Home : Public Sector : News

Edinburgh gets fastest fixed line broadband

The Scottish capital has the top average maximum speed, but 14 per cent of those with fixed line broadband connections don't even get 2Mbps.

By Tom Brewster, 6 Jul 2011 at 12:43

gallery

Edinburgh gets the fastest fixed line broadband speeds in the UK, according to Ofcom research.

The Scottish capital gets average maximum speeds of 10.1Mbps, compared to the national average of 7.5Mbps, Ofcom revealed today.

Bristol took second place, with speeds of 9.9Mbps.

According to the data, provided by communications firms, 68 per cent of UK premises have a fixed broadband connection.

Superfast broadband has gained significant coverage as well, with 58 per cent of premises able to hook up to such services.

Missing Government targets

Despite some of the more positive findings, Ofcom revealed 14 per cent of customers who had fixed line connections, excluding those with superfast contracts, were not receiving speeds of 2Mbps or more.

These connections don’t yet match up to the Government target for basic internet access.

“This clearly points towards the need for more investment in upgrading networks and technology,” said Clodagh Murphy, director of Eclipse Internet.

“There are two key aspects to consider when increasing broadband penetration in the UK – one is the universal service commitment of 2Mbps for customers, and the other is targeting those areas that can receive a fast service, but where the uptake is low.”

Minister for culture, Jeremy Hunt, has repeatedly laid out plans for everyone in the UK to have a minimum of 2Mbps, although last year he pushed the deadline back from 2012 to 2015.

Mapping coverage

To accompany the release of its research, Ofcom has created an interactive map showing the quality of fixed line connections across the UK.

Users can learn about different aspects of broadband access in the UK, including the overall performace quality and average take up.

“We are now developing a clear picture of the UK’s fixed broadband infrastructure and how it delivers for consumers,” said Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards.

“We hope that this information will stimulate further rollout of broadband infrastructure and better performance for households and businesses.”

Head here to check the map out and see how good the connections are in your area.

Email to a friend

Print this page

< Previous Public Sector : News Next >

2 comments

You need to Login or Register to comment.

Edinburgh fastest?

Average speeds lists are meaningless - it depends entirely on hoe far away you are from the exchange. Here in the city of Edinburgh, I get barely 2.5, not 10.1.

By coldstream on Friday Jul 8

Edinburgh's like everyone else..

I'm just outside the Edinburgh city bounds, and my ADSL provision was rarely above 2Mbps.
There will never be commercial advantage in running fibre to my door, and I have to accept that, or pay for it.
I spent a fiver on a bell-line filter ('iPlate') and within the day the service was running doubly fast. Worth mentioning, to all those on the slow end..
That said, I agree - it's not average speeds - it's the worst expected speed that should be our measure.
With YouTube, iPlayer, movie/musing download now routine in most homes (and some businesses), the infrastructure capability has fallen behind. Their answer? To strangle the individual at peak times, so as to share the thin volume with everyone. result? Evenings and weekends (when I want the service) measures fall to a fraction of the download rate - 500Kbps at times. That's the measure I need against my fellow man.
And the solution..? Internet is now business, pleasure, support, education, an effficiency tool.. It needs central government investment and soon, as much as schools and hospitals. When will they realise? This will only get worse, and yet already the 2Mbps measure has been put back to 2015. Big mistake. We need the media to support us in pressing for this, now - and yes, that's even for us 'lucky' people of Edinburgh.

By Rossnet on Friday Jul 8