O2 Wholesale Closure Begins to Hurt UK ISPs – Aquiss Broadband Hit

Last week’s announcement that O2 UK were to close their wholesale division (BE/O2Wholesale) in February 2014 (here) has naturally caused problems for ISPs that offer broadband via the platform. Aquiss have now become one of the first to confirm the discontinuation of related services pending a replacement.

The Shropshire-based ISP has informed customers that O2’s decision was “slightly odd given how popular [the platform] is“. Never the less the decision has forced Aquiss to confirm the future closure of related packages but strangely they will continue to take on customers on the same platform, albeit with a specific contract expiration date.. at least until mid-November.

Aquiss Statement

Last week O2 Wholesale, now owned by Sky, announced to customers, such as Aquiss, its decision to withdraw from the fixed line broadband market, indicating dates by which it will stop taking orders for new connections and by which it will no longer provide service to existing customers.

They gave reasons such as no interest in the product, which seems to us slightly odd given how popular it is. However, a pull out from the wholesale market is now confirmed, so steps on our part now need to take place.

1) From 5:00pm Friday 1st November 2013, any orders received for new Family Unlimited/Business Unlimited connections will have a contract that expires on 27th February 2014.

2) From 5.30pm Wednesday 13th November 2013 we will stop taking any orders for new Family Unlimited/Business Unlimited connections.

3) Aquiss will announce the commercials for existing Family Unlimited/Business Unlimited customers no later than 5:30pm Friday 8th November.

Our primary aim is to help retain your custom. We aim to offer a solution that will fulfil the remainder of minimum contract terms.

Sadly Aquiss was not yet able to say what the future would be for related customers and warned that they are “unable to offer any extra help other than has been posted above until after Friday 8th November“.