Broadband ISP TalkTalk has given its support to an alternative means of funding and deploying next generation 100Mbps fibre optic broadband services. The new plan was first put forward on Sunday morning by Tory Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, whom suggested using part of the BBC TV Licence fee to pay for its rollout; this would apparently be supported by a further break-up of BT (original news).TalkTalk's Executive Director of Strategy and Regulation, Andrew Heaney, said:
"We think they have got it right ... Competition has the power to transform markets. We’ve already seen that with local loop unbundling ( LLU ), the process which allows operators other than BT to provide broadband and phone services. LLU was the catalyst for much better and cheaper phone and broadband service, led of course by TalkTalk. Before we launched free broadband for voice customers, you used to have to pay £10 or more for broadband.
Now the Tories want to continue this successful approach by allowing competitors to access other monopoly parts of BT’s networks so we can invest in these new faster broadband networks without having to duplicate the assets that BT already has. This is the right thing to do. Giving other operators the chance to invest in new technology is the only way to supercharge our way to superfast broadband.
By allowing operators like TalkTalk to invest we can innovate like never before, giving people much faster broadband services and a richer Internet experience. Relying on BT to make the investment will slow and limit the roll out of superfast services, stifle innovation and leave Britain lagging behind in the global digital revolution."
"We think they have got it right ... Competition has the power to transform markets. We’ve already seen that with local loop unbundling ( LLU ), the process which allows operators other than BT to provide broadband and phone services. LLU was the catalyst for much better and cheaper phone and broadband service, led of course by TalkTalk. Before we launched free broadband for voice customers, you used to have to pay £10 or more for broadband.
Now the Tories want to continue this successful approach by allowing competitors to access other monopoly parts of BT’s networks so we can invest in these new faster broadband networks without having to duplicate the assets that BT already has. This is the right thing to do. Giving other operators the chance to invest in new technology is the only way to supercharge our way to superfast broadband.
By allowing operators like TalkTalk to invest we can innovate like never before, giving people much faster broadband services and a richer Internet experience. Relying on BT to make the investment will slow and limit the roll out of superfast services, stifle innovation and leave Britain lagging behind in the global digital revolution."
In addition TalkTalk has quietly u-turned on its threat of a price hike to existing Tiscali UK customers, which the group acquired last year. Customers of Tiscali's former "broadband-only" package, which was priced at £14.99 per month, had been warned that the price of their service would rise to £19.99 if they refused to take the operators own broadband and phone line service.
TalkTalk's threat caused a great deal of anger among Tiscali's remaining customer base, with many objecting to the apparently forced adoption of TalkTalk's phone line service. The short notice period didn't go down too well either and neither did the possibility of a 25% price rise.
Happily TalkTalk has now recognised that it has a duty to honour the original contracts. New customers who joined Tiscali between September and December 2009 will be offered 6 months service at half price when they take a new contract with TalkTalk. Those who do not take the new contract will be credited to cover the monthly price increase until their current contract period ends.
Separately TalkTalk clarified that it still has plans for both a future Internet TV (based off Tiscali TV and Project Canvas) and mobile phone service. Further details are expected to follow later this year.
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Comments: 5
SteveSPosted: 2 February, 2010 - 8:16 PM
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They may have done a uturn for old Tiscali customers but last weekend Talk Talk did a mailout to old Pipex customers performing the same trick, ie: take thier broadband and phone or face a massive price hike (100% in my case). I've walked and gone to Plusnet.
Ady - LincolnPosted: 14 February, 2010 - 9:29 AM
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Talk Talk lost me as a long term Tiscali customer too, they threatened me with the price hike if I didn't take the phone too....no chance, so I have walked to PlusNet too, £5:99 a month to start and what seems so far an excellent service.....bye bye Talk Talk....
troubled ! talk talk sucksPosted: 27 February, 2010 - 9:01 PM
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i am out of contract with my old tiscali contract therefore i dont have much of a chance to keep my 19.99 service with 8mb broadband my new costs will be 22.48 !!! a rise of more than 10% ! this is unacceptable so looking for a new provider ! talk talk sucks for doing this. !!!
emmyPosted: 25 July, 2010 - 1:46 PM
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Talktalk are blackmailing their broadband only customers - "take another service (phone line) or we increase your charges by 25%
Talktalk are true heirs to Tiscali - marketing bullies
I hope their customers walk massively away from Talktalk
AlanPosted: 12 August, 2010 - 4:18 PM
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Just rec'e email from talktalk, my broadband,TV, Phone line and anytime talk is going up from £21.00 per month to £31.00 per month, including 40GB cap. Plus I have to sign up for 18 months, call this progress, will be looking for an alternative.
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