That’s according to a recent report of the FCC in the US — broadband subscribers in the US only get around 50% of the promised internet speeds by service providers.
If the report were for the Philippines, I would not be surprised. So, it’s not only us here but also in first world countries like the US & UK.
So I fired up my browser and checked Speed Test:
I’m subscribed to a 2Mbps connection and usually get around 1Mbps. Now that’s also 50% of promised (same %age loss like in the US).
I think the reason why, despite the similarities, the issue is more prominent with us here in the Philippines is not due to the percentage loss in the promised bandwidth but the amount of actual bandwidth itself.
In the US, if you’re subscribed to a 10Mbps connection and only get 5Mbps, I think you will not feel the difference especially when you’re just browsing the web or just watching YouTube.
However, in the Philippines, if you’re subscribed to 1Mbps and only get 512Kbps, you’d significantly feel the speed slowing down.
As an example, my WiFi b/g router at home promises up to 54Mbps speeds on my local network (that’s about 6.75MB/s transfer rate). However, if I try copying files over the WiFi network, I only get around 2.5MB/s (20Mbps). That’s only 37% of promised speed but I don’t complain because I don’t feel the connection being ‘slow’ despite the huge speed loss.
The gap between advertisement and reality isn’t a function of technology—it applied to all kinds of broadband connections, from cable to DSL to fiber. The less-than-ideal speeds aren’t necessarily the “fault” of the ISP, either; crufty computers, poky routers, misconfigured WiFi, transient line noise, and Internet congestion all play a role. {via Ars}
My suggestion is that if the promised speed (with the “up to” labeling) cannot be achieved, why not just change the label instead.
So, how about “Plan 999 @ up to 256Kbps” instead of the current “Plan 999 @ up to 1Mbps”? Then, even if they’re on a 256Kbps plan, put them on a 1Mbps pipe so that when the subscriber tests their speed and they get 512Kbps, they will be happy they got 200% of what they subscribed for.
That’s what I call “under-promise and over-deliver” and not the usual “over-promise and under-deliver” mantra we often get.
It gets even worse at peak hours, you only get 50% of it during midnight until around 6am.
Twitter: Gregory
says:
http://www.speedtest.net/result/920034893.png
Here’s my Sun Broadband speedtest. Crappy indeed.
I have 1.5mbps for skybroadband. and Im always getting 1mbps in connection.. I’ts fair enough , and I think its because there are only two sky users in our street. used PLDT for 2 years. dispatched tech thrice.,always slow speed
Kung may Senate investigation tungkol sa nawawalang load ni Sen. Enrile, dapat meron ding inquiry tungkol sa mababang Internet speed!
I dont experience this issue with my ISP.
I’m subscribed to 768kbps (download and upstream)
and “most of the time”, my downloadspeed is around 650kbps – 768kbps (80-90+ kBps)
even with Speed-on-demand time(10pm-10am) 1.2mbps download and 768kbps upstream the variance in the actual speed doesnt go more than 10%.
I’ll repeat again, “most of the time”, cause there also times when i can’t watch youtube(even Low quality videos) continously.
ITS ALL ABOUT PROFIT, what do you expect especially to a 3rd world country… alam naman nila na maraming users/customers ang mga servers ay konti mapa peak o off-peak hours man yan..
parang cellphone load din yan na wala dapat expiration..
Travelling in EDSA can reach speeds “up to” 250kph……..on an Audi r8, at 3am, holy week. Tama naman diba. Deceptive, but not untrue. I agree though….under promise + over deliver = loyal customer. Fact is, to the uneducated tech consumer higher number = better. Kaya nga yung “mp6″ player sa quiapo mas mahal sa “mp4″ player eh.
Great article about such a relevant issue. I don’t think the wifi analogy worked though. Broadband speed and wifi are two entirely different things affected by very different factors.
Oh and Globe almost always gives me my paid speed. It took them 2 weeks to fix when it died once, sure, but it works well when it does.
mine is here..
http://www.speedtest.net/result/920238393.png
plan 999 sa globe broadband.. 1mbps.. old plan na wired.. di ung wimax!
I use GLOBE Broadband and I get 1Mbps connection most of the time here in province.
And I think what add-ups to that decrease in efficacy is the congestion of users in one transmitter of the ISP either wired or wireless.
