G.Network to Buy New Broadband Users Out of Existing UK ISP Contracts
Network builder and broadband ISP G.Network, which after a long pause recently resumed the deployment of their 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network in London (here), has today become the latest internet provider to announce that they will buy new customers out of their existing contracts.
One of the difficulties that consumers often face, when a new network arrives in their area, is that they can’t easily switch ISPs without incurring Early Terminations Charges (disconnection fees) from their existing provider. In order to counter that, some ISPs will offer incentives to encourage a switch, and one of those is a commitment to help pay for ETCs.
In simple terms, G.Network are promising to cover “up to” £150 of early termination fees for new customers on selected products, paving the way for a hassle-free switch to their service. The deal only applies if you sign-up to one of their longer 24-month terms, and they’ll “send the money straight to your bank account once your claim is approved.”
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Some recent research, which was commissioned by G.Network and conducted by OnePoll among 2,560 adults in London during late 2023, revealed that 33% of respondents are actively looking to ditch their ISP at the next opportunity, driven primarily by high costs (36%). Meanwhile, 22% of Londoners believe their contracts are simply too long for them to shop around and get better value for money.
Kevin Murphy, CEO of G.Network, said:
“G.Network is taking a stand against in-contract price rises and committing to fair, stable pricing for our customers. We believe in complete transparency and delivering what we advertise. That’s why we offer clear upfront pricing, reliable full fibre broadband and excellent customer service. And we’re so confident that you’ll stick with us that we’re covering £150 worth of early termination charges for new customers too. Now really is the time to switch.”
At present the operator’s network is known to be available (Ready for Service) to around 250,000 to 300,000 premises in the city. Residential customers currently pay from just £22 per month for a 150Mbps (50Mbps upload) package on a 24-month contract term (inc. £29 one-off installation fee), which rises to £32 for their top 1Gbps (300Mbps upload) tier. Customers can also take a symmetric speed 900Mbps plan for £42.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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This news looks to have come with a fairly healthy increase in their coverage, I wonder if they’ve just announced service to all their duct coverage areas and will build on demand because I’ve not noticed CBTs going into the ground or other similar work.
Im not sure the 250-300k RFS has changed that much? RFS means many things to many people.
Likewise, your point around CBT’s mean little when they dont use connectorised solutions as a standard. ( that might change and excluding some new MDU’s)
Their announced 350k were in reality less than 200k
This website has even published numbers and theirs actually went DOWN
you mistake RFS vs RFC.
If someone cannot order a service then it does not count for anything other than trick investors, hence the 180k
Im not sure your background but i would guess you not from GN let alone an alt net.
RFS is defined by ofcom. If an alt net can deliver service based on that they can claim the prem is passed. Just look at how CF do it. Anything within 200m of network is fair game.
Early Terminations Charges and mid contract price increases should be banned and made illegal.
Why. If you sign up for an 18 month contract why should you expect to leave early without penalty ?
An ETC just makes up for the money you cost the ISP by leaving your contract early. Without ETCs there can essentially be no fixed-length contracts and no savings that they bring (for both the ISP and the customer). Therefore prices will rise accordingly for everybody which is not a good thing. If you would like to be free to leave any time without an ETC then you do have the choice to pay a higher monthly price and stay on a rolling contract.
You don’t believe you should be bound by a contract when you sign iit?
If you don’t want ETCs get ready for paying a £2k installation charge when you order FTTP.
I agree with the general point in that it would result in ISPs not offering free installations anymore – but why would it be £2k? that’d be quite an exceptional cost, and if it’s Openreach then they have to eat the first few grand anyway.
The standard FTTP cost – where physical work is necessary to connect a customer – is £120 plus VAT for Openreach if I’ve read the price list correctly. Why couldn’t ISPs pass that on (even with a small markup if necessary) to offer a no-contract option?
@ True insider- you say RFS is defined by Ofcom. Really? Please share where you’ve seen this. Its the most elusive of metrics and means what ever you want it to mean (for investors). I am still looking for a definitive answer to what RFS actually means
read connected nations summer update 2023.
Forget about some ideological government entity to tell you basic meanings. The Oxford dictionary now lies to your face about what a woman is
RFS stands for ready for service. If something is not ready to get service, like half of Gnets number, then it is literally not RFS