Strong Desire for Flexible ISP Contracts and Standalone Broadband

The latest ISPreview reader poll, which was conducted between 18th Jan and 1st Mar 2018, has suggested that the vast majority (75.1%) of respondents would rather have a truly standalone broadband connection than a bundle. A third would also like UK ISPs to offer shorter contracts.

At present most of the broadband packages purchased over Openreach’s (BT) national UK network still require you to take out a phone (line rental) service, although an increasing number of alternative networks are now offering truly standalone packages (no phone) and Openreach is expected to follow suit within the next year or so.

Suffice to say that the concept of bundles appears to be coming under some pressure. Most people tend to use their home phone significantly less now that Mobile phones are so prevalent, not to mention the impact of Voice-over-IP (VoIP). Meanwhile the rise in alternative video streaming platforms (e.g. NOW TV, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix etc.) may also be eating into the desirability of traditional Pay TV services.

Bundles can save money, but would you prefer a truly standalone broadband or bundle?
Standalone – 75.1%
Bundle (net,phone,tv etc.) – 24.8%

Which is the most desirable service to include in a home broadband bundle?
None of the above! – 40.3%
Landline Phone – 28.1%
TV – 18.8%
Mobile – 8.8%
Energy (Gas/Elec) – 3.1%
Insurance (House/Car) – 0.6%

Would you like to see all big ISPs offer a shorter but perhaps more expensive contract as an OPTION for their bundles?
No – 37%
Yes – 32.6%
Maybe – 30.3%

We should point out that longer contracts tend to be cheaper because they enable ISPs to spread their cost and risk. Nevertheless quite a few consumers would clearly like the flexibility to pay extra and take out a shorter contract term. This is partly because reliability and performance remain key factors for consumers, yet many fear the possibility of being tied-in to a long contract with an under-performing provider.

The good news is that many smaller ISPs already offer shorter contract terms and some of the biggest providers have also started to do this (e.g. Virgin Media and Sky’s sibling NOW TV platform), although others continue to only flog longer 12, 18 or 24 month terms.

Meanwhile this month’s new survey asks about the services you use for making most of your phone calls and whether you’d scrap your landline phone if it wasn’t required for broadband? Vote Here.

NOTE: ISPreview.co.uk surveys are likely to receive a higher proportion of tech-savvy respondents than most, although the majority of our visitors are normal consumers (i.e. they come to this site for help and assistance with basic broadband problems / questions or when hunting for a new ISP).