I use a Sun Broadband Wireless modem with a monthly subscription of Php 1399 per month. Speed, according to Sun, is up to 3Mbps. I get an average of 500Kbps only. To those who intend to subscribe to Sun, consider yourselves warned. Filed numerous complaints with them. Sun even conducted several site visits. Personnel who conducted the visits agree that my subscription is too slow and recommended an early termination without penalties. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
I am a very happy Globe Broadband subscriber.. 90% of the time I get the 2mbps speed (and more) that was promised. It’s way better than the skybroadband and destiny internet that I used to subscribe to. I just hope Globe doesn’t get cocky and SCREW it up! For now, kudos to them!
Wouldn’t this put customers in a worse scenario?
quoting this line:
So, how about “Plan 999 @ up to 256Kbps” instead of the current “Plan 999 @ up to 1Mbps”?
At least now mas may karapatan na magreklamo ang customer na hindi man lang naabot ang certain percentage nung promised speeds (of course this is considering same yung price). Maybe the words ‘up to’ is the culprit here hehe.
Ang dapat eh yung ginawa ng bayantel before with their true speed labeling. I don’t know kung ganun pa din sila. At least hindi pabugso-bugso ang damdamin ni customer haha (overwhelmed… underwhelmed…), sakto lang dun sa sinasabi nila (and if it goes beyond the promised speeds, then great).
Just to add, isa pang culprit pala ang ‘fine print’ (which applies to all ISPs, even bayantel with their true speed as I’ve read before). Sinu bang nagimbento nyang fine print na yan? Pati sa TV may fine print na nilalabas pero 2 seconds lang. Eh 15″ lang ang TV ko, may sa-tarsier ba ang taga-gawa ng contracts ng mga ISPs?
Twitter: mikewagan
says:
minsan its about the location and ung time. I have SmartBro 999 canopy, i usually use the net at 12:00am – 9:00 am kaya wala ako masyado kasabay, i can get speeds up to 1.5Mbps, pero minsan around .6Mbps lang din. Really depends…
I’ve also tried Globe Tattoo Mobile Broadband, nilagay ko ung USB sa may kisame sa labas ng kwarto, I constantly got 1Mbps.
check this out… how in the world is this possible? http://www.netindex.com/download/4,9283/Olongapo/
lilipat na lang ako ng olongapo to achieve “up to” 200MBps speeds.
Twitter: jpcaparas
says:
@geoby
I think the 200mbps figure is just an aggregate of several speed tests. But hey, that’s just me.
Anyway, I’ve been to Olongapo, and yeah — the speeds there are remarkable.
Twitter: simplynice93
says:
These “bogus” deals is happening because the government is not implementing stricter rules to the telcos. Why are they afraid of implementing this? Or are they afraid that their “compensation” from these companies will wither?
Twitter: zoul1380
says:
hay naku try nyo mydestiny para kayong naka dialup!! grrrr…
Heyyy, one thing to consider when having issues with data rates – if you’re using an iPhone or similiar device at home on your wifi network, it will limit your data rates through the router, as it only supports up to wireless g. My MacBook Pro runs up to wireless n, but the router will always default to the speed that serves ALL attached devices. Yes, dual-band routers are available, offering multiple protocols for a variety of devices, but I’d rather upgrade my handheld selection to an iPhone 4 or iPad, with wireless n, before I upgrade that pesky router
Name a telco/isp who doesn’t use the word “up to” on their residential offerings local and even international.
Shared kasi ang residential packages, you share the resources on what’s not being used by the other customer, so spikes ang up to traffic lang and not a sustained xMbps. Dati may CIR na tinatawag, nagagalit din mga tao, bakit 8kbps o 32kbps lang per user na guaranteed. tsk tsk tsk.
Twitter: krheez8
says:
@arman the result is in GMT. meaning it’s already almost noon here in the Philippines..
here’s another test I did. time is 7:54AM GMT (3:54PM here in the Philippines)
http://www.speedtest.net/result/922535641.png
wow you’re right it’s already slower
it used to be, providers give a CIR to their subscribers, ngayon puro “UP TO” speeds with no committed rate.
I hate the word “UP TO” speeds because is a word for playing safe sa customers nila..
kaya kung ang speed connection mo ay mag drop sa 1kbps kapag nag complain ka sa kanila sasabihin nila nakalagay sa subscription mo na “UP TO” this speed ang connection mo..
so it means from 0kpbs up to 1Mbps ang pwede maging speed ng connection mo kung naka subscribe ka na 1Mbps, kaya ala kang magagawa kung ang speed mo ay mag drop ng 1Mbps to 1kbps
I got this answer when I complain na super bagal ang connection ko and I saw my connection is just 40kbps ang sabi ng technician pasok pa din daw sa subscription ko yoong speed na yoon sa 712kbps.
mas mabilis pa yoong connection ko na dialup na 56kbps using a US robotics or supra modem 10years ago