Baltcom ‘puzzled’ by ruling on speed test

Latvian cable operator Baltcom has said it is “puzzled” by a decision by the country’s competition watchdog PTAC to prevent it using a recent recognition by internet speed analysis service Speedtest.net that it provides the fastest internet service in the country.

Testing technology developed by internet metrics specialist Ookla, the company behind Speedtest.net, found that Baltcom provided an average download speed of 149.26Mbps and an upload speed of 142.6Mbps in 2015.

However, the PTAC ruled that Baltcom could not use the claim that it provided the fastest service in the country in its marketing materials because the Speedtest.net methodology was contested.

Baltcom said that Speedtest.net was recognized as the world’s leading speed measurement tool and was used by organisations including European electronic communications regulatory body BEREC and by other public service regulators.

Baltcom chairman Nicolas Boissin said that the move suggested that “rules for all market participants are not the same”, highlighting the fact that former monopoly incumbent Lattelecom had launched a marketing campaign including the claim that it offered the fastest internet service, based on another award, which he said was inadequately referenced.