ISP BT Launches New Converged Plus Fibre Broadband and 4G Plans

As expected BT’s consumer UK ISP division has today launched their new range of “Plus” FTTC, FTTP and G.fast based “fibre broadband“, phone and 4G bundles, which among other things means that if your fixed line goes down then the mobile data takes over and adopts “unlimited” usage.

In addition, BT Plus customers will receive a free upgrade to BTMobile’s fastest 4G and double the mobile data allowance. On top of that their Ultrafast Fibre Plus packages also come with a 100Mbps speed guarantee (even at peak times), backed up with the promise of £20 compensation if the speed drops below that level. Customers will further benefit from 24/7 dedicated UK and Ireland support as well as a “Broadband Price Freeze” for 18 months.

The core features of the new “Plus” solution were announced last week (here) and the launch of today’s new packages appears to have been well timed to coincide with the introduction of the new advertising rules, which requires internet service providers to display “average” download speeds (a median measured at peak time).

Pete Oliver, MD of BT Marketing and Sales, said:

“We know our customers’ lives revolve around being connected at home and on the go, and that it’s a challenge for families to manage all of their mobile and broadband services. We’re launching BT Plus to make it easier for our customers to get the best of fibre and 4G to stay connected wherever they are, and our Keep Connected Promise means that if ever there’s a problem with your broadband – we’ll use 4G to keep your family connected while we fix it.”

BT Plus is available to new and existing customers from BT.com and over the phone. In addition, BT Plus fibre will be available through EE retail stores nationwide. The new bundles with mobile are available starting from £61.99 inc. VAT per month (£54.99 without mobile) and we’ve done a quick summary below.

All packages include an 18 month contract term, unlimited fixed line usage and phone line rental. In addition, you can add a BTMobile SIM plan starting from 1GB (500MB plan with 500MB free) and going up to 80GB (40GB plan with 40GB free) for an extra cost (adding mobile means you gain both double data and the failover ‘Keep Connected Promise‘). All mobile plans include unlimited minutes and texts.

The BT Plus Bundles (Examples)

SUPERFAST FIBRE PLUS (67Mbps Average) + £9.99 upfront
PRICE: £54.99 a month for 18 months (£58.99 thereafter)

SUPERFAST FIBRE 3 PLUS (145Mbps Average) + £59.99 upfront
PRICE: £54.99 a month for 18 months (£59.99 thereafter)

SUPERFAST FIBRE 4 PLUS (300Mbps Average) + £59.99 upfront
PRICE: £59.99 a month for 18 months (£64.99 thereafter)

Generally the extra 1GB mobile plan adds +£7 per month to the above costs, while 10GB adds +£12 and 80GB adds +£35. On top of that it’s not a typo that BT’s older 67Mbps FTTC (VDSL2) package is the same contract term price as their newer 145Mbps (FTTP / G.fast) plan, they’re clearly trying to encourage uptake of the new ultrafast products.

In addition, we note that the FIBRE 3 and FIBRE 4 packages both give new customers a £130+ BT Reward Card (MasterCard) to spend. Our only gripe is that BT could do with making the package features and mobile costs clearer on their website, so you didn’t have to run through their order system before being able to see all the extras and costings.