Contention ratio refers to how many other subscribers share the network connection between you and the exchange. Contention is a feature of ADSL broadband. So a contention ratio of, say, 50:1 this means that 50 subscribers share that bandwidth. The more subscribers sharing the bandwidth then the slower your connection will be. 50:1 is common for a residential package although business packages often have lower contention ratios, eg of 20:1 or even 10:1. This is because it is more important for a business to have a robust, reliable and fast broadband service.
Not all broadband providers and ISPs advertise their contention ratios.
By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder
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The Broadband Glossary 
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