’s £637 million per year!). 

These findings appear to show that most British households are paying for some of the fastest broadband speeds. 34% have speeds exceeding 150 Mbps, when only 21% of internet users actually need broadband as fast as this. 

27% are paying for broadband speeds of between 51 and 100 Mbps, when actually only 12% of internet users are thought to need speeds in this range. 

On the other end of the scale, only 3% are settling for the slowest speeds of 15 Mbps or less, but for 13% of users this would actually be enough. 

So how much are people overpaying by? 

Go.Compare suggests that those who are indeed overpaying on their broadband speeds, are spending an average of £5.58 more per month on their broadband than they really need to. Over the course of a year, that’s £66.96 wasted. That’s enough to cover a standard Netflix subscription, or buy the family a couple more Christmas presents!

Users on that lower end of the scale, who are only needing 15 Mbps, tend to be the ones that are overpaying the most (only 4% of those that need just 15 Mbps are actually only paying for the amount). 

1 in 10 of these particular users said that they pay for some of the fastest speeds at over 150 Mbps – Even though their usage would be fine on the slowest offerings. In these cases, the over-spending a month is around £9 – That’s a waste of £113 per year!

What are these findings based on?

To be able to estimate the number of Brits supposedly overpaying for their broadband speeds, Go.Compare first needed to identify the speeds needed by different groups of internet users. They did this using a YouGov survey. 

To identify these groups, respondents were asked what they used their broadband for and how many people were in the household. These responses were then compared to the internet speeds required to meet these needs. 

The data for this isn’t something we ourselves can see, so we can’t actually check it. 

Each of these groups were then asked what internet speeds they were paying for, to enable them to identify how many of the respondents were overpaying for their broadband. 

This number was then applied to the overall number of broadband users in the survey to estimate the percentage of broadband users overpaying. This percentage was then applied to the estimated number of UK households using broadband to estimate the number of households overpaying.

Are there problems with the approach used to reach these findings?

There are a couple of issues which could potentially affect the reliability of these findings. 

85% of UK home premises are now within reach of a gigabit-capable broadband network. The entry level speeds for these are approximately 100 Mbps. There are slower options available, but these are usually in non-FTTP areas. The price difference is often small, and copper-based packages like FTTC or ADSL2+ aren’t vastly cheaper. 

Now let’s talk about how we define ‘need.’ On a day to day basis, you might not necessarily need a 500 Mbps+ download or upload speed. However, one day it snows and you can’t get to work so you’re working remotely and now need to transfer a large backup file. Or perhaps a new video game is released and your teenager absolutely must have it now, within seconds, or minutes maximum!! Not a slow download over many hours. Suddenly, the prospect of getting these things done quickly holds a lot of value. So whilst on a general day-to-day basis you could very well get by on a slower broadband speed, a faster one could come in very handy every now and then, potentially making the cost of that faster connection worthwhile. 

So perhaps paying for that faster speed wouldn’t necessarily be viewed as overpaying – But ensuring you have a reliable, better quality broadband delivered to home if and when you need it most. 

What do you think? 

by admin
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Broadband Hardware Home Network Home Office Home WI-Fi Network Router Security Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice
Is Your Broadband Router Open to Hackers? Survey Says Yes 

Broadband Genie, the independent UK comparison service for telecoms and broadband, have published a new survey revealing some pretty shocking statistics when it comes to internet safety. 

3,045 internet users were surveyed between the 1st January and 26th April this year, revealing that:

  • 89% of respondents have never updated the firmware of their home router 
  • 86% have never changed the device’s administrator password 
  • 72% have never changed their Wi-Fi password
  • 75% have never checked to see what or who is linked to their router
  • 52% have never changed or updated their routers settings

Are you guilty of any of these? No shaming from us, but let’s take a little look at why ignoring these things when it comes to your router and security isn’t a great idea. 

Why should I change my router from the default password? 

If you leave your router set to the default password, it could allow hackers to identify which make and model of router you are using and work out the password.

Thankfully, many ISP’s supply long, randomised passwords with no real structure, making it harder to identify.  

Do I need to update firmware on my router? 

Many routers that come as part of a bundle directly from your ISP are thankfully set up to auto-update their firmware – Meaning you, the customer, don’t have to actually do any specific actions in order to keep your device up-to-date. 

However, it’s probably a good idea to check with your broadband provider to confirm this is the case.

And don’t forget, many security and firmware updates are done at night – So don’t switch your router off overnight. 

If you have purchased your router separately from an ISP bundle, then you may be required to carry out this action yourself to check for recent firmware updates. Remember that not all firmware updates are particularly accessible or easy to find, so you may need to seek support from the manufacturer. 

