Need help choosing ISP based on exchange

Robi

Robi

Robi

Soldato
Joined
14 Apr 2007
Posts
3,466
In the next couple of weeks I'm moving into my first home, but after hours of research I'm still not completely set on which ISP to go with.

Exchange information below:

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Unfortunately no FTTP just yet, however after looking through the Openreach Full Fibre build programme I can see that my exchange is currently in progress:

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No idea when it'll go live and then available to order, but maybe in the next 12 months?

Regardless, I'm stuck with FTTC in the short-term until we can upgrade to FTTP in the near future (Virgin Media also unavailable).

I've looked at:

Zen Unlimited Fibre 2 - 40-67down/11 up - £34.99/m - 12 month contract
Sky Superfast - 41-61 down/10-16 up - £26/m - 18 month contract
Plusnet - 41-60 down/9-15 up - £24.99/m - 18 month contract (comes with £60 reward card)

Fortunately I have access to friends & family at Sky which means I can get Sky Signature TV + Superfast for £37. Not particularly fussed about TV but for near enough the same price as Zen, it looks like good value?

I was originally swaying towards Zen due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback, 12 month contract, UK call centres, static IP as standard and the router being of higher quality than what Sky etc provide. However, after seeing that Zen are not LLU enabled at my exchange, it's thrown a spanner in the mix and I'm not sure what to do.

I would rather not get tied into a 24 month contract due to FTTP on the horizon, so anything longer than 18 months would need serious justification.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
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Ignore all the information on Samknows as it's out of date and ignore LLU because it's not relevant for FTTC/FTTP products.

Also an Openreach plan to build in your exchange area doesn't mean that everywhere connected to that exchange will get FTTP. Use the checker on openreach.com to find out if you're likely to get FTTP soon.
 
It doesn’t really matter who you go with, if your due to get FTTP imminently and you plan on jumping on it as soon as it is available then I would avoid plusnet as they don’t offer it yet. Not sure where Sky fits in to that.

All the ISP’s basically offer the same package and there is little to differentiate them other than price. Ignore the speeds quoted, you’ll get the same speed regardless of what ISP you pick. Vodafone probably has the worst back end and everyone else is ‘fine’. It’s more difficult to use your own equipment with Sky but not impossible. Lots of people recommend Zen but I just don’t recognise what value they are adding for that extra £10/month to the same Openreach product they are reselling. I get their support is rated better but I’ve never, ever, had to contact my ISP for support and the vast majority never do or will.

I’d be concentrating on finding a supplier that will let you upgrade to FTTP during your FTTC contract if your expecting FTTP shortly and that is something you want to do. Otherwise just buy which ever of the main providers is cheapest, those being BT, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk etc. after factoring in Quidco cash back. Job jobbed.
 
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I was originally going to pick Zen, but when factoring in the cheaper monthly price, zero setup cost, £60 reward card and £60 cashback, Plusnet works out to be £219.99 cheaper over 12 months. This is a huge difference which would be silly to ignore. An extra fiver gets me a static IP too.

Any Plusnet users able to send me a referral via Trust?

https://www.plus.net/perks/recommend-a-friend/

Also any recommendations for replacing the Plusnet router?
 
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