SMALLER Internet service providers (ISPs) are upset over being left out of official broadband tests, once again.

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is expanding an existing study that compares local ISPs' download speeds but the study will cover only SingTel, StarHub and M1, and leave out smaller players like Viewqwest, MyRepublic and SuperInternet, according to tender documents seen by The Straits Times.

The IDA is looking for a broadband speed measurement firm to recruit at least 1,000 volunteers here for the next phase of the study starting in May. This is an increase from the 800 volunteers today.

As with the current study, which has been running since last May, probes will be plugged in the modems and routers of the volunteers to glean data like Web surfing speed and lag.

The results of the ongoing study have been published by IDA on its website to give consumers an objective performance comparison for broadband services.

But smaller ISPs - Viewqwest, MyRepublic and SuperInternet - are missing from IDA's reports.

IDA publishes only the performance of established players SingTel, StarHub and M1, as its contractor, British-based firm SamKnows, had installed test servers only in the data centres of the three big service providers.

Based on the current tender requirements for the expanded study, it looks like the smaller boys will continue to be excluded from the study.