News

Survey reveals below average broadband speeds

By Laura Herbert
May 08, 2012

A broadband survey in Finchampstead has revealed two postcode areas with particularly slow speeds.

Finchampstead man Michael Noak has carried out the survey after download speeds were proving a barrier to businesses and people trying to work from home.

Businesses hit by slow broadband

So far, 159 people have taken part in the survey and findings reveal the area as a whole has below average broadband speeds, but it is worse in postcodes RG40 3xx and RG40 4xx.

Mr Noak, member of Wokingham Chamber of Commerce Council, said: “I divided my results into two samples by download speed – ‘Slow’ is postcodes RG40 3xx and RG40 4xx, ‘rest’ is the remainder of the returns.

“We all use the internet in similar ways but what can be done is rather different with far fewer people in ‘slow’ being able to make video calls, use YouTube or iPlayer and this is very clearly linked to the lower download speeds.

“I think there are more business users in ‘rest’ possibly because it is more practical to run a business with a higher speed line.”

Mr Noak continued: “I stress the sample sizes are small, but the message appears clear – speed clearly affects what can be done and this affects the value of the broadband to the user and also the service provider.

“If you cannot run high speed services, you will not pay higher usage fees, nor will you subscribe to services like Netflix that need them and this depresses the revenue that will be generated.”

Upgrades to the Eversley exchange are due to be rolled out from June 30.

Finchampstead MP Dr Phillip Lee said: “I have written letters and met with BT in Westminster. It is a pretty slow-moving operation it seems.

“I have been pushing it with the minister responsible and I’m trying to get hold of senior BT people.”

He continued: “There are some people without broadband period, let alone slow broadband, so the idea of fast broadband is a distant hope.

“Broadband and mobile phone coverage is a very big issue in Finchampstead.

“People are increasingly working from home, taking work home with them or trying to watch television online and they can’t do it.”

A spokeswoman for BT said: “Our ultimate aim is to get everybody on fast broadband. We will be looking at reaching areas and improving the service. It is the start of a project that is going on for a number of years.”

To take part in the survey go to www.noakconsulting.co.uk

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Most recent user comments 6 of 6

I live in one of those postcodes and the BT broadband service is appalling. Even though I live in Finchampstead unfortunatley my line is lnked to the Arborfield Cross Exchange which isn't even planned for an upgrade :-(

Golfer
08/05/2012 at 20:32

When I dared complain about the broadband speed to the BT engineer on one of their many visits, his comment was: "Well, you chose to live 'ere, luv".

Helpful.

Grumpy Old Student, Berks
08/05/2012 at 14:47

senior moments- due to be upgraded is correct- according to the delightful BT Engineer who visited me recently when I told him the same thing- "don't hold your breath, parts of Bracknell were scheduled to have been done by now- er, they haven't!" I did see a big BT roll of cable outside the CO OP the other day by Cresswells- I am hoping June will happen. Ref phone mast- still no mast, it was urgent for them to get the permission, now.........still got a naff service (Vodafone).

Wobbly Bob
08/05/2012 at 13:38

35Mbps - some of us are due to go to 80Mbps next month - well done BT. As the Eversley exchange is due to be upgraded by the end of June 2012, will we get a similar number of articles about how much the business are now improving following the increase in broadband speed?

senior moments
08/05/2012 at 13:12

@Grumpy Old Student: this is so true. In addtion to the slow internet connection, I'm lucky if I can get a mobile phone signal at all when I'm in Finchampstead. I'm not at all surprised that it's 'proving a barrier to business!'

Doc_Brown, Wokingham
08/05/2012 at 12:14

It is incredible to hear of many residents in the area being upgraded FROM 8Mbps TO 35Mbps when BT has totally ignored getting Finchampstead out of the dark ages. Couple this with the Luddites campaigning against a mobile phone mast and we may as well be marooned on a desert island. Come to think of it, all recent holidays in remote lands have had a better phone and broadband signal than here in the Silicon Valley...

BT have no competitors in Finch - ergo, no compelling reason to upgrade us.