UPD South Yorkshire ISP Origin Broadband Refresh Brand and Hikes Prices

Doncaster-based ISP Origin Broadband will today introduce a new brand identity and this is also being supported by a refreshed website design, as well as a tweaked range of broadband and phone packages that appears to include some sharp price hikes.

The packages will also include a new “all in one” N300 N16 router, which can be delivered at no extra cost. On top of that Origin says that there are “no install costs on any product” and they will provide 24/7 UK customer support 365 days a year. Furthermore the ISP has pledged that its broadband products will not apply any traffic management, fair use or peak time restrictions.

Origin claims that their new packages will include “new ways to save money“, with customers having the option to save over £130 by paying in advance. However the press release isn’t clear about precisely what has changed from the old services, aside from the price rises and changes detailed below.

Oliver Bryssau, Origin Broadband’s MD and co-Founder, said:

“A new brand identity has been on the cards for a while; our previous branding no longer represented who we’d grown into as a company. We’ve designed our new identity with our customers and our culture in mind – it’s bright, young, and forward-thinking.”

At the time of writing the full details of Origin’s new packages aren’t clear, although we note that the standard cost of line rental is now £17.99 per month and that’s a rise from the old charge of £16.40 per month (note: other ISPs have introduced similar hikes). However it’s important to remember that there are “no install costs” for these services, although the price list does add an odd caveat of “unless full provide” (no further details are offered to clarify precisely what this represents).

Similarly the old packages also allowed customers the option to save money by pre-paying for 12 months of line rental for £109.99 (£9.17pcm equivalent) or £199.99 for 24 months (£8.33pcm), while the new 12 month Line Supersaver has been hiked to £172.49 (£14.37pcm) or £299.99 (£12.49pcm) for 24 months. In fairness, that’s still better than the biggest ISPs, but it’s also a big hike.

As for their broadband bundles, Origin offers a range of unlimited ‘up to’ 17Mbps ADSL and ‘up to’ 38Mbps FTTC (Fibre) broadband packages that can be either paid monthly or in advance. However it’s not clear if these are total prices (broadband + line rental) or just reflective of the broadband side. We should find out more today when everything is live.

Line or Line & Broadband – Monthly Deals:
* Line Rental only (12m term);
£17.99pm. £0 install (unless full provide).

* Origin Broadband + Line (12m term) (ADSL);
£17.99pm. £0 install, £0 router charge.

* Origin Broadband Fibre + Line (18m term) (FTTC, 40/10);
£21.58pm for first three months, £31.58 thereafter. £0 router charge.

* Origin Broadband Max + Line (18m term) (FTTC, 40/10);
£27.99 for first six months, £37.99 thereafter. £0 router charge.

* Evening + Weekend Calls (1m term)
£3.49pm

* Anytime Calls (1m term)
£5.99pm

* Anytime + International Calls (1m term)
£7.49pm

Line & Broadband – Saver Deals:
* Line Supersaver (12m term);
£172.49 for 12m in advance. £0 install (except Full Provide).

* Line Supersaver (24m term);
£299.99 for 24m in advance. £0 install (except Full Provide).

* Origin Broadband + Line (12m term) (ADSL);
£172.49 for 12m in advance. £0 install, £0 router charge.

* Origin Broadband + Line (24m term) (ADSL);
£299.99 for 24m in advance. £0 install, £0 router charge.

* Origin Broadband Fibre + Line (18m term) (FTTC, 40/10);
£429.99 for 18m in advance. £0 install, £0 router charge.

* Origin Broadband Max + Line (18m term) (FTTC, 80/20);
£499.99 for 18m in advance. £0 install, £0 router charge.

UPDATE 3:48pm

Apparently there is an install fee of £48 for new lines (this is what they mean by Full Provide), thus the £0 install really only applies to migrations (not quite akin to the claimed “no install costs on any product“). On top of that the included router is an ASUS DSL-N16.

We’ve also had it confirmed that, when paying in advance, 12/24 months line rental is indeed the same price as 12/24 months ADSL & line rental. The broadband will only be provided for the period covered by the supersaver, but if the customer was then to take out another supersaver, the same pricing would still apply.

Now we’re just waiting until the new brand and website go live.