The need for speed increases

As we become ever more reliant on the internet to work or shop from home, to download films and our favourite TV shows, it seems we’re becoming ever more frustrated by poor broadband speeds.

It’s certainly a recurrent issue raised with us at Which? by consumers who feel let down that the speeds they were promised just never materialise.

A good broadband connection is a modern day essential as much as the telephone line used to be. But our new research has shown that 12.5 million households are unhappy with their service.

We’ve been aware for some time that people are plagued by poor connections, dropouts and slow speeds, but our new research has shown just how bad it really is.

Six in 10 people have had some kind of problem with their home internet connection in the last year.

Four in 10 of those who experienced internet connection issues were completely stopped from carrying out one or more online activities as a result; one in five said that connection problems have had a negative financial impact on them and three in 10 said that connection issues meant that online banking and paying bills were either completely prevented or took much longer than usual.

Others told us that slow broadband speeds affect their ability to work and to study in fact 18-24 year olds are significantly more frustrated by poor broadband than any other age group.

So Which? is here to help.

To get consumers get better connected, we’ve launched a new campaign to Fix Bad Broadband. And we’ve launched a new, free speed checker as well as a complaint tool in the hope that everyone can get the broadband they need and get the UK better connected to the worldwide web.

The new Which? broadband speed checker will let you test your service performance, get advice on how to improve speed and service quickly, without having to contact your provider and to complain if you’re not getting the level of service you’ve paid for.

It’s just not right that millions of people are being let down by their broadband. We want to help fix it so take a look at our website today (visit www. which.co.uk/fixbadbroadband) and get up to speed with your broadband.

Send your consumer queries to me askalex@which. co.uk