ISP Zen Internet Slashes UK ADSL and FTTC Broadband Prices UPDATE

Rochdale-based UK ISP Zen Internet has informed us that they’ve introduced a number of big price reductions (i.e. these are permanent changes, not temporary discounts) across their standard ADSL and superfast Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC / VDSL2) based broadband and phone bundles. Plus there’s a lifetime price guarantee!

Firstly, those taking out a 12 month broadband plan will now benefit from free setup / installation, which previously attracted a one-off charge of £55 on their FTTC based “superfast broadband” packages. But the biggest change is undoubtedly the reduction in price of their Unlimited Fibre 2 (66Mbps average speed) plan, which has seen its monthly rental cut from £43.99 to just £38.99 (just £1.99 more than their 35Mbps plan).

The pricing is clearly designed to encourage Zen’s customers on slower packages to upgrade, which may mean they’re trying to take advantage of Openreach’s (BT) new volume discount scheme (here). In any case it’s good news for customers and makes them cheaper than even Sky Broadband’s post contract FTTC prices, although Zen Internet are generally considered to be a much better quality ISP.

As usual all of the packages include “truly unlimited” usage, a good quality wireless router (FRITZ!Box), Static IP address, line rental and apply a 12 month contract term. Optionally customers can choose to only take broadband and thus leave their line rental with a different provider (reduces the monthly rental by -£10).

Unlimited Broadband (10Mbps Down / 1Mbps Up)

PRICE: £28 per month (£32 on a 1 month term)

Unlimited Fibre 1 (35Mbps / 6Mbps)

PRICE: £37 per month

Unlimited Fibre 2 (66Mbps / 17Mbps)

PRICE: £38.99 per month

Unlimited Fibre 3 (145Mbps / 30Mbps)

PRICE: £52 per month + £55 setup

Unlimited Fibre 4 (300Mbps / 50Mbps)

PRICE: £59.99 per month + £55 setup

The Fibre 3 and 4 packages can be either G.fast or FTTP based (you may pay a little more for FTTP depending upon phone setup choice) and their average speeds are only estimated due to insufficient data.

UPDATE 12:37pm

I neglected to mention an important change above. Zen has also introduced a new Lifetime Price Guarantee, which they say guarantees no price rise for as long as a customer stays with them. “As long as you stay with Zen, we promise there will be no price rises. That’s a lifetime guarantee. Of course, this doesn’t stop us reducing the price you pay, and we reserve the right to do so!,” says Zen.

The caveat being that this doesn’t apply to their “ultrafast broadband” (FTTP and G.fast) plans.