Switching to BT FTTP only product & waiving Early Termination charges query

[#1]

My original plan was to wait until after Plusnet's upcoming price rises, and then consider upgrading to Plusnet FTTP in April/May.

However, I was browsing BT's website and their current offer of 500mb FTTP for £30.99 with no price rises until March 2024 caught my attention. (Apparently, all new and renewed BT contracts commencing after 1st March 2023 will not be subjected to 31st March 2023 price rise).  I'm assuming this offer is open to existing Plusnet customers.

I recall Plusnet waive early termination fees for customers who wished to upgrade to BT or EE FTTP when they required VoIP (Digital Voice).  Does this waiver apply to customers who just wish to move to BT FTTP-only products?

On a similar note, why have most ISPs stopped selling 330mb FTTP ?

Is it simply lack of demand?

[#2]

"On a similar note, why have most ISPs stopped selling 330mb FTTP ?"

BT Wholesale's checker says that I can get 330/50Mbps "FTTP on Demand". There is only CityFibre FTTP around here - no Openreach yet.

I am about 50 metres from "our" cabinet, which I know has G.fast capability. ISTR G.fast currently has a max speed of 330?

I was wondering if "FTTP on Demand" is really G.fast?

[#3]

@Mr_Paul  FTTP on demand is nothing to do with G.Fast, it is FTTP but provided as a custom installation to your premises if there is no local FTTP infrastructure. So it is ridiculously expensive, £8000 as a typical minimum installation price which could be much higher and very high monthly charges. Only a few ISPs offer it.

[#4]

@RealAleMadrid 

Thanks for confirming that.

But why is FTTP "on Demand" restricted to only 330 max download? If I was paying £8000 I would expect Gigabit speeds as a minimum?

[#5]

@Mr_Paul I suspect that the 330Mb download is probably an out of date value that was the maximum years ago and has not been updated. There are only a few areas on old equipment that are still limited to 330Mb.

I have read that when FTTP WBC ( that is Openreach FTTP infrastructure that Plusnet use) is activated in an area the checker changes to 1000Mb.

[#6]

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@bill888 wrote:

On a similar note, why have most ISPs stopped selling 330mb FTTP ?

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They haven't; it's regulation that causes ISP's to advertise lower speeds than what the product is capable of. In practice, most are probably provisioning on 330/50, but advertising at ~300mbps. Similar to how the 1000/115 service is marketed at 900mbps (I can get 940mbps through my 900mbps service).

@Mr_Paul wrote:

But why is FTTP "on Demand" restricted to only 330 max download? If I was paying £8000 I would expect Gigabit speeds as a minimum?

Could be due to the headend/exchange architecture. It might not be built to provide gigabit services yet. When I first moved into my current house, I was limited to 330/50 FTTP. I assume something out in the network was upgraded at a later date which made the 1000/115 product available.

[#7]

For anyone following this thread, I called 0800 013 2632, choosing the 'leaving' options in the phone menu.  The young lady confirmed they would waive the early termination fees if I wished to upgrade from Plusnet FTTC and switch to BT FTTP without Digital Voice, because Plusnet are part of same group.

She did offer to see what deals were available on Plusnet FTTP at the moment, but admitted it would be subject to upcoming price rise.

I didn't progress any further, as I have to weigh up the pros and cons of switching to BT, provided they can offer this deal to me. 

Apparently this £30.99 BT 500mb FTTP offer is also area-specific if other readers can't get this price when they look on BT website.  See Hotukdeals for more details of this BT offer.

[#8]

@bill888 

Remember if you want Plusnet to waive the ETC charge then I believe that you need to organise it through the COT, you can't just indepenently sign up to a BT special offer. Whether the £30.99 deal is available if you go this route.....?

[#9]

@Baldrick1    yes, i'm aware COT has to organise it, but I presume it is the BT agent I am put through to that sets the price, not Plusnet COT agent?  (I recall a year ago COT agent suggested putting me through to BT if I wanted FTTP)

Yes, I'm aware the BT agent could say they can't offer the deals listed on their website too.