It’s vital not to leave security vulnerabilities unpatched – And even some relatively modern pieces of kit could be susceptible to security risks. 

What’s the reason behind people not changing their router password?

The survey respondents who had answered that they had never changed their router’s factory settings were then asked why they had not. The answer that 75% of those surveyed gave was that they didn’t know they needed to change it. 

Your router is the single most important security device in your home network

It’s often the case that the router is the most important device in your home network when it comes to internet security. 

Changing your router’s password from the default to a strong alternative protects your network, particularly if the password from your ISP is not properly randomised or ineffective. 

It’s a good rule of thumb to assume that your router does not come secure out of the box. And if consumers are unaware of the risks, then clearly more awareness needs to be raised surrounding these security risks. 

That’s where the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act comes in. 

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act

On the 29th April 2024, the Government brought in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act. This includes their new Secure by Design policy, which means that device makers (retailers and manufacturers) that fail to comply can be hit with financial penalties. 

Changes include:

  • The banning of easily guessable default passwords (like ‘admin’ or ‘12345’) so that vulnerabilities and hacking are prevented
  • The prompting of users to change the default password
  • Improved support for security issues by supplying contact details of manufacturers so that bugs and issues can be dealt with 
  • The requirement to state how long related network products will be supported by security patches (firmware updates)

These changes don’t just apply to routers – They also cover smartphones, televisions, games consoles, internet-connected fridges and other smart home devices such as doorbells etc. 

Are you confident that your router is secure? 

by admin
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Broadband Wi-Fi
UK Broadband Users Warned: Don’t Switch Routers Off at Night!

Last year, broadband service provider Virgin Media (O2) undertook a censuswide survey of over 2000 UK based customers. The survey revealed that 18% of those who responded switch their router off overnight. 

In the current climate, we wouldn’t blame you if you were scrutinising every appliance and electric unit in your home, sussing out what’s eating up electricity and identifying where savings can be made. 

Consumer electronics account for 6-7% of our energy bills. Think laptops, games consoles, televisions. These devices, when left on standby, can gobble up more electricity than you might think. Many people turn these things off when not in use – But what about things that stay on all the time, like your router? With the prevalence of smart homes comes the need for constant Wi-Fi connection – When is the internet never not in use in your home?

You might think that it’s not needed at night, but if you have smartphones, odds are that when they are connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in to charge overnight, said smartphones complete important updates. 

Switching off your router at night could actually have quite a number of unintended consequences, for both your router itself and other devices. 

Should I Turn My Router Off Overnight to Save Electricity? 

Forums dedicated to saving energy and money might have suggested turning your electricals off overnight to save electricity – Including your router. But Internet Service Providers are warning against this. 

For the small amount of money it could save, it may actually cause a lot of disruption. 

  • Many routers receive security updates overnight so as not to cause any issues during the day. If you switch your router off every single night, then you could miss one of these security updates which could cause issues later down the line with device vulnerability.
  • Desperate to stay up to date with the latest Sky series but can’t stay awake long enough to watch it in real time? Then you might be someone who ‘series links’ your shows so you never have to miss a moment. Except – In order for Sky (other providers are available) to be able to record said show, the TV needs to be connected to the internet. And oops – You switched the router off before you went to bed. No show for you.
  • Do you charge your smartphone overnight? Most use this opportunity to update to the latest software. If you’re not connected to the Wi-Fi then it likely won’t make any necessary updates. Likewise, if your phone stays on overnight, any notifications like WhatsApp or social media platforms will connect via your data rather than Wi-Fi which could result in your using up your data sooner than expected. 

Are these massive issues that you couldn’t possibly cope with? No, probably not. But if you’re used to things just quietly and consistently running in the background – Updates, show recordings, notifications – You might need to consider whether switching off your router overnight would work for you. 

Switching Off Router Overnight Could Disrupt Connectivity

It’s also important to remember that most homes use broadband connections that are based off older style copper broadband lines (for example ADSL2+) or a hybrid of fibre optic and copper (e.g. FTTC / VDSL). These often use DLM technology (Dynamic Line Management) and its associated services.

A potential issue with these services is its negative response to repeatedly getting disconnected and having to reboot the router. DLM services may detect this ‘turning off’ as connection problems, resulting in it making the connection slower. To avoid this kind of connectivity issue, it’s generally recommended to keep the router switched on. 

A typical home broadband router uses between 5 and 20 watts of power, which can cost between £0.03 and £0.14 per day. This adds up to roughly £10 to £50 per year on your energy bill. 

So turning off your router for an average of 9 hours per night isn’t going to save you much cash at all, at the expense of good connectivity, device security and efficiency of updates. 

