Openreach Entice Customers of 1Gbps or Slower Ethernet Lines to Stay with Discount
Network access provider Openreach has launched a new special offer for UK customers of their high capacity Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) leased lines at speeds of 1Gbps or less, which will give a rental discount to current Ethernet list prices and no CPI (inflation) linked price rises for 3 or 5 years. But you’ll have to re-sign the circuit several more years.
The nationwide special offer provides a 10% rental discount on current 1 year rental prices, and a guarantee of no price rises for the duration of the minimum period (3 years or 5 years), in return for a new minimum term of 3 or 5 years. Take note that EAD is NOT to be confused with consumer grade broadband connections, as these offer dedicated point-to-point data connectivity between sites – used by businesses and network operators.
There is also the option of a 5 year term with a further 5 year term option. This option provides a 10% rental discount on current 1 year rental prices for the first 5 years. After 5 years the communications provider (CP) can exit the contract without penalty or remain for the second 5 years for which a 20% rental discount on current 1 year rental prices will apply. Again with a guarantee of no price rises for the entire 5 + 5 year term.
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According to the briefing, the offer application window covers the period from 7th July 2026 to 7th January 2027. Customers will only be considered eligible for it if they’ve they’ve held their current EAD line(s) for 36 months or more and are in the business access market (Ofcom definitions for CLA, HNR, Area 2 or Area 3).
The catch is that the market now has a lot more competition than before and committing to such a long term may carry some risks, but this will vary depending on the needs and location of each operator.
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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They are getting so desperate now , Ethernet volumes are far below where they want them to be and net intake is falling each week . They have failed to innovate in the leased line market and revenues will fall year on year
Openly desperate play by the incumbent, sat with old, service limiting, power hungry, inefficient technology asking customers to commit to burying themselves for the long term into a legacy product. Surely the definition of tech debt! I hope Ofcom see through the clumsy attempt to foreclose the competitive market that has been so successful in driving new tech, full fibre roll-out
Openreach have built more full fibre than everyone else put together.
@ Winston Smith – yes at a glass level. The tech they use on top is legacy. They didn’t take the chance to move FTTP away from ‘copper style’ highly asymmetric profiles to provide a better service offering, they haven’t moved away from highly inefficient and inflexible point-to-point ethernet technology. They are behind the technology curve