Most homes receive less than half the broadband speed they are paying for, an official study has revealed.

As a result, computer users who are trying to surf the web or download music and video suffer frustrating delays or 'crashes', particularly during the peak evening period.

Firms such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk and O2 are advertising broadband speeds of 'up to' 20 or even 24 megabits per second, or mbps.

However, a study by the regulator Ofcom found that almost two-thirds of customers tempted by these promises are only getting 8mbps or less.
Broadband speeds received by customers are rarely those advertised, according to Ofcom

Critics complain that the deal is similar to a driver being sold a Ferrari but getting a bicycle.

All the major Internet Service Providers have focused their marketing on download speeds, encouraging customers to spend more than £20 a month to get up to 20 or 24mbps.

But for firms offering broadband via the copper wire network - historically used for telephone calls - it is not possible to achieve these speeds for most customers nationwide.

In fact just one home in every 50 paying for this premium Ferrari high speed service is getting better than 14Mbps.

Robert Hammond, of the official customer champion, Consumer Focus, said: 'If consumers pay for a Ferrari-style internet service, they should not get push-bike speeds.

'The Advertising Standards Authority should take a tough approach.'

Ofcom has drawn up a voluntary code of practice to police the firms. This will allow customers suffering very slow web access to cancel their contracts without penalty. The communications watchdog is also working with the Advertising Standards Authority to ban misleading claims.

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