Of course, it’s completely a personal preference but we’d agree with the ISP’s – Keep your router turned on. 

by admin
247 Views0
Broadband Fibre Broadband FTTP Full Fibre Ofcom
New Rules on Misleading Use of ‘Fibre’ Broadband 

Ofcom, the regulator for telecoms and media here in the UK, are beginning the enforcement of new rules regarding how Internet Service Providers use the words ‘Fibre’ and ‘Full Fibre.’ 

ISP websites and contracts listing terms like ‘Fibre’ and ‘Full Fibre’ will only be able to do so if their service network actually brings their fibre optic cables into your home, under the new rules. This means FTTP, FTTH and FTTB services. 

In the past, many ISP’s have misleadingly used terminology like ‘Fibre’ to describe a wide range of internet connection technologies. This has included hybrid or part-fibre solutions involving some copper wiring (like FTTC) or even services using wireless connectivity to cover the final part into homes. 

These technologies can actually be a lot slower as well as less reliable than the more modern full-fibre (FTTP) services. It’s these services that take an optical fibre cable all the way into the home. 

Network operators, ISP’s and consumers have argued about fibre descriptions for quite a while. And with the roll-out of FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) lines over the past few years, capable of multi-Gigabit speed, this has only increased. 

If a consumer believes that they already have fibre, even if it’s only via a FTTC (VDSL2) line that is a lot slower, that consumer is more unlikely to consider upgrading to FTTP. 

This isn’t the first time the distinction between ‘fibre’ services has tried to be corrected. The Advertising Standards Authority attempted a review, but it was ineffective. CityFibre also attempted a court challenge, but this also failed. 

Then in 2021, GigaTAG (the Gigabit Take-Up Advisory Group) made a proposal to change several things, one of which was the clearer labelling of broadband packages. This was so consumers could better understand the differences between technologies, and this was successfully adopted by Ofcom at the end of last year. 

As of today, 16th September 2024, the new guidelines for residential and small business services have been formally introduced and enforced by Ofcom. Better late than never!

It’s important to note that this doesn’t yet apply to advertising. Ofcom doesn’t cover advertising, as that is the remit of the Advertising Standards Authority. So let’s hope the ASA follows suit.  

Ofcom’s New Guidelines on Fibre Terminology

The below are a summary of points from Ofcom’s website. 

  • Providers should give a short description of the underlying network technology of each broadband product using one or two terms that are clear and unambiguous, such as ‘cable’, ‘copper’, ‘full-fibre’ or part-fibre’. These descriptions should be offered at point of sale on the website, and before the final purchase in contract information, and in the contract summary;
  • The term ‘fibre’ used in isolation is ambiguous, so it should not be used on its own to describe the underlying broadband technology. This would mean, for instance, that ‘full-fibre’ (or a similar term) is only used to describe networks which use fibre-optic cables all the way from the exchange to the home. Similarly, ‘part-fibre’ (or a similar term) would describe those services with a fibre-optic connection from the local exchange to the street cabinet and then usually a copper wire connecting the street cabinet to the customer’s home; and
  • Providers should give a more thorough explanation of the underlying broadband technology – for example through a link – so that consumers can understand in more detail what it means for them. This information must be provided in an accessible form that is easy to understand.

Underlying technology information should be given to consumers irrespective of how they sign up for a service. Under Ofcom’s new guidance, those signing up online will be given this information on the broadband provider’s website. Those purchasing a service over the phone or face-to-face will be provided with this information in the Contract Summary and in the contract itself. A Contract Summary with key information on the service must be provided before the customer confirms the purchase.

Ofcom have concluded that this is the most proportionate approach to ensure appropriate information is provided to consumers and reduce customer confusion, while limiting the costs of implementation.

9 Months to Welcome Change

Ofcom announced this change back in December of last year, giving ISP’s plenty of time to implement changes. 

Thankfully, a good chunk of the telecoms industry, noticeably the more alternative full fibre networks, have welcomed this change. 

But is it too late to make a difference? The terms ‘Fibre’ and ‘Full Fibre’ have long been dished out by ISP’s – Will the new change from Ofcom actually change the perspective of consumers? Years and years of misuse of these terms will mean that it’s entrenched in the subconscious mind of consumers – Can it be changed and will we see a positive impact? 

Some ISP’s have already adjusted their approach to communicating their broadband services with consumers. Let’s remember that many if not most consumers pay a lot of attention to service speed and price, and less to what is seen as industry jargon. 

One example of the changes being implemented is from Sky Broadband who have re-labelled their packages according to the new rules. Their broadband packages are now described as:

  • Copper (ADSL)
  • Part Fibre (FTTC/ G.fast)
  • Full Fibre (FTTP)

Who will be next? 

by admin
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