topic Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology in Broadband

Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

craigcc — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:03:40 GMT

Hi All,

I just received an email inviting me to upgrade from my current "Unlimited Fibre" package to the new "Fibre" package. This upgrade would result in the loss of my landline number. Additionally, the wording of the new package suggests that my current unlimited data plan might also be removed, as the term "unlimited" has been omitted.

The website is currently experiencing technical difficulties, and the FAQ section addressing "Is this package still unlimited data?" is missing. If the unlimited data aspect is indeed being removed, there's no mention of a fair usage policy or any other relevant details. It's possible that a marketing team member, perhaps after a particularly creative brainstorming session, has decided to play a bit of a trick on us with the new package names.

To clarify:

Is the new "Fibre" package truly unlimited, just like the previous one?
Are there any other changes beyond the loss of the landline number?

Many Thanks (and appreciate all of you who take the time to clarify all these issues via a peer forum!),

Craig

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

jab1 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:24:25 GMT

The new 'Fibre' package is so termed, I suspect as it is merely internet over the FTTC connection rather than a combined phone/internet one - not brilliant terminology, I agree, for the average man in the street,

There are no changes to the unlimited data, and, if you are currently on the slower 40/10 'Unlimited Fibre' package, and your connection can support it, there is the 'bonus' that that cap is removed, so your speed may improve - but we would need to see the full data from here: https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL to confirm. Please obscure your phone number if you post a screenshot.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

craigcc — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:27:30 GMT

Just to clarify,

We currently have the Unlimited Broadband package with part fibre, so fibre to the cabinet and copper from cabinet to home. That is all they offer in area currently. Its fast enough and so far PlusNet have been brilliant. It was just impossible to get through to call centre of last few days.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

bmc — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:28:59 GMT

@craigcc

I assume the loss of your landline / phone service doesn't concern you. I also assume the email said Fibre and not Full Fibre

As far as I'm aware PN have only offer unlimited products for a good long period.

From memory Unlimited Fibre is an 80/20 product as is "Fibre". The only difference is they are moving you only an OpenReach product called SOGEA which is internet without a phone service.

Brian

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

craigcc — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:29:12 GMT

Sorry cross posted Jab2, Ill take a look. Thanks very much.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

craigcc — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:44:00 GMT

Hi John and Brian,

I've posted the results of the broadband availability checker. If FTTP is not available, does that mean Ill experience similar speeds please. Thanks again for the guidance. I was most worried about losing unlimited data, the landline is just a romantic thing, the whole family can rattle it off but no one ever uses it :-). thanks

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

jab1 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:49:10 GMT

@craigcc It looks like you have a long copper 'last mile', so you might see a slight increase in speed if you change to the 'Fibre' package - without phone, but until we know what you currently get, and your lines capabilities, we can't say.

Which modem/router do you have?

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

Townman — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:32:07 GMT

Unlimited Fibre is 40/10.
Unlimited Fibre Extra is 80/20.
Fibre is as fast as your line can go.

For the time being it is possible to re contract for the same product and retain the landline service. Any change to the product will entail a switch to SOGEA (FTTC without phone).

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

pvmb — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:12:01 GMT

...Is the above really true? If so it is mega confusing!

Might I suggest the following. While not sounding as glamorous, it would make a lot more sense, IMO:

Limited Fibre - 40/10
Unlimited Fibre - 80/20
Full Fibre - Something else entirely (FTTP)

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

RealAleMadrid — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:31:59 GMT

@pvmb You have to realise that Plusnet is economical with the truth, their Fibre product is NOT FTTP but FTTC with no phone service (SOGEA) In Plusnet's world Full Fibre is FTTP

Also both the 40/10 and 80/20 FTTC products have unlimited data usage but they are only available if you are already on them and want to re-contract, I think.🤔 There may be some exceptions depending on the exchange where a 40/10 FTTC service may be ordered.

Clear as mud isn't it.🙄

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:08:52 GMT

It is unfair to point the finger at plusnet for the naming of their products.

For example

Zen offer Unlimited Fibre 1 (40/10) and Unlimited Fibre 2 (80/20)

Vodafone call their packages Fibre 1 and Fibre 2

Like plusnet they state this is 'part Fibre'

For both Zen and Vodafone make it clear you are ordering Full Fibre

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

Townman — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:56:42 GMT

Not really economically with the truth at all.

Prior to FULL fibre being a common place reality, FTTC has always been called “fibre” as a distinction from ADSL which is FULL COPPER.

Unlimited Fibre and Unlimited Fibre Extra speed differentiated products have simply been relabelled “Fibre” (as fast as your line can go).

FTTH has always gone under the label FULL fibre.

I think it’s more a matter of there being an economy in understanding - the differences are explained well on the products page. Making information available is one thing, but it being read is something else - akin to horses and water.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

bmc — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:29:22 GMT

@craigcc

From posts above, I appear to have got an earlier comment wrong. Unlimited Fibre is 40/10 not 80/20 as I thought.

FTTC on SOGEA is 80/20 so if your line supports it you'll see an increase in speed if you change.

Brian

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

jab1 — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:32:21 GMT

@bmc wrote:

@craigcc

FTTC on SOGEA is 80/20 so if your line supports it you'll see an increase in speed if you change.

Brian

It doesn't - see an earlier post.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

pvmb — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:37:13 GMT

WRT Confusing BB Terminology

The problem seems to me to have arisen with the newer BB products since ADSL. It is not just a Plusnet issue.

ADSL BB was generally called and known as ADSL. Then there was ADSL2+.

Then came VDSL (FTTC), but that is where things went 'wrong'. Instead of the product being generally known and marketed as VDSL it was given some product name, incorporating the name "fibre", presumably for promotion/marketing purposes.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

Townman — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:40:31 GMT

Brian,

There seems to be devil in the details around FIBRE product provisioning. Though the offer is “as fast as your line can go” and the pervious suggestions that “all lines are provisioned on 80/20” there has been empirical evidence that lines below and near 40mbps have been provisioned on 40/10.

Clearly that practice delivers economic benefits which still deliver the “go as fast as your line can” offer. We have seen users on the margin finding capping in the low 40+mbps range.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

pvmb — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:41:27 GMT

@bmc wrote:

@craigcc

From posts above, I appear to have got an earlier comment wrong. Unlimited Fibre is 40/10 not 80/20 as I thought.

Are you sure?

So limited VDSL (40/10) is called Unlimited Fibre and unlimited VDSL (80/20) is not. This is worse than I thought! 🤣

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

jab1 — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:42:14 GMT

Easy enough if they had stuck with the FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet) and FTTP (Fibre To The Premises)/FTTH (Fibre To The Home) designations, which I still use.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

Townman — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:44:45 GMT

@pvmb

You need to get the right semantics. “Unlimited” does not refer to speed, but data consumption volumes. That is the product is not limited to N GB per month similar to those on mobile services.

Re: Upgraded to our New Fibre package - Confusing terminology

pvmb — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:56:42 GMT

@Townman

Actually, that is what I thought. But you can see how it introduces confusions since there is no apparent describer of the line speed. Which, I would have thought is the thing of main immediate interest to most users. What they anchor on.

Also, if Limited/Unlimited applies to data use, that only introduces more questions. If it is "Limited", how is it limited, quantitatively - I have no idea.