Ireland Internet Performance Index
Speed Bumps Slow Irish Broadband
Epitiro Research Reveals Irish Get 62% of Advertised Bandwidth
CARDIFF, UK - Epitiro, the broadband communications authority, confirmed that speeds delivered by Irish ISPs can be significantly less than those advertised, in a ground-breaking report thought to be the first of its kind for Ireland. The ‘Ireland Internet Performance Index 2008’, based on the company’s ongoing research into fixed and mobile broadband, reveals the performance of 9 leading national ISPs in terms of actual customer experience.
The research covered popular broadband activities such as web surfing, downloading music and movies, VoIP telephone calling, internet gaming and watching streaming video. ISPs in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Galway were tested and Epitiro’s analysis revealed the following:
- Irish fixed line broadband consumers receive only 60% of the bandwidth speed advertised , on average
- Mobile broadband consumers achieve only 64% of advertised speed, on average
- Faster broadband services do not deliver equally faster web browsing speeds
- Browsing over mobile broadband is considerably slower compared to fixed line broadband services advertised at similar speeds
- Ping times for all ISPs were slower than the maximum recommended for on-line gaming. Mobile broadband had excessively slow ping times
- Smart Telecom was deemed the best ISP according to Epitiro’s assessment methodology, reaching 76% of its advertised web surfing speed, and finishing top in several key performance indicator categories.
Performance measurements were conducted using Epitiro’s ISP-I™ network of satellite devices and software agents, newly installed in Ireland, that connect to the internet and perform automated test routines. The dataset used for the report was based on over 5 million tests from August 2008 to October 2008 and the testing process remains active.
“Quality of service varies significantly across Ireland, yet both ISPs and consumers may not be aware of the considerable differences.” observed Gavin Johns, CEO, Epitiro. “This report reveals that independent analysis of broadband service levels will be valuable to all concerned in making Irish broadband competitive with Europe and the rest of the world.”
Earlier this year Epitiro invested in broadband testing infrastructure for Ireland and leading European countries, and has committed to expanding monitoring coverage in urban and rural areas in 2009. A preliminary report found Dublin finished 7th out of the eight European cities sampled.
Due to the wide range in performance amongst ISPs and packages, Epitiro recommends that consumers fully monitor the actual service they receive. Epitiro offers a free application from www.isposure.com to assist consumers in charting their actual broadband service level and comparing it to competitive ISPs available in their area.
The full Irish Internet Performance Index report can be downloaded from here.
About Epitiro
Epitiro is the global leader in comparative broadband benchmarking providing customer experience insight to ISPs, cellular and fixed line operators, media providers, multi-national corporations and government regulators.
Voice, video and internet performance levels are benchmarked via Epitiro’s extensive deployment of ISP-I™ edge-based agents with results available through an on-line database access service or the regularly published Internet Performance Index™ report. The company also provides bespoke test and benchmarking solutions with products such as DataLite™, VocaLite™ and the Femtocell Test Suite™.
Clients such as BT, Vodafone, Orange, Virgin, Telecom New Zealand, Ofcom, Tiscali, KPN and many others benefit from Epitiro’s coverage of fixed and wireless broadband performance.
Founded in 2000, Epitiro is head-quartered in Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Press Contact: Iain Wood iwood@epitiro.comt: +44 (0) 870 850 6563
m: 07751 309 982
www.epitiro.com
