Mobile Broadband Still Crawling at Below 1Mb, Despite 'up to' 7.2Mb Claims

CAMBRIDGE, England, November 25 - The latest mobile broadband speed test data from Broadband Genie shows
two thirds of users have been saddled with speeds below 1Mb this year - less
than 15% of the 'up to' speeds claimed by, for example, Vodafone (7.2Mb). The
majority of products from the likes of 3, O2, T-Mobile and Orange are
advertised at 'up to' 3.6Mb, although the average user experience was just
0.87Mb - only 24% of the alleged top-end speed.

The speed test, specifically designed for mobile broadband and carried
out throughout 2009, showed that of more than 3,600 tests, only 16 (about
0.5%) managed a speed of more than 3Mb, making a mockery of the advertised
top speeds. The statistics follow reports from Ofcom earlier in the year that
showed fixed-line broadband products, many from the same companies, also
failed to live up to their advertised capabilities.

The majority of the tests (65%) were slower than 1Mb, with more than half
of these (39%) actually below 0.5Mb. Some 26% got results between 1Mb and
2Mb, with less than 7% getting 2-3Mb. There was a barely noticeable increase
in speed across the year, but nothing like the kind of wild predictions made
by some that suggested mobile broadband would soon rival fixed-line for
speed.

Broadband Genie editor Chris Marling commented: "Once again it would seem
the mad rush to secure the early adopters has exceeded the ability of the
product to live up to over-hyped expectations. It's a real shame too, as
mobile broadband can be be perfect for a lot of uses, even at speeds below
1Mb. But consumer expectations are not being met, which could lead to burn
out and a slow in sales.

"Mobile broadband has proved invaluable to many users. Students, business
travellers, holidaymakers and people who struggle to get a fixed-line
connection have really benefited, along with many others, but we are
inundated with complaints from customers who feel they have been lied to,
once again, by the mobile industry. These sales techniques, as well as the
quality of customer service and tech support, really have to change."

Notes to Editors

1. The Broadband Genie mobile broadband speed test is run in conjunction
with Think Broadband. Its servers send a small amount of data to and from a
user's machine to test both upstream and downstream speeds, reporting the
average speed to the user. For full details, see the speed test at
mobile.broadbandgenie.co.uk/speedtest

2. Broadband Genie is the UK's leading independent broadband and mobile
broadband comparison website, providing consumers with an unbiased source of
information on broadband prices and contracts and allowing them to compare
broadband providers in an independent environment. Broadband Genie was
launched in March 2004 as the first dedicated consumer comparison site for
broadband, while Mobile Broadband Genie was the first independent mobile
broadband comparison site, launched in October 2007. Both sites are among the
most popular sites in their respective fields, and regularly feature in the
national press. www.broadbandgenie.co.uk /
mobile.broadbandgenie.co.uk

3. All queries and interview requests should be directed to Chris Marling
at Broadband Genie: t +44(0)844-415-5531, f +44(0)871-6618553,
m +44(0)7908-327303, chris.marling@genieventures.co.uk

All queries and interview requests should be directed to Chris Marling at Broadband Genie: t +44(0)844-415-5531, f +44(0)871-6618553, m +44(0)7908-327303, chris.marling at genieventures.co.uk