Speeds: SSE & Plusnet vs BT and Sky?

Smeags

Hi,

I feel like I'm asking a stupid question, but also, i don't know the answer... I need to get fibre broadband and am currently with BT but the contract has recently expired. I'm currently paying £47 a month. I certainly won't be staying with them and negotiating a better deal as I've had trouble with their customer services during the contract.....

(I need fibre because I live in a semi-rural area. If I went for standard, I'd get a pathetic speed. About 3 Mbps).

The question is, in the past, I've always been with either BT or Sky for broadband. I'm now considering going to one of the 'smaller' companies like SSE or Plusnet who have the best prrices at the moment.

If I go to this, can I expect the broadband to be slower because of the lower price? Or would the price be the same? As whoever I go with, I'm going to be using the very same fibre optic cables right?

I'm quite a heavy user. I do a lot of online gaming, and netflix streaming. I'm simply worried about getting a lot of lag during the gaming, or buffering whilst streaming?

Thanks

[Deleted User]

As it will be using the same Openreach line you can expect your speeds to be around what you are currently getting.

Smeags

That puts my mind at ease. Thanks!

Mister_G

However, as a heavy user, you may wish to look to see if any of the alternatives do traffic management/shaping, as this could well affect your speeds.

See here

https://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/reviews/sse-broadband

and here

https://www.plus.net/help/legal/key-fact-indicators-for-broadband-traffic-prioritisation/

AndyPK

avoid SSE though, as there are a lot of complaints about speed/performance

Smeags

Thanks again. I've just signed up with Plusnet and am not worried one bit now.

Chose them because of SSE's traffic management policy, as you said Mister G. Although I did like the fact they had a rolling contract and can leave at any time.

Also went via Topcashback. That's £80 cashback if it tracks properly!

downshifted

I’ve just moved to plusnet fibre and my speeds are much lower than they were with BT. It’s noticeable even with just 2 of us in the house. We often have young family to stay and it will drive them mad.

JJ_Egan

Are you measuring speed the correct way ??
Ethernet cable and router fed from master socket .

iniltous

Mister_G wrote: »

However, as a heavy user, you may wish to look to see if any of the alternatives do traffic management/shaping, as this could well affect your speeds.

See here

https://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/reviews/sse-broadband

and here

https://www.plus.net/help/legal/key-fact-indicators-for-broadband-traffic-prioritisation/

downshifted wrote: »

I’ve just moved to plusnet fibre and my speeds are much lower than they were with BT. It’s noticeable even with just 2 of us in the house. We often have young family to stay and it will drive them mad.

If you were using BT Infinity 2 or had BT Infinity 1 but had been given the free speed increase to Infinity 2 levels, it's possible that if the Plusnet package you have bought is the upto 38Mb, it could conceivably be around half the speed of the BT Infinity product you had previously