Openreach Cut Fixed Fee for Excess Construction Charges and EAD Connection Charges
Network access provider Openreach (BT) has announced that they will shortly reduce the Fixed Fee for Excess Construction Charges (ECC), which are sometimes charged when UK broadband or Ethernet deployments require extra civil engineering work. In addition, they’re also reducing the Connection Charges on Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) lines for businesses.
Sadly, not all new installations are easy and some builds can attract ECCs, particularly those requiring the installation of a dedicated high-capacity Ethernet line (leased line) – these may need extra work to provide you with a service (e.g. running the fibre over a much longer distance than usual).
However, Ofcom’s regulatory rules require that any reduction in ECCs incurred must be reflected in the Fixed Fee that Openreach charges for the service, which is currently set at £708 excluding VAT. The good news is that there was a reduction in ECCs incurred during 2025/26 (here) and so the network operator will cut the Fixed Fee to £516 from 1st August 2026. But this has also had another positive impact.
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OR’s Statement on EAD Charges
As a result of the ECC Fixed Fee reduction, Openreach has reviewed its Connection Charges. Having reviewed the ECC Fixed Fee reduction and compliance with the Ethernet basket charge control as a whole, Openreach will be making reductions to EAD Connection charges.
These reductions will apply to EAD up to 1GB services in Area 2 and Area 3, with the level of reduction varying by geographic area. These changes are also reflected in the Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) 1000Mb Local Access alternative pricing for the UK excluding CLA and HNR areas offer via an equivalent adjustment to the offer rental charge (Price List page 8.2.56).
The EAD price reductions are fairly small to modest, but it’s still a welcome development (see EAD Pricing).
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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Can EAD/ECC be paid for in installments over some years, ideally bundled as a surcharge to monthly line rental? If not that, maybe BNPL payment schemes like Klarna
That would enable access by more domestic customers who currently would find a large upfront payment difficult.
It’s often included in the contract price. Mine was £3295 about 5 years ago – But I got a voucher for £2800 and my ISP never charged me for that rest- the mothlies were £370 with VAT for 1Gbps
Domestic customers don’t buy services from Openreach. If you’re communications provider has to pay Openreach an ECC it’s up to them how they then recoup that from you, if at all..