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On 7/03/2011 10:45 AM, Marcin Cieslak wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:alpine.BSF.2.00.1103062329190.38369@y.fncre.vasb"
type="cite">Hello, <br>
<br>
Polish Ministry of Infrastructure (which is sometimes dealing <br>
with telecommunications, independently of the telecom operator
body) <br>
wants to implement some kind of tougher enforcement of the
connection parameters of the Internet connection offered <br>
by the ISP. <br>
<br>
They plan to introduce a rule that the "minimal connection speed <br>
should not be lower than 90% of the contractual or advertized <br>
connection speed". <br>
<br>
This poses numerous problems, including things like, definition <br>
of "connection speed", from where to where it is measured, <br>
ignoring isses like latency or etc. <br>
<br>
On the other hand there is a general opinion that mobile <br>
operators usually overstate capabilities of their <br>
networks (HSDPA access "up to 7.2Mbit/s" and so on). <br>
<br>
There was one opinion expressed, that "similar scheme <br>
works in Finland". <br>
<br>
Does anyone know any attempts to regulate access speeds <br>
this way in Finland or somewhere else, what kind of metrics <br>
do they build on, and how does this look in practice? <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Marcin - in Australia we have had a few attempts to look at this
issue, in the context of misleading advertising. The competition and
consumer regulator, who looks after aspects such as fair and
truthful advertising and products being fit-for-purpose for
consumers, has some strong recommendations for ISPs to advertise
typically attainable speeds rather than theoretical maximum speeds,
and has the power to take providers to court if they believe the ISP
is advertising misleading high Internet speeds.<br>
<br>
Of course, it is possible for an ISP to advertise and achieve high
'connection speeds', measured as the synchronisation line rate of an
ADSL connection for example, and still deliver poor throughput - and
claim that the poor throughput is due to factors upstream of their
network, and outside their control. Occasionally these claims are
even legitimate.<br>
<br>
It will be important for you to educate your authorities that
'connection speed' is not the same thing as 'achieved throughput' or
'perceived performance'.<br>
<br>
Have a look at our ACCC's information sheet for consumers on
Broadband connection speeds, at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/815760">http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/815760</a>.
It also includes some fairly clear warnings to ISPs in what they
should include in their advertising.<br>
<br>
As a result of this, our mobile networks often advertise their
broadband speeds as 'up to 7.2Mbps, and users typically achieve
between 500kbps to 2 Mbps' or something like this.<br>
AS an example, see <a
href="http://go.bigpond.com/wireless/?2473PSEM&s_kwcid=TC%7C4297%7CNextG%20network%7C%7CS%7Cb%7C6938392506">Bigpond
mobile broadband</a> where you can see near the bottom of the
page some examples of devices advertised to achieve <br>
"with typical download speeds from 550kbps up to 8Mbps in all
capitals and many regional areas.<sup>1" </sup><br>
<br>
with footnotes identifying:<br>
<br>
"8. Typical speeds in all capital city CBDs and selected
metropolitan, regional and rural areas are from 1.1Mbps to 20Mbps
and in other areas speed ranges will be less. Capital CBDs mean
within 5 kms of the GPO of a capital city. Speeds vary due to
factors such as distance from base station, local conditions, user
numbers, hardware and software configuration."<br>
<br>
Hope this helps.<br>
Paul.<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="86">--
Paul Brooks
Board member
ISOC-AU - Internet Society of Australia</pre>
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