Hardly any customers are getting the broadband speed they have been sold, says Ofcom, the watchdog, in a damning verdict on the industry. Virtually no one is getting the 'up to' speed advertised.

Ofcom's analysis of broadband speeds in the UK shows that for some services 97% of consumers do not get the advertised speed. Most homes receive less than half the speed they are paying for. So which internet providers are best for download speed, and what can you do to improve your connection?

The regulator is now revamping the voluntary code for internet providers and demanding changes to how broadband is sold. It wants providers to give a range of speeds their line can support as a "durable record" rather than a single figure. But consumer websites say this is not enough, calling for a mandatory code.

Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, said: "The gap between the average headline speed and actual speed has increased in this period even though the actual speed has risen."

The average residential broadband speed in the UK has increased in the last 12 months from 4.1Megabits per second (Mbps) to 5.2Mbps.

The best provider, by far, is Virgin Media, which provides average download speeds of 8.6 to 9 Mbps (while advertising a speed of 'up to' 10 Mbps). O2 is next with average speeds of 4.3 to 5.0Mbps (even though it is advertising 'up to' 8 Mbps), followed by Sky with 3.9 to 4.9 Mbps (compared with an advertised 'up to' 10 Mbps). BT is languishing at 3.8 to 4.5 Mbps.

Matthew Wheeler, communications expert at uSwitch.com, said: "Consumers are continually getting short shrift when it comes to actual broadband speeds - there needs to be more transparency. You wouldn't buy a sports car that only goes 30mph, yet consumers are forking out for high speed broadband that is stuck in the slow lane.

The need for speed is only going to increase as more companies develop media rich websites and the popularity for online TV continues to skyrocket. Any new initiatives cannot come soon enough."

He said some internet providers are still not opting into the Voluntary Code of Practice. "Simply strengthening it does not cut the mustard - we need a mandatory code with clear penalties for those that breach it."

In the meantime, people can check their speed using a line checker such as bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics. Check at different times of the day as speed can depend on the number of people sharing the network at any one time.

Michael Phillips, product director of Broadbandchoices.co.uk, said: "In light of the fact that not a single broadband provider could actually deliver their advertised 'up to speed' for the second year running, surely it's time to abolish this misleading messaging in its entirety and simply opt for the new ' Typical Speed Range ' figure in all marketing materials.

"As broadband providers have rolled out 'up to 20Mb' broadband they have singularly failed to deliver on the promise – an average speed of 6.5Mb is totally underwhelming."

Ofcom's report is great news for Virgin Media customers but for those consumers that don't happen to live in one of their cabled streets then existing copper wirephone line delivery is, the only other option, unless they can get BT's new fibre optic service Infinity; so a "typical speed range" would at least manage consumer's expectations more effectively, said Phillips.

It's crucial for consumers to compare broadband packages in their area and ensure that they get the most out of their chosen provider. There are a range of simple actions that can improve the speed of a broadband service.

If you are unhappy with your broadband speed, follow these tips to speeding up your connection:

1. Test your speed – If you haven't already done so, use a speed tester to measure the level at which your broadband connection is currently running. This will allow you to see what difference the following suggestions make to your speed. Find one at www.BroadbandChoices.co.uk/speed-tester.html or use the BBC checker mentioned above.

2. It's good to talk – If you are not getting what you expected from your ISP (internet services provider), then give them a call. You may be able to boost your connection speed simply by asking them if there is anything they can do to help.

3. Reposition your router – The position of your router can have a significant effect on the quality of your wireless connection. Place it in an area where the signal will be affected by as few obstructions and little interference as possible. For example, away from appliances which emit wireless signals (e.g. cordless phones) and avoiding barriers (such as walls and doors) between the router and your computer.

4. Spring clean your cache – Every time you visit a webpage, your browser will store, or 'cache' it. All these items stored in your cache do take up space and over time it can get very full. Periodically clearing our your browsers cache will enable it to function more effectively.

5. Upgrade your browser – If you are unhappy with the browsing speed of your connection then you should definitely look at upgrading to a newer web browser. Using the latest browsers can greatly reduce the time it takes to download a web page. Check www.download.com for free downloads of the latest browsers, but should be careful when making any changes to the settings on your computer.

6. Monitor your applications – There are many applications (such as RealPlayer or Windows Updates) that may discreetly start running when you log in to your computer and these may slow your connection down. Set these applications so they don't run automatically – this should reduce your bandwidth overhead and make a noticeable difference to your connection speed.

7. Disable P2P software – Some applications often continue to run in the background even when you think you've turned them off as they continually upload and download data – this will not only slow you down but can also use up your download allowance. To avoid this, check the settings of these applications and if possible, set them to 'no peer to peer'.

8. Loathe thy neighbour – If you have wireless broadband, the first and foremost thing you should do is secure your wireless network. If you are unwittingly sharing your connection with unauthorised users then they will be using up valuable bandwidth. This means that the speed of your connection and download allowance could take a battering, not to mention the security threat this poses.

9. Traffic jams – The time of day at which you go online can greatly affect connection speeds. When lots of people are trying to access the internet at the same time there is increased traffic on the physical phone lines and also each website's servers. Heaviest traffic is usually in the evenings, so to benefit from the fastest speeds you should try to surf when internet traffic is low, generally in the day time or very late at night. If you have heavy downloading to do, you will get the fastest download speeds during off-peak periods.

10. Switch – After all these measures, if your current package still isn't giving you the speed you want, it may be time to switch. The speed you will be able to achieve does depend on some factors outside your control – such as your distance from the telephone exchange. Evaluate the time and money needed to improve on your current connection and decide for yourself if it is worth an upgrade. You can use the Ofcom accredited comparison calculator at www.Broadbandchoices.co.uk to compare broadband deals and find a more suitable package for you.