Orange really has got better

So it's been a while since my Orange broadband connection suddenly seemed to be getting a half decent speed... And, it's held up.

So I have a new benchmark. A domestic Orange 8Mb ADSL line is giving a real world 6Mb+. This contrasts sharply with BT Internet domestic 8Mb which gives under 2Mb. Not only that but at work we have a BT Internet Business connection. This promises to be faster with lower contention ratios. Download speed still doesn't even reach 2Mb though and upload is no better than Orange.

BT, you really are holding Britain back.

Orange broadband suddenly seems better

Because I live in a village our local exchange isn't scheduled to support LLU (Local Link Unbundling) until about 2012 which means we don't have access to all those tasty ADSL2+ services offered by the likes of Bethere.co.uk

I've used Be's service and it's very good. A reliable 15Mb/s realistic download speed is pretty good in my book.

But we've got the Orange broadband Max 8Mb service. I've always found any 8Mb service only seems to offer a realistic 2Mb downstream at best. My parents have BT Internet's 8Mb service and it's terrible.

However I tried the BBC iPlayer network performance test and it reported I was getting 6Mb/s download and the Orange connection now seems to be able to support upwards of 5Mb/s streaming.

Last time I checked I was only getting around the 2Mb/s mark... so what's happened? Is this some sort of fluke or have Orange/BT done something with their networks in recognition that it really isn't ok to charge for an 8Mb connection and only provide 2Mb.

I'll keep an eye on it.