Broadband News

BT Broadband - 20Mb broadband speed upgrade

Millions of homes and businesses across the UK are set to benefit from a free broadband boost from BT, the ISP has announced.

Wednesday, 03 June 2009 Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

Customers will see headline rates more than double to speeds of up to 20Mb, said BT Broadband (www.BT.com), with business customers benefiting from today.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive officer, BT Retail said: “Unlike other providers, BT is upgrading customers to 20Mb for free. High-speed broadband provides a faster and more reliable service that will transform the way we live, work, learn and play.

“We believe the true value of broadband is in helping customers enjoy the exciting new services that it makes possible. In line with the Government’s Digital Britain review, we will be making higher speeds more widely available.”

The new, faster download speeds will be subject to availability, with around 10 million homes and businesses initially covered. BT said that it would extend coverage to around 55 per cent by March 2010 if there was enough demand.

However, existing customers will have to recontract in order to get the new speeds, said BT.

The new service will be available to home broadband users from early summer, meaning that BT customers will be able to get speeds of up to 20Mb from just £7.78 a month for the first three months, £15.65 thereafter.

BT said that it had found that “one of the major causes of slower broadband speeds lies in customers’ home wiring”, adding that it would be offering the BT Broadband Accelerator - also known as an iPlate - for free to help improve customers’ broadband speeds, where needed.

The BT Broadband Accelerator eliminates electrical interference from telephone-extension wiring, and can improve broadband speeds and reliability.

Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, welcomed the announcement. “This move will put pressure on BT’s rivals,” he said. “Although this won’t be the cheapest package in its speed bracket after the introductory offer has expired, BT’s strong brand and large customer base will certainly bring more competition to the superfast broadband market.

“Existing customers looking to take advantage of this free speed boost should be aware of the limited coverage - only around 40 per cent of homes and businesses will be covered at launch - and the fact that they will have to sign a new contract with BT in order to qualify for the upgrade,” he said.

Click here to read more about BT Broadband 20Mb broadband

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