PlusNet drops fibre upload speeds to only 2Mbits/sec
Cost-cutting exercise sees PlusNet vastly reduce fibre upload speeds
BT-owned PlusNet has cut the upload speed of its “Unlimited Fibre” package by almost ten times, dropping rates from up to 19.5Mbits/sec to just 2Mbits/sec. The move is a cost-cutting measure, according to PlusNet staff.
The massive drop in speed only affects new customers signing up for PlusNet’s entry-level fibre package. Faster upload speeds was one of the chief benefits of moving to fibre broadband, but PlusNet’s new package sees speeds reduced to ADSL levels.
If customers want faster uploads, they will have to upgrade to Unlimited Fibre Extra, which doubles the download speed to up to 76Mbits/sec and retains the 19.5Mbits/sec upload speed. Extra is priced at £20 per month (excluding line rental), whilst the regular Unlimited package is priced at £15 per month.
The move has understandably caused consternation on the PlusNet forums, with customers threatening to cancel their contracts if the new upload speed is applied to their connection. PlusNet staff insist the 2Mbits/sec limit is only applicable to new customers, although admit that customers will be dropped to the reduced speed if they move house.
When one PlusNet customer intimated that the cut in speed was part of a “massive cost-cutting exercise”, a member of PlusNet staff replies: “To be blunt about it, yes, that’s the likely reason”. The PlusNet staff member goes onto suggest that customers may be offered the 10 or even 19.5Mbits/sec uploads if they threaten to leave.
PlusNet had the option to drop the download speed to 10Mbits/sec, but chose to go for the cheapest possible option on offer from BT Openreach, a separate arm of the ISP’s parent company, BT Retail.