Average broadband speed trebles in four years

The average broadband speed in the UK has trebled in the last four years, Ofcom research has revealed.

Residential fixed-line broadband reached an average speed of 12Mbps in November 2012, the most recent date for which figures are available.

This was an increase of 34 per cent (3.1Mbps) in the six months from May to November, as take-up of “superfast” services increased.

The speed more than trebled in the three years from November 2008, when the average speed stood at 3.6Mbps.

Average speeds continue to go up as more customers migrate to higher-speed packages. By November 2012, 77 per cent of fixed-line broadband users were on packages which advertised speed of at least “up to” 10 Mbps, up from 58 per cent in November 2011.

In the same period, the proportion with broadband connections classed as “superfast” – ie with an advertised speed of up to 30 Mbps – rose from 5 per cent to 13 per cent.