Speculation over BT broadband price cut

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

NEWS
Comments made by a senior BT executive on Tuesday have sparked speculation that the telco could soon reduce the cost of its wholesale ADSL products. Speaking at BT Wholesale's Broadband Customer Forum in London, Bruce Stanford -- director of wholesale products at BT -- told the assembled audience that the company is reviewing prices of its wholesale broadband products. This remark has led some of those present at the event -- attended by representatives from government bodies as well as ISPs -- to believe that wholesale prices could soon fall. Such a move would give a welcome boost to Britain's broadband market, especially as BT Wholesale's successful offer of a half-price activation fee is drawing to a close. BT, though, has played down suggestions that it might be close to chopping its wholesale broadband prices, and insisted that Stanford was not flagging up anything more than normal business practice. "Our prices are under review all the time. When that on-going process produces results that we can act on then we do so," explained a BT Wholesale spokesman, adding that the comments were also made in the context of the impending conclusion of the half-price activation fee offer. But what of those who left Tuesday's event believing that further wholesale broadband price cuts were on the cards? "We wouldn't rule anything out -- that would be a foolish thing to do. If they've come to that conclusion, then that's the conclusion they came to," the BT Wholesale spokesman said. BT slashed its wholesale ADSL prices back in spring 2002 -- giving a major boost to the take-up of high-speed Internet services in the UK. A repeat of this move would help BT to hit its target of one million ADSL customers by this summer, and also aid the government to achieve its aim of making the UK the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. ZDNet UK understands that some ISPs are hoping that BT might decide to permanently cut the wholesale activation cost of ADSL. BT dropped it from £50 to £25 for the first three months of this year, a cut that most ISPs passed onto customers and some even took further by abolishing it completely. BT Wholesale said on Wednesday, though, that the activation fee will return to £50 from 1 April, leaving ISPs with the choice of either raising their prices too or absorbing the cost and continuing to offer customers a discount. BT also announced several forthcoming broadband initiatives at the Customer Forum, including a 1Mbps product, more trigger levels for rural exchanges and details about how it will extend the range of 512Kbps ADSL.
See the Broadband News Section for the latest on cable modems, ADSL, satellite and other high-speed access technologies, including a comprehensive guide to the best deals out there. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

BrownieBoy

@Jack, > Works really well for thieves.... Nice attempt to deflect the argument by tossing in a point that's totally irrelevant, even it were...

9 hours ago by BrownieBoy on AMD Ultrathins to challenge Intel Ultrabooks
bootlegger

Make that 13 people now - I got refused today at Manchester airport. I thought I was up to date on this legislation - I knew of the EU ruling from...

12 hours ago by bootlegger on UK airport body scans will not be opt out
tinycg

Don't forget to check out apps like GoodReader or SlideShark either, they're indispensible for people on the go in presentation situations. Best...

14 hours ago by tinycg on Four top iPad apps for people on the move
TerryRK

Well it seems there is something a number of us agree on. Why is the Ubuntu Unity launcher so ugly? I thought perhaps it was something to do with...

19 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Freebies202

Duplicate comments are not made intentionally. Its very good to know that now you are keeping check on this problem because sometimes a commenter...

1 day ago by Freebies202 on Microsoft fixes blog comments, speeds up blogs with open source
kevinmchapman

"the very significant number of users" and "many (most) of us" - you have no evidence for these statements. It is a fact that most users are saying...

2 days ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Marg Menzies Harrison

Another grammar faux pas is the improper use of "you". When sitting down down in a restaurant, for example, I get cringe when the waitress...

2 days ago by Marg Menzies Harrison via Facebook on 10 flagrant grammar mistakes that make you look stupid
zdnetukuser

And NOW, folks, for Canonical's next trick... Kubuntu is late. Here's a pencil. Draw your own conclusions. cf.:...

2 days ago by zdnetukuser on Linux Minterface
Moley

@kevinmchapman. The discussion here reflects the very significant number of users who really do like the traditional menu system and who wish to...

2 days ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

Er, no... It is an efficient means of finding the application/file/setting you need in one place. The icons are a simply a fallback for when you...

2 days ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

Isn't the provision of a text based search an admission by the developers that the mass of icons approach does not work? I don't need to use a...

2 days ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

"Unity and GNOME 3 both abandon the old text-based cascading menus in favour of a graphical icon-driven system." Point truly missed. Both use a...

2 days ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

whs001 - Thank you, I'm glad you liked the article. I absolutely agree with you on your first point. I should perhaps have made it clearer that...

2 days ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Dennis Nilsson

If we allow corporate interest to dictate the way our government circumvents due process against foreign entities then we should accept the same...

2 days ago by Dennis Nilsson via Facebook on ACTA stumbles in Germany
GHar123

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

2 days ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

2 days ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

2 days ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

2 days ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

2 days ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

2 days ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint