ISP BT Quietly Culls ADSL Based Unlimited Broadband Packages

As part of this week’s routine check of UK ISP prices we noticed that BT appears to have removed their older pure copper line ADSL / ADSL2+ based unlimited broadband and phone packages from display, which leaves only their FTTC, G.fast and FTTP based “fibre” broadband services on display for new customers.

Packages are sometimes suspended as a temporary measure, most often during or before a major product refresh or when trying to focus take-up toward different services, although in this case we’ve noted that the ADSL based service doesn’t even show up when running through BT’s own availability (pre-order) system, unless you’re in an ADSL-only area. We have reached out to BT in the hope of getting their rationale for the change.

The focus upon faster fibre-based broadband services is of course entirely understandable, although it’s worth remembering that around 30% of broadband connected UK premises still subscribe to an ADSL based service. Likewise a small proportion of homes in rural areas – as well as a few urban buildings with Exchange Only Lines (EOL) – still have no other fixed line option than ADSL (we’re probably talking about the last c.1-2% of premises). A few might be able to get mobile broadband (4G) though.

At some point older ADSL services will need to be retired, probably sooner rather than later, and so we wouldn’t be surprised if this was the start of that gradual effort, although it’s worth remembering that for the time being there are still plenty of ISPs able to offer such packages. Aquiss is another ISP that has moved to retire their ADSL packages.

We await BT’s response and will update accordingly. Take note that the above change has no impact upon BT’s existing base of ADSL using subscribers.

UPDATE 9:48am

A quick check in with Andrew over at Thinkbroadband confirms that 1.7% of UK premises (c.550,000) are only able to take a fixed line broadband service using ADSL. The reality here can be a little more complex though as this excludes those few properties who have ADSL and VDSL2 (FTTC) coverage, but the VDSL2 is very slow (VDSL2 isn’t sold to sub-2Mbps lines but ADSL is).

UPDATE 10:15am

One of our readers (Simon) has noticed that the ADSL packages still show up, but only if you live in a non-fibre based area where only ADSL is available and only after running an availability check first.

UPDATE 26th Sept 2019

On some affiliate links it’s possible to make the ADSL service appear in the packages list, although if you try to order it in an area where faster FTTC, G.fast or FTTP packages are available then BT now returns the following notice: “Sorry, the product you selected is not available at your address” (even though it is available, they’re just not selling it to you).