Manx Telecom broadband customers are benefiting from a higher average broadband speed than internet users in the UK.

That’s according to an extensive survey undertaken by Ofcom, the UK telecommunications regulator, which shows while the average stands at 3.6Mbit/s, (megabits per second) in the UK, it’s 5.5Mbit/s in the Island.

Megabits per second is an industry-standard measure of the speed of data transfer over the net.

Manx Telecom’s Peter Callow says it’s a ‘reflection of the considerable investment we have made in our broadband network’.

‘We recently completed a major upgrade to the network, which enables our 22,500 broadband users to take advantage of download speeds of up to 8Mbit/s. Of course, the actual speed an individual may get will depend on a number of factors, such as how near they are to an exchange, the wiring in their house and the equipment they have.

‘However, our new network improves the speeds achieved for longer lines and this, combined with our investment in remote broadband cabinets, means we now have 100 per cent Island-wide availability where landlines exist.’

‘The results of both surveys are very interesting and timely’, added Tim Craine, Government’s director of e-business.

‘I’m, of course, delighted to see Manx Telecom broadband users are benefiting from higher average speeds than their UK counterparts – something which is clearly due to the significant investment made by Manx Telecom in its infrastructure.

'In the digital age, it’s vital that Isle of Man broadband customers – businesses and individuals – are able to take advantage of the benefits, products, and services which high-speed broadband offers.’