BT increases broadband speeds

BT increases broadband speeds
20/01/2006 - 15:43:19

BT Ireland today announced that it is increasing the speed of its broadband products and introducing a new lower priced product to attract first time broadband consumers.

The changes in speed will see both of BT's existing broadband products automatically increase by 1Mb each to 2Mb and 3Mb respectively at no extra charge to customers.

The company is also introducing a new 1Mb service which will bring 'always-on' broadband to customers for €20 per month.

In addition to the speed increases and new broadband option, BT will also reduce the connection charge for all products to €40 for €50.

OfflerCrocGod

€20 a month yes! That's the price point we need in this country to spread BB to more households, thank you BT

teresasaunt

Increased data transfer limits let you do more.

Along with speed increases, data transfer limits will also increase from 23rd January.

• Broadband data transfer limit increases from 12GB to 20GB
• Broadband Plus data transfer limit increases from 24GB to 30GB

mikeruurds

Just in my inbox from BT!!!


From 23rd January, BT Broadband will feature faster download speeds* for the same price.




Broadband Download speed increases from 1Mbps to 2Mbps

Broadband Upload speed increases from 128Kbps to 256Kbps



Broadband Plus Download speed increases from 2Mbps to 3Mbps

Broadband Plus Upload speed increases from 128Kbps to 384Kbps


More speed means music tracks download faster, video plays more smoothly, and web pages open with just a click. Your enjoyment online will increase, but your Broadband bill won’t!

Increased data transfer limits let you do more.

Along with speed increases, data transfer limits will also increase from 23rd January.

Broadband data transfer limit increases from 12GB to 20GB
Broadband Plus data transfer limit increases from 24GB to 30GB


Enjoy the convenience of online billing.

Online billing puts you in control with tools that let you track your total callspend, pay your bill, review previous transactions, update billing details and more.

Setting up online billing is easy. Click here to find out how.



We hope you continue to enjoy your BT Broadband service.

Thank you for your custom.

rogue-entity

I am still waiting for my line to be upgraded, and it is nice to see that I can drop back to 1Meg for a slightly lower cost. I may just manage to convince my nextdoor neighbours to get there 1Meg €20 package which would be more affordable. I am not on the Tycor, or Waterford Central (behind the GPO) exchanges, instead I am connected to a local exchange which was only enabled in late September 2005. Because it is not one of the main exchanges, I am not sure when it will be upgraded.

exiztone

Hmmm, regarding BT Plus, the extra 6GB down will be nice, but I was expecting them to make it 48GB. I wonder if they'll do another cap increase later this year.

Creamy Goodness

is there anything confirmed from BT about the caps on the new speeds?

i know eircom upped their allowances but surely BT will too

TerrorFirmer

Still have 512k here.....:rolleyes:

kaizersoze

Cremo wrote:

is there anything confirmed from BT about the caps on the new speeds?

i know eircom upped their allowances but surely BT will too

Yes. The same as Eircom (24gb & 30gb)
Got an email from them this evening.

123

does this mean bt will be upgraded later

kaizersoze

123 wrote:

does this mean bt will be upgraded later

Yes. The same time as Eircom. Between 10pm tonight and 6pm tomorrow.:)

kmurph

Cremo wrote:

is there anything confirmed from BT about the caps on the new speeds?

i know eircom upped their allowances but surely BT will too

From the email above:

Broadband data transfer limit increases from 12GB to 20GB
Broadband Plus data transfer limit increases from 24GB to 30GB

Creamy Goodness

ahh right so, just in case you guys haven't seen already, some people have been upgraded already (myself included)

check out the stats here

peckerhead

Me too. Was wondering why browsing was so slow until I saw a torrent raining down on me at >200KB/s...

Trotter

Im still stuck at 860kbps.. Is the upgrade finished?? Please dont tell me my exchange got forgotten about!

Vokes

Exchange: Greystones
ISP: Esat BT
Package: Broadband
Ping to jolt: Min = 31ms, Max = 84ms, Avg = 49ms
Speedtest: 1.36Mbps U: 160kbps

Have been upgraded i guess, haven't noticed the difference, tbh.

TerrorFirmer

Trotter wrote:

Im still stuck at 860kbps.. Is the upgrade finished?? Please dont tell me my exchange got forgotten about!

You think your bad. I'm stuck at 400kps. I was forgotten in the last upgrade let alone this one :mad:

shabbyroad

MobileInfantry you're not alone. I was "overlooked" in the last upgrade (Eircon are 'looking into it' , though I'm with BT). My cap was 24GB though.

I did however go from 1M/128 to 2M/256 last night.

I should however have been at 2M/256 already and am now wondering how long it will take that shower of muppets to get me up to 3M/384

I wonder how many folk out there don't even realise they're not getting the service that is being paid for ?

TerrorFirmer

shabbyroad wrote:

MobileInfantry you're not alone. I was "overlooked" in the last upgrade (Eircon are 'looking into it' , though I'm with BT). My cap was 24GB though.

I did however go from 1M/128 to 2M/256 last night.

I should however have been at 2M/256 already and am now wondering how long it will take that shower of muppets to get me up to 3M/384

I wonder how many folk out there don't even realise they're not getting the service that is being paid for ?

It never really bothered me that much. Pings in Irish and UK servers are totally playable (70-ish) and I don't really download that much stuff either so to be honest it makes little difference to me.

But if I'm owed an entire 2mb of bandwith I'm damn well going to get it!

exiztone

Does Esat BT have an upload cap? Would it be 30gb down (along with 30gb up) or is both combined?

Redrocket

i think they are seperate

this upload upgrade was a surprise to me this morning!

kaizersoze

From the BT website:

You are entitled to free transfer of up to 20GB (30GB for Broadband Plus) of data in any given month. You will be entitled to use this limit in either direction without penalty. For example, with Broadband Plus you can upload 30GB and download 30GB in the same month without penalty.

If you go over this generous limit then we reserve the right to charge you for any additional data (at 3 cents including VAT per MB).

This data allowance is calculated on a daily basis and if you are above this amount we reserve the right to suspend or permanently disconnect your account in the first month that you are over.

30 down and 30 up by the look of it.

dubambman

Just wondering if anyone knows if there is a techical upper limit for current broadband connections before the local user hardware and/or line has to be changed.

Regards

Dubambman

Gregor Samsa

dubambman wrote:

Just wondering if anyone knows if there is a techical upper limit for current broadband connections before the local user hardware and/or line has to be changed.

The limit of the ADSL standard is 8 Mbit/s downstream (1 Mbit/s upstream).
The ADSL2 limit is 12 Mbit/s and ADSL2+ is 24 Mbit/s downstream, both with up to 3.5 Mbit/s upstream.

Of course, these speeds would only be possible under completely ideal conditions, so you wouldn't expect to see them in the real world.

The current home offerings of Eircom, BT and UTV are ADSL.

Smart is ADSL2+, afaik.

whiskeyman

Am on BT BB plus, (Sandyford, Dublin)
Was always getting the usual 1.71MB d/l and around 80kbps upload speed.
Checked this morning and am getting 2.61MB d/l and 320kbps upload.

Nice.

Trotter

Still no upgrade for me in Waterford...
I used the live chat with a BT Rep and they said "we have been informed that most upgrades will be nearer the end of the month ".

Rubbish!

RuggieBear

woot...i'm up. dublin 2...not really sure wht exchange but probably merrion

Trotter

When is it supposed to be finished? Should I wait til tomorrow to ring and ask what the fluck is happenin?

Gregor Samsa

Trotter wrