USO - how is 10Mbps defined?

Some weird results on the Boostyourbroadband speed checker made me wonder how 10Mbps will be defined for the USO?

Browsing Ofcom, they say that the criteria is a "download sync speed of at least 10 megabits per second". This seems to be sensible as an infrastructure-based metric, independent of any particular ISPs upstream capacity.

But if i'm reading this right, doesn't it raise an expectations issue - people who can only get ISPs to quote for a guaranteed speed of, say, 8Mbps who expect to get action under the USO - only to be told, sorry, your synch speed is 10.6 Mbps?

Don't forget the 1 Mbps upload sync speed requirement too.

But yes, as its sync based where as the guarantee uses sync plus an allowance for peak time, it will lead to confusion for some.

How providers handle the cases like you suggest of just over USO will depend a lot on how USO is delivered, if USO is just a 4G router you pay for then of little worry. BUT if looking at paid upgrade to fixed line then it may become an issue.

In theory should know more once the Ofcom USO stuff appears later this year, but suspect it will be vague enough that it will be a case in reality of seeing how BT and KCOM handle things.

Sadly there will be some who are below the USO threshold that won't bother to register because the only option open to them will be a satellite solution which will have a higher cost and high latency.