Very inconsistent video streaming results with VM

This post is on behalf of a friend who has recently switched to VM cable. He switched to improve his ability to watch streamed video, but gets very inconsistent results with both BBC i-player and YouTube.

He used the BBC i-player speed diagnostic tool last night about 6pm and got these results:

Download Speed: 31781 kbps
Streaming Speed (1): 7327kbps
Streaming Speed (2): 14161kbps
Streaming Speed (3): 15545kbps
Your Connection: 12334kbps

He then repeated the test at 8pm and got:

Download Speed: 14829 kbps
Streaming Speed (1): 3145kbps
Streaming Speed (2): 1226kbps
Streaming Speed (3): 0kbps
Your Connection: 1457kbps

That's terrible! Why is there such a disparity in download and streaming figures in the 8pm test? BTW he is on the supposedly non-traffic shaped XXL package. Is this normal? Thanks.

I'm guessing no one has any idea!

Congested UBR is most likely the answer, it's very common.

Thanks. UBR?

Universal broadband router (?) instead of an exchange afaik. The more users the more congestion.

In reply to a post by J_Walsh:

Universal broadband router (?) instead of an exchange afaik. The more users the more congestion.

This

Thanks for the replies, it looks as though this was a VM local area fault, and now seems to have been fixed.

YouTube bandwidth on VirginMedia cable has has been dire for a few weeks. This seems to be generally affecting the South East and the problem has existed for at least 3 weeks.