Broadband min/max/guaranteed speeds

[#1]

My contract is up for renewal very soon.  Assuming I decide to renew (possibly in doubt given the complete lack of support when all my emails irretrievably disappeared a while back) I have 2 options:

Landline free fibre:

• 38 - 40Mb estimated download speed

• 29.2Mb minimum guaranteed speed

Unlimited fibre extra (with landline, this is what I currently have):

• 39 - 44Mb estimated download speed

• 35.7Mb minimum guaranteed speed

Why does having a landline give me a higher minimum guaranteed speed?  I don’t really need a landline these days but  that is a significant difference.

[#2]

@MikeBz Presumably, the second set of figures is from your current contract?

I have a feeling (no concrete evidence) that the later/upgrade speed offers are being 'massaged' to incentivise the movement to FTTP (where available).

What does https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL give as your achievable speeds/connection options?

Please attach the result to your reply, rather than inserting as a picture, and don't forget to remove any personal data.

[#3]

The figures I quoted are what I see when I log in to my account and select each of the the renewal options available. When I said “this is what I currently have” I meant that it would be a straight renewal of my current service.

Here is the result:

Featured Products	Downstream Line Rate(Mbps)		Upstream Line Rate (Mbps)		Downstream Handback Threshold(Mbps)	WBC FTTC Availability	WBC SOGEA Availability	Left in Jumper
	High	Low	High	Low
VDSL Range A (Clean)	71	49	15.6	10	44	Unavailable	Available	--
VDSL Range B (Impacted)	69	44	15.3	8.5	35	Unavailable	Available	--
G.fast Range A (Clean)	--	--	--	--	--	Unavailable	--	--
G.fast Range B (Impacted)	--	--	--	--	--	Unavailable	--	--

Featured Products	Downstream Line Rate(Mbps)	Upstream Line Rate (Mbps)	Downstream Range (Mbps)	Availability Date	FTTP Install Process
FTTP on Demand	330	50	--	Available	--

Observed Speeds	VDSL
Max Observed Downstream Speed	49
Max Observed Upstream Speed	9.9
Observed Date	2025-02-05

Other Offerings	Availability Date

Premise Environment	Status
Bridge Tap	N
VRI	N
NTE FacePlate	N
Last Test Date	01-10-2025

Exchange Product Restrictions	Status
FTTP Priority Exchange	N
WLR Withdrawal	Y
SOADSL Restriction	Y

FTTP is not available.

The exchange is not in a current fibre priority programme

[#4]

OK. Bearing in mind my suspicions, and looking at that data, if you moved to SoGEA, you should expect something in the low to mid 60's - SoGEA runs 'as 'fast as possible' - it is not restricted as PN's 'Fibre' 40/10 or 'Fibre Extra' 80/20 offerings were. 

[#5]

@jab1 

Supposedly as fast as possible up to 80/20 (or the advertising permitted figures).

@MikeBz 

The as is service figure will be based on what your line is presently performing at stats.

I suspect that the SoGEA is based on some other assessment for a new product.  Given that your line is barely above 40mbps there is some evidence that SoGEA is being provisioned 'economically' at the 'grey-zone'.  It might thus be a fair conclusion that the SoGEA quote is based on a 40/10 provisioning as it's max is reported to be 40mbps.  In this scenario, I would consult with COTS...

Contact Customer Options Team (aka COTS)

COTs is the place to go to if you want to find out anything to do with your contract in respect of leaving, renewing or simply enquiring about early termination charges (ETCs). They have their own number and tend to answer quicker than the general customer service number.

Call this number 0800 432 0080 and press 2 and it takes you straight to a Sales/COT advisor. You get two simple options of 'are you an existing member' or 'are you new'.

Open

• 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday
• 9am - 7pm Saturday
• 9am - 6pm Sunday

[#6]

@jab1 

Supposedly as fast as possible up to 80/20 (or the advertising permitted figures).

Agreed, @Townman , but my observation that the OP could - conceivably - achieve more, was based on the figures in that extract from the BT/OR data.

If I have misread something,  I apologise, and will withdraw.

[#7]

Hi John,

No, you have not misread anything.  Your comments are on the face of it correct.  The product positioning is "as fast as your line will go" and there was a firm suggestion that ALL FTTC / SoGEA services were being provisioned on 80/20 regardless.

There is though empirical evidence that at the margin and way below 40mbps capability, lines are still being provisioned on 40/10.  We have seen renewals in the margin (twilight zone) doing 42 - 44 mbps pre-contract change doing only 39mbps post contract change.

That profile seems to match the product performance figures shown by the OP - the new product looks like a 40/10 provision base.  Hence the recommendation to talk to COTS.

[#8]

Fair enough, @Townman .

[#9]

Thanks @jab1 and @Townman .   Mostly I was curious as to why retaining my landline promises an almost 20% higher minimum guaranteed speed.  That’s doesn’t seem to make sense.  And to add further confusion if I pretend to be a new customer at my existing address I’m offered only one option (no phone line obviously) which is superior in speed to both of the existing customer offerings:

44 - 64Mb estimated download speed

40Mb minimum guaranteed speed

Looks like I will have to call and talk to them.

I hadn’t heard of  SoGEA but it appears to just mean FTTC and no phone line?  Some providers (eg Zen) offer what they call a “SoGEA Business” contract.

The other option is to go elsewhere.  BeFibre is available and they are pushing hard but I’ve heard horror stories of bodged physical installations (damage to property) and non-existent service for weeks with no support.  I don’t need mega fast speeds although symmetrical speed would be useful as I work from home and upload to my employer’s server from time to time. 

[#10]

Hi Mike,

Yes - SoGEA is the technical name for FTTC without a voice service.

For some odd reason I suspect that some bit of the product selection process / journey is opting for the 40/10 product, not 80/20 provision.

Woking from home - that is a grey zone, watch the T&Cs

COTS are the best place for advice and a keen deal.

[#11]

@MikeBz That does not make sense - to me, but there again, much of the BT Group information doesn't. Having said that, I'll leave to @Townman  to make sense of, as I  have given trying to follow said 'information'.

[#12]

@jab1 / @MikeBz 

It does not make sense, unless one squints.  I have raised a (non-specific) query about the process - these figures should be the same, it is the same circuit.

[#13]

@MikeBz 

I've had these apparent reduced MGS on my journey on part Fibre; importantly on renewal the achieved speeds stayed the same.

The BT wholesale checker indicates the observed speeds of 49 down and 9.9 up I would expect your router would mirror those readings.

The MGS is only important when you have a fault.

If you are not using your landline phone, use the master socket and remove any redundant  phone extension from it (the master socket).