Business Broadband Speed vs Mobile Connection

[#1]

Hi all

I have a conundrum which I am interested to hear peoples thoughts on along with any PlusNet staff thoughts

We have a business broadband connection which has run for just over 12 months, so 12 months left to run

When we ordered the broadband from PlusNet the indicated min speed was - Minimum Guaranteed Speed: 13.7Mb

Very soon after the connection was completed this speed was modified to - 7.9mbs (yes its true in this day and age!). I made a big fuss and asked for Open Reach to visit but unfortunately got nowhere. While upset we were told that it could only get better and to wait and see.

Well we have waited for 12 months and the speed is still as bad

Now here is what I have discovered - I have been testing speeds using a mobile wifi router and the speed is a whole lot better than the landline connection. I have tested using EE and O2 so have a choice. Unfortunately Virgin fibre does not serve the area we are in. Unlimited data cost is £21 over the year with Lyca (O2) or £24.50 month over two years with EE, BOTH these prices are less than we are currently paying for the Plusnet landline connection which is almost unusable! 

My question is two fold -

Bearing in mind that PlusNet are pulling out of the Business broadband supply and that although we have tried to stick with the service in the hope it improves, it is still lower than we were told when placing the order. Would we have a case for cancelling?

Or do PlusNet run a sim only unlimited data service which we could move to (probably unlikely but worth asking)

I am interested in hearing thoughts

Thanks  

1.  

[#2]

What are your actual speeds over the PN connection, which product are you signed up to, and what does https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL show? A screenshot of the result, obscuring your phone number is needed.

[#3]

Unfortunately I am not at the business at the moment so cannot look at the router for current speed. But in our Plusnet account is says -

• Product:  Unlimited Business Fibre Broadband and phone (Contracted)
• Estimated Download Range:  8 - 9Mbps
• Estimated Upload Range:  0.4 - 0.5Mbps
• Minimum Guaranteed Speed:  7.9Mbps
• Current Line Speed (Download):  9.3Mbps

When placing the order we were told -

At peak times, we estimate that you'll get the following speeds on your line:
Download: 16 - 24Mb
Upload: 2.5 - 4Mb
Minimum Guaranteed Speed: 13.7Mb

See attachment as requested

Thanks

[#4]

@ChrisM3 

The bottom line as I understand it is that if your contract states a MGALS of 13.7Mbps then regardless of what you have since been told, if your sync speed is below 13.7Mbps a month after you have reported a speed fault then Plusnet will release you from your contract penalty free.

 It could be that you have a fixable problem that just hasn't been properly addressed. Due to the time that has elapsed then I suggest that you start again, go through the checks suggested by @jab1 to give us better visibility of your issue.

[#5]

Oh dear, you must be a long way from the Fibre cab - those speeds are terrible, and the last OR test is a little bit old. You may well find a 4G connection gives you slightly higher speeds.

[#6]

This is my understanding BUT a week or so after we were connected my account changed from the speeds on the order (and initial speeds in my account) to -

• Product:  Unlimited Business Fibre Broadband and phone (Contracted)
• Estimated Download Range:  8 - 9Mbps
• Estimated Upload Range:  0.4 - 0.5Mbps
• Minimum Guaranteed Speed:  7.9Mbps
• Current Line Speed (Download):  9.3Mbps

I argued at the time that this was not acceptable and was talked into going with the speeds we had (of course I wish now that I had considered mobile wifi).

[#7]

Yes I have been testing 4g and its a whole lot faster but this is the reason for my posting now, I want to find out the chance of either cancelling or moving to 4g with PlusNet (not sure there is an unlimited mobile plan with PlusNet)

Thanks

[#8]

@ChrisM3 

Your last reply crossed with my post. I suggest that you report a fault and if Plusnet tell you again that they cannot supply the MGALS in your contract that you ask to be released from the contract due to Openreach being unable to supply what you ordered. https://www.plus.net/help/report-a-problem/broadband/#broadband

Edit, this is moving very fast, have you got the original email sent to you when you first signed up? There should also be a closed ticket in your account with these details.

[#9]

Thanks although at the time I made a big fuss and actually met Open Reach on site who were there for a couple of hours investigating whether anything could be done 😞

[#10]

Thanks I will get the fault reporting under way straight away

Thank You

[#11]

PN do not offer 4G as an option. As @Baldrick1 says, despite what you have been told, the initial contract guarantee hold, and you were advided wrongly.

[#12]

Thank you. I have been kicking myself that I did not investigate other options once the speed issue arose, and I let them talk me into staying with the contract.

I will get onto raising a fault again now and see how it runs

[#13]

I don't understand why more people don't go down the mobile route will be even better when the 5G goes to more places 

A friend of mine who moved into a new house with no landline had a mobile Broadband deal with Three where they lived there was a very good Three signal picked up a box from the Three shop all working the same day and he takes it on holiday 

When I go on holiday to the caravan I use the hotspot on my phone and cannot tell any difference between the wired connection at home and the mobile broadband I don't play games

USwitch have some very special deals on U/L data and cheap boxes on EBay 

Good luck just go for it most are on 30 day deals so you can see/try what you can get 

[#14]

Yeh I just don't understand why I have not thought of it before. I have been testing with a basic 4g dongle over the last few days and even with just a basic Huwaei dongle the speed is hugely faster than the disaster which is landline.

I just have to get the landline cancelled and have started that process after advice given here today. PlusNet have admitted that I am not getting the guaranteed speed in the initial contract, but they still want Open Reach to try again (despite two attempts in the month after the service was installed). I just plan to let it run its course and then cancel out of contract due to them not supplying the promised speed. 

Interestingly monthly cost is almost the same so that's good

Chris

[#15]

Lebara  ( Vodafone )  do some good U/L data deals with discounts for three months via USwitch with no  stupid price increases every March price increases on top of last years price increase like a snowball getting bigger  

I find the Vodafone signal better that EE but depends where you live and the PN is not as good as EE