UK ISP Zen Internet has followed last week’s soft launch (here) by releasing their new line-up of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband packages, which replaces the old 80Mbps, 160Mbps and 330Mbps tiers with a simplified but faster set of plans including 100Mbps, 500Mbps and 900Mbps+.
The new “full fibre” packages are all based off wholesale products from Openreach’s national network, which has so far made FTTP available to 2.75 million premises and this should reach 4.5 million by March 2021. After that the operator has an ambition to cover 20 million homes and businesses by the mid to late 2020s (2025-30).
As usual each of Zen’s packages come included with unlimited usage, a free wireless broadband router (FRITZ!Box 7530), static IP address, UK support and their “lifetime price guarantee” (i.e. they keep the same monthly price on your monthly bundle when your contract ends).
We should add that Zen also supports Ofcom’s Automatic Compensation system and includes a subtle “speed guarantee“, which pledges that “if the speed between Zen and your router is significantly below our estimate, and we’re unable to fix the problem, you can end your contract penalty-free.” Otherwise the new packages are priced as follows.
Full Fibre 100 (18Mbps upload)
18 Month Term
£19.99 Setup (one-off)PRICE: £38.99 per month
Full Fibre 500 (70Mbps upload)
24 Month Term
£55 Setup (one-off)PRICE: £55 per month
Full Fibre 900 (100Mbps upload)
24 Month Term
£55 Setup (one-off)PRICE: £70 per month
Sadly, for some reason the ISP still only accepts FTTP orders via the phone, which tends to discourage some consumers and those with hearing difficulties. Otherwise Zen has a fairly attractive package line-up, particularly when you factor in their usually higher quality of service, use of a decent router model and the static IP address. If you want a voice service on top of all this then you’ll need to add +£10.
Pretty competitive prices for a service including a static IP and router. (And more importantly, isn’t BT).
A tiny bit remorseful that I went with BT on the 500 halo* package For £50/month back in May. Not that remorseful though – the speed is great.
*For some reason they gave me Halo for free as they couldn’t find the correct price on their system.
Keen pricing from a reputable ISP.
Interesting that they have chosen to me more asymmetric than the underlying network?
Presumably to keep a lid on costs…..
Openreach set the speeds, they’re the same for all ISPs, so it’s nothing on Zen’s side in that respect. Zen’s speeds might differ a bit from the wholesale level because they, like all ISPs, are required to only advertise average headline speeds (a median as measured at peak time).
The base service must be using the rarely-seen 115/20 product from Openreach (which makes sense, as at wholesale it is the same cost as 80/20)
18Mbps upload is a joke.
Why is Zen charged G.fast more expensive than FTTP?
The Openreach G.fast costs are higher, specifically on the upfront activation fees etc. They also don’t offer the same discounts as they make available on FTTP.
If they team up with CityFibre who are installing the ducts around me just now, I’d be keen to switch. Or maybe if be better staying on the on the g.fast install.
Does this mean my 80/20 package will now be 100/20 for the price of 80/20 ?
no
Honestly like when UK will see 100/100 or 500/500 speeds?
Like Hyperoptic and Vodafone Gigafast you mean?
B4RN already offers 1,000 Mbps upload and 1,000 Mbps download for £30 per month
If Zen and BT both use Openreach and BT’s prices are so much more reasonable, is there any reason to not just go with BT instead? Customer service aside, talking straight about a like-for-like product for the price comparison.
The speeds are the same but not a like for like!
I’ve signed up for Zen’s Full Fibre 500 and the final stage of the install is scheduled for Wednesday. I’m a bit confused though as the Fritz!Box router they’ve sent is the 7530 but that seems to only be able to go up to 300Mb VDSL. Am I going to need to get my own third party router to get the full 500Mb?
Not sure why they’ve sent you a VDSL modem/router for a full fibre connection? Surely it will just be an Ethernet connection from the NTU/ONT and using PPPoE to authenticate and get online?