By Chua Hian Hou
INSTEAD of marketing broadband Internet plans based on rarely achievable maximum speeds, Internet service providers (ISPs) may have to disclose the average surfing speeds consumers can expect to experience by next year.
In a consultation paper published on Thursday, technology sector regulator Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) said it is looking at requiring ISPs include such information in their marketing materials in future.
This would 'provide added transparency to end-users with respect to the Internet access speeds they can expect, further aid them in their choice of Internet access service, and minimise disputes,' said the agency.
ISPs here have historically sold their fixed and mobile broadband plans by advertising their top speeds, 'which may not be usually achievable under normal Internet surfing conditions when there are multiple users accessing the ISPs' Internet networks,' it said.
As such, 'some consumers who sign up for such Internet broadband access services may find that the actual Internet access speed they can obtain do not meet their expectations and fulfill their Internet surfing needs,' said the IDA.
Those that want to give feedback on the consultation paper have until Dec 16 to do so. The IDA will decide later whether to require ISPs do this by early next year.