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Data speed testing
Print this pageThe Department has established a data speed testing facility that covers Australian Broadband Guarantee providers and former providers under the Australian Broadband Guarantee (transitional period), Broadband Connect Incentive Program, Metro Broadband Connect and HiBIS. The Department tests providers services on a monthly basis.
This facility is also available to customers using Services provided under Australian Broadband Guarantee, Australian Broadband Guarantee (transitional period), Broadband Connect Incentive Program, Metro Broadband Connect and HiBIS.
Customer data speed testing
The Department has established an online facility so that customers can test their average data speeds. These facilities are at:
This test will assist customers to determine whether they are receiving:
- at least 60 per cent of their peak data speeds as required for a Threshold Service or Entry Level Service.
- Either the minimum (for a high speed broadband service) or average data speed for an Added Value Service. These data speeds should be contained in your customer contract or can be sought from your provider.
Customer testing forms part of the data speed testing regime and one fail result is not definitive. To test the speed of your service:
- Run the test available at
www.bctest.com.au/speedtest.html - If you receive a failed result, run the test a second time in 1 hour
- If you receive a failed result, run the test a third time in 24 hours
- If you receive a failed result, email the Enex Testlab helpdesk at helpdesk@bctest.com.au for assistance
- Repeat this testing process one week later to obtain a more accurate indication of whether you are receiving the appropriate data speed.
It is important to run the test at different times of the day (morning, afternoon and evening) and compare your results with your providers results. To do this, follow the guidelines for Interpreting data speed test results below.
Provider data speed testing
Each month the Department's technical consultant tests the average data speeds of registered providers. This testing determines whether providers achieve the required minimum (for high speed broadband services) or average data speed (60 per cent of the peak speed) 75 per cent of the time.
To determine whether the required data speed is achieved at least 75 per cent of the time, on one day each calendar month, the test computer downloads and uploads a specified file at least once each hour over the 16 hour period between 7am and 11pm. The test occurs at a time randomly chosen within each hour.
The Broadband Connect Provider is taken to have met the 75 per cent availability requirement if at least 75 per cent of the test results (i.e. 12 out of 16) show that a download and upload data speed of either the minimum data speed (for high speed broadband services) or at least 60 per cent of the peak data speed (Threshold, Entry Level and some Added Value Services) has been achieved.
Providers who fail testing are required to take immediate steps to remedy the situation. A summary of the test results is provided in the documents below:
Non-ABG Providers Data Speed Test Results - Nov 2008 (File format: XLS, File size: 60Kb)- Australian Broadband Guarantee Providers Data Speed Test Results - Nov 2008 (File format: XLS, File size 38Kb)
Interpreting data speed test results
Providers are required to give customers a service with either:
- an average speed of 60 per cent of the peak data speed at least 75 per cent of the time where a customer has a Threshold service or an Entry Level Service.
- with respect to Added Value Services, p roviders must nominate a peak Data Speed and either an average (at least 60 per cent of peak data speed) or minimum Data Speed (for a high speed broadband service) that is greater than the Data Speed applying to a Threshold Service
To determine whether you are receiving the required service:
- Undertake customer data speed testing in the recommended manner using the testing tool at www.bctest.com.au/speedtest.html. This test will tell you whether you are receiving the minimum or average data speed.
- Check your Providers test results (copies available above), which are regularly published by the Department. This will tell you whether your provider met the data speed availability requirement
- The Department tests one of a providers services at a time so if your service speed was not tested, provider test results will still give you an indication of whether your provider is meeting requirements.
- If you failed the testing (e.g. your data speed is below 60 per cent of the peak speed, at least 75 per cent of the time or is below the minimum data speed for your service plan), contact your provider to seek an explanation.
- If your provider does not provide a satisfactory explanation in accordance with the terms of your customer contract you may refer the matter to the Department at abg@dcita.gov.au. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the Department may then refer you to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman for further action.
- Document ID: 35218 |
- Last modified: 3 December 2008, 2:08pm