Stick with FTTC or jump to FTTP?

egyptiancotton

I'm out of contract with Plusnet and I'll be moving home in the next 2-3 weeks. FTTP is available at the new property. I've looked around for deals for FTTC and FTTP, and have narrowed it down to:

• NOW - FTTC - 40Mb/10Mb - 12 months - £20/month (I've heard the supplied router might be naff and the SR203 is worth buying as an upgrade) + cash back
• Plusnet - FTTP - 74Mb/20Mb - 24 months - £23.99/month (£50 reward card included)
• Vodafone - FTTP - 74Mb/20Mb - 24 months - £22/month + cashback

I'm mindful that I'll be locked into two price rises with the 24-month contracts. Is FTTP worth the jump or should I stick with FTTC for now? It's just me using the broadband.

Edit: The new house is just around the corner from the cabinet.

Neil_Jones

Do you need the extra speed that FTTP will give you?

Remember FTTP may require a load of upheaval to get it installed, whereas FTTC is just pick a provider, they do all the legwork and you just plug a router in on switch over day.

iniltous

You are not really considering anything ( speed wise )  that necessarily needs FTTP to deliver it , especially if the cabinet is around the corner from the house , 80Mb ( 74Mb is the ludicrous nationwide average the ISP is required to use ) may well  be available from FTTC , I’m around 80m from the FTTC cab and get 80Mb , in fact the theoretical max attainable is way more than 80Mb.
If what you require broadband for is possible on a 40Mb service, and price and the ability to shop around in 12 months are the most important things , then there really is only one choice , your question doesn’t  really need to pitch FTTC again FTTP 

egyptiancotton

Appreciate the replies. I don't need the extra speed - I've coped fine on my 40Mb/10Mb connection. I was thinking about going for FTTP to future-proof my broadband, but I'm put off by the price rises - especially with the current rate of inflation.

brewerdave

Also you may not have the choice if the exchange you are going to be using ,has gone into a status of "fibre priority" . IF it has then you won't be able to order an FTTC service. My exchange has moved to "fibre priority" about a year from FTTP being available.
Check your new exchange status at              BT Broadband (btwholesale.com) 

egyptiancotton

brewerdave said:

Also you may not have the choice if the exchange you are going to be using ,has gone into a status of "fibre priority" . IF it has then you won't be able to order an FTTC service. My exchange has moved to "fibre priority" about a year from FTTP being available.
Check your new exchange status at              BT Broadband (btwholesale.com) 

Good point. I checked a few days ago - my exchange isn’t listed as fibre priority. 

PennyForThem_2

If you haven't had other Broadband Providers email/post you with FTTP options it is probable you are not eligible.  \you can register with openreach to email you automatically when you are.  I did this.

I also am with Plusnet; yes, plebs BT.  No probs with that.  Cheaper.  It took 3.5hrs for Openreach engineer to do the work required to connect to FTTP.   This is norm for my area and tbh, considering the glass cable and the care they need to take including drilling new connection point in property it does not seemn excessive.

This equals about the same as I was paying for FTTC (£26 ish 76/40/20)  but without the landlinel  Ditched it.  Got a mobile with free calls and free txts - so don't need landline.

egyptiancotton

PennyForThem_2 said:

If you haven't had other Broadband Providers email/post you with FTTP options it is probable you are not eligible.  \you can register with openreach to email you automatically when you are.  I did this.

I don’t get FTTP offers for my current address as it’s not available, but the address I’m moving to is definitely eligible for FTTP (and FTTC).

shiraz99

I'm interested why'd you go for the 40Mb Now deal when you get the 80Mb version for not much more.

What is the max speed you can currently get via FTTC? Try running the BT wholesale checker to see what you should be getting via FTTC: https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

egyptiancotton

shiraz99 said:

I'm interested why'd you go for the 40Mb Now deal when you get the 80Mb version for not much more.

What is the max speed you can currently get via FTTC? Try running the BT wholesale checker to see what you should be getting via FTTC: https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

The NOW deal is tempting because it’s only a 12-month contract. The FTTP deals are 24 months, so I’d be looking at two price rises, and the current rate of inflation is putting me off a bit.

Max speed via FTTC is 57Mb down and 12Mb up.

shiraz99

lloydyyy said:

shiraz99 said:

I'm interested why'd you go for the 40Mb Now deal when you get the 80Mb version for not much more.

What is the max speed you can currently get via FTTC? Try running the BT wholesale checker to see what you should be getting via FTTC: https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

The NOW deal is tempting because it’s only a 12-month contract. The FTTP deals are 24 months, so I’d be looking at two price rises, and the current rate of inflation is putting me off a bit.

Max speed via FTTC is 57Mb down and 12Mb up.

You may as well get their Fab Fibre deal then. If the cabinet is really just round the corner I'd imagine the speed will actually be higher.