Treading on thin ice?

[GarethG]

The thought crossed my mind that these new wireless companies providing "near synchronous" and "around 6mb up and down" are treading on thin ice. As most customers, from what I have seen, don't actually get these speeds.

Surely Ofcom should be keeping a close eye on this kind of advertising as it is boarderline false, well it is.

Because if you advertise this kind of service, surely it has to be this kind of service 24/7 for as long as you are a paying customer. If it drops to below par speeds then it becomes flase advertising.

This post isn't a complaint as I am yet to be one of these customers, but more of a concern for the providers themselves. In this day and age people are extremely picky with these kind of things. Therefore ISP's have to be extremely clear on the expected speeds (Up and down) a customer is likely to achieve during the initial site survey and before a contract is signed, if they don't then I am fairly sure they are breaking Ofcom's law. But the speed's quoted during the initial survey should be included in the contract for written evidence and these speeds also should be obtained for the most part of the contractual length. Bar any times when maintenance is been carried out.

This is still a toutchy subject though as how can a provider, provide such quoted speeds if the lines get congested? Well the solution for me would be that the providers should NEVER let the lines get too congested, this I think is breaking the law (if such law exists).

Anyway, I have had a drink so post your views This also applies to landlines, not just wireless.

[Ace247]

Yeah your probably correct in theory, but what Airnet do is plum the system in, leave it with you then send out a contract sometimes if they remember, but not before changing the T&C's
from 10meg up & 10meg down to 2-20meg ish... plus the option of a long pole charged at cost...

In all seriousness your could be right about how they advertise their product, although Karoo have been getting away with doing the very same thing for years...

[marko]

I fully believe Airnet set out with every good intention and they also believed customers were going to get at least 6Mbps up and down. They advertised "Around 10Mbps up and down" which would still allow for lower speeds without the wrath of the likes of OFCOM.

They have now changed their T&Cs to between 2Mbps - 20Mbps depending on location to cover the lower speeds some customers are experiencing. But I think the more the service rolls out with more transmitters and what not, signals will get stronger for everyone and speeds will increase. (and pings will come down)

I also think the changes have come about because earlier T&Cs were based on what was theoretically possible. Now their customer base is growing, the changes have been made based on what is actually possible.

Anyway, that's the way I see it. I may be totally wrong. 

[Ace247]

Yeah marko, it would be nice to hear those words from the horses mouth though, if they don't start communicating with there existing customers they aint going to attract many new ones at this rate..

[GarethG]

I personally think advertising for any kind of internet service is the hardest thing to advertise, only because there are so many variables.

It would sound nicer if they advertised it more to the truth though, I really hate this "up to" business. Its an aweful way to advertise a service. But truthfully what other words can be used? I suppose a better wording would be "Possible speeds of 10Mb up/down depending on various factors, see below" Ok its alot more wordy but it seems more truthfull.

Just as a side note, a company should never use the excuse of the lines been too congested because more users are connecting at the same time. This is the most absurd excuse. This is something I think Ofcom need to clamp down on, a line should never be allowed to congest because of the amount of usage. There should be sufficient bandwidth to go around, planned on the basis of everyone been connected at the same time using maximum bandwidth. Easier to do with fibre optics than copper cabling as it has more bandwidth, but this should be looked at.

[richardmyers]

Spot on, add more bandwidth and the lines are no longer congested!

[dunny]

add more transmitters to the east of the city past craven park more towards hedon and they have cracked it

[el-ahrairah]

I think the title for this topic should have been 'trading' on thin ice? 

[Ace247]

I think the title for this topic should have been 'trading' on thin ice? 

CLICKY ...

[GarethG]

Haha

Well I know improvements are been made on landline and wireless options at the minute, so hopefully this will all be resolved and maybe even recieve a faster service?