New research by broadband comparison site Broadband Expert has revealed that UK mobile broadband providers are delivering just 24 percent of advertised download speeds to end-consumers. The comparison site tested 3,342 mobile broadband connections and found that the average actual download speed was 1.1Mb/s compared to the average advertised maximum speed of 4.5Mb/s. The study found that Vodafone UK recorded the fastest actual speed with an average of 1.3Mb/s, but also delivered the lowest percentage of its advertised speeds at just 18 percent of the stated 7.2Mb/s. Although there was not a great difference in actual speeds delivered between providers, T-Mobile UK was found to be the slowest at 0.9Mb/s or 20 percent of its advertised speed. 3 UK achieved the highest percentage of advertised speeds clocking in at 1.2Mb/s or 33.3 percent of its advertised 3.6Mb/s maximum speed.

“It is completely unreasonable for a provider to advertise unrealistically high speeds that the vast majority of customers will never receive,” said Rob Webber, Broadband Expert’s commercial director. “Advertising unrealistic speeds will not help the long term growth of mobile broadband or the reputation of the providers if customers feel they are being misled.” According to the study, mobile broadband speeds significantly trailed those recorded in standard (fixed-line) broadband connections. Broadband Expert tested 94,546 home broadband connections where the average speed was 3.6Mbs or 44 percent of advertised maximum speeds.