topic Re: Market Area Anomaly in Plusnet Feedback

Market Area Anomaly

painterpete — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 10:22:21 GMT

I live in an area that has 2 LLU operators available but is currently ranked Market A. Consequently I pay the premium rate for my broadband. The exchange is Weston, Stafford.

I know people who live in a village where there are no LLU operators but the exchange has been changed to Market C. Consequently their monthly bill has been reduced accordingly.

Can any-one explain why I am being penalised?

Re: Market Area Anomaly

MasterOfReality — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:52:30 GMT

HI @painterpete

Market A covers just under 10% of the UK population. Broadband will typically be more expensive. Market B covers the rest of the UK - just over 90%. Prices are cheaper than Market A, there's more choice of providers available.

Most broadband providers, (including ourselves), share the same basic infrastructure which is owned and maintained by Openreach. Each pay to use this network, but (usually) has their own technology in telephone exchanges.

If a provider has their technology in an area, it means that better services can be offered, and, importantly, it works out cheaper for both them and the customer.

Unfortunately, that's not the case in parts of the UK with low populations, challenging or irregular local geography, or limited commercial potential. These things all make it less straight froward for companies to set up their technology.

The only mention of Market C I have ever heard of is in relation to the Hull Area, where there is the only one significant provider covering (roughly) 0.7% of UK premises (If anyone has any more information on this please do not hesitate to share as I would be very interested in reading this).

Whilst I do understand the frustration Market Areas can cause, i'm afraid that there is little that can be done in regards to them, as it is not down to the ISP when it comes to which postcodes fall under which Market Area.

I hope this has given you some form of useful information.

- Alisdair

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Baldrick1 — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:44:24 GMT

@MasterOfReality

I think that if you read @painterpete post again you will find that you have missed the point. If you read this https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2018/05/isp-plusnet-expand-uk-low-cost-areas-to-more-broadband-users.html then you will note that some rural areas are being changed to Market B (not C). As I read it he is asking if anyone can explain why his exchange has been left out.

I understand that this may be down to Ofcom, alternatively his exchange might have been overlooked by Plusnet when the regrading was undertaken.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Gandalf — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 17:01:07 GMT

The reclassification of some exchanges from Market A to Market B is an industry-wide endeavour.

This doesn't mean that every Market A exchange will now be Market B.

For an area to classify as Market B, it must have three or more providers present (or forecast to be present).

With that said I've gone to the project owner to find out if Weston has been reclassified. If so then we can adjust your account accordingly.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

jelv — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 20:25:46 GMT

Could someone explain why someone on FTTC on a Market A exchange pays more when the cabinet is not connected to the local exchange but is connected to a head exchange which is Market B?

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Baldrick1 — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 20:44:17 GMT

I suspect that this is the anomaly that is being rectified by the recent reclassification for many customers.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Gandalf — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 07:48:50 GMT

@jelv do you have an example?

Re: Market Area Anomaly

painterpete — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 10:28:56 GMT

Thank you Gandalf, I look forward to hearing the result of your investigation. Painter Pete

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Gandalf — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 10:49:44 GMT

@painterpete I received a response about an hour ago advising that as it stands your exchange is staying as Market A but this may change.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

jelv — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:39:13 GMT

I tried starting an order on my own number - but it is being silly and saying I already have Plusnet broadband when I left 18 months ago so I can't check properly.

Mere is currently Market A but the FTTC comes from the Shaftesbury head exchange which is market B.

Do you think I am in a low cost area?

Re: Market Area Anomaly

painterpete — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:26:20 GMT

thank you Baldrick, you have hit the nail on the head

Re: Market Area Anomaly

painterpete — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:31:09 GMT

that is what I had heard and in that particular case it appeared that the impetus did not come from competitive activity.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

painterpete — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:34:59 GMT

Thank you Gandalf. I will let it rest there and patiently await some future decision. Painter Pete.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Gandalf — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:55:56 GMT

No problems Pete, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that things change.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

ejs — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:58:40 GMT

@jelv wrote:

Could someone explain why someone on FTTC on a Market A exchange pays more when the cabinet is not connected to the local exchange but is connected to a head exchange which is Market B?

This is the wrong question to ask, there aren't any different wholesale prices for FTTC between Market A and B. The local exchange and head exchange market classifications make no difference.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Gandalf — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:31:32 GMT

@jelv it looks like your telephone number was still listed as the CLI on your downgraded account.

Without making any changes to your stored contact details, I've removed your number as the CLI, so you should now be able to use the broadband availability checker on our site normally.

With regards to whether you're in a low cost area, I believe that the market area cost would be worked out from the exchange your line is connected to which in your case is Mere.

However, I've gone back to the project owner to clarify and I'll post back shortly.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

jelv — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 23:00:12 GMT

Any update?

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Gandalf — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 14:00:33 GMT

Apologies for the delayed response @jelv

I haven't received a reply back yet so I've sent another email off, and I'll be sure to come back here when I know more.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

Baldrick1 — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 13:56:24 GMT

@painterpete wrote:

I live in an area that has 2 LLU operators available but is currently ranked Market A. Consequently I pay the premium rate for my broadband. The exchange is Weston, Stafford.

I know people who live in a village where there are no LLU operators but the exchange has been changed to Market C. Consequently their monthly bill has been reduced accordingly.

Can any-one explain why I am being penalised?

The promised reclassification came out on the 31st July. See here https://community.plus.net/t5/Fibre-Broadband/Am-I-now-Low-Cost-or-not/m-p/1558962#M79990. If you look at Annex 1 of the linked report you will find that your exchange (WMWES) is now listed as Market B, hence now in a low cost area.

As a result you should see a price reduction in the near future. It will be interesting to see how long it takes Plusnet to respond.

Re: Market Area Anomaly

painterpete — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 12:50:06 GMT

@Baldrick1,

Thanks, I will let you know when Plusnet advise me of the price cut.