JERSEY is currently lagging behind the UK when it comes to speed of internet access, but Jersey Telecom say that new technology is being installed that will make connection speeds up to four times faster by the end of this year.

At present London’s broadband users can go online at an average broadband speed of 4.5 megabits per second. However, Islanders can only get a maximum of 2 mbps, depending on how close they are to an exchange. That is below the average connection speed of 2.3 mbps in Britain’s slowest country of Northern Ireland.

The UK figures were revealed in a www.thinkbroadband.com investigation that analysed speed tests in 6,000 locations in the last two months and showed that the average connection speed was 3.2 mbps.

Jersey Telecom sales and marketing director Tim Ringsdore said that JT had focused on building a reliable Islandwide service. He said: ‘Our broadband is now available to more than 95% of homes, with around 90% of lines capable of supporting the maximum speed of 2 mbps.’