Broadband speed test uses Google Maps

A new broadband speed test lets people compare their service with neighbours and other areas.

Developed by Top 10 Broadband, the speed test uses Google maps to allow users to zoom in to see the area in which they live. Users can also click on an icon to see a graph that tracks national trends.

The broadband comparison site said the aim is to give broadband users a clear and more easily understandable picture of broadband speeds nationally and locally, as well as find out which internet service providers (ISPs) are performing the best.

Alex Buttle of Top10 Broadband said: “We do get commission from an ISP if a visitor to the site clicks through to buy a service because we are a comparison site and have always offered this service. However the speed test is totally independent.”

To check their speed the user enters their postcode and ISP and then the using the Google map function they can see which ISPs are being used in their area and the speeds other people get.

Alex Buttle said the site doesn’t identify individual houses so there are no privacy issues. But if the user wants to remove their speed test from the site they are able to do this.

Although the broadband comparison site doesn’t claim the technology used was cutting edge, it said it gave an accurate reading of speed; but people can get a ‘second opinion’ by running another speed test, such as the one from Thinkbroadband. It said the technology used has been designed to track next-generation broadband speeds of up to 100Mbits/sec when these are rolled out.

The speed test site also offers basic broadband information and FAQs.