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[niemand]

Folks,

Zen seem a no brainer for value and the criteria I have in the subject line. Any alternatives welcomed.

[Weaver]

I recommend AA if you’re asking for alternatives. I used Zen at the same time as AA. Have vaguely heard good things about Uno and Idnet but don’t know anything about them.

[re0]

I assume you want consumer (home) broadband?

I heard good things about IDNET, but their FTTP 330/50 is £120(!) per month, over double the cost of their 160/30 (£51.60). Plus activation charge of what I believe to be £60.

Zen may be the best value for money. Have not used them myself, but heard they are one of the better mainstream ISPs. Under the impression their FTTP 330/50 is £76 per month, plus £55 activation.

There's also Spectrum Internet which offers 330/50 for £49 per month for the first 6 months then £65.99 for the remaining 6 months of the contract, plus no activation fee. Unfortunately, not sure about their IPv6 support or whether IPv4 will be static - may be worth enquiring. Also been reading that their coverage is limited (apparently Wales and South West England), and I am not sure much of their reputation.

I would recommend A&A, but their prices can seem a bit eyewatering for most consumers considering quotas. It costs £100 to activate FTTP, plus the price for 2TB quota is £55 per month and is only 80/20. No 330/50 option available but they will sell you 160/30, which I imagine will be an extra £10 per month (like the cost difference between G.fast 160/30 and 160/50) - so £65/m for 160/30 with 2TB allowance, unless I am missing something.

[niemand]

I recommend AA if you’re asking for alternatives. I used Zen at the same time as AA. Have vaguely heard good things about Uno and Idnet but don’t know anything about them.

AA don't meet the criteria. No 330 option.

[niemand]

IDNet pricing is absurd. To be honest FTTP at 330 and above is expensive, with the 500 and 1G variants being insane, however those aren't an issue as I'll be in an Openreach area with 330 and below available only.

Thank you.

[re0]

I'd agree. IDNET for FTTP is definitely on the higher side.

There's always Cerberus, and they have "300/50" (which I presume is 330/50 Openreach) for £54 per month for the first 3 months, then £75 per month thereafter, activation costing £48 on 12 month contract (24 month contract has £48/m introductory offer for 3 months, with free activation). Again, I have had no experience with them and I am not sure about IPv6.

[j0hn]

Cerberus definitely do IPv6 as many have their FTTPoD lines with IPv6 on TBB.

[niemand]

Zen seem a winner.

Have to decide who to use over copper for a couple of months as I have told VM Business where to shove their broadband. Muppets.

[re0]

Copper as in VDSL or ADSL?

[niemand]

VDSL. I suppose I could just change the package on what is currently the backup, though.

[niemand]

Solution found.

Ultrafast 2 Fibre Enhanced from BT Business will hit the spot. 4G Assure will also be invaluable both to get online quickly and as a ready-made backup.

https://business.bt.com/products/broadband-and-internet/deals/

https://business.bt.com/products/broadband-and-internet/4g-assure/

If prices drop and they make 500Mb and 1Gb available in the interim all good.

[psychopomp1]

Re: BT Biz,  just be aware their cheapest prices are on a 24 months min term and support isn't that good, despite having UK call centres.

[niemand]

24 months is pretty standard for a business service so that's not a problem.

The level of support is mitigated in a few ways. Being a network guy with contacts in and around BT helps. The Assure is also a bonus.

[Chrysalis]

good idea from BT, kind of doing what aaisp has been doing, but now BT own their own mobile network its easy for them to do.

[niemand]

Could do it myself but if the ISP are happy to no need to worry about it. Do quite enough networking in the day job without having to mess around with it for home / home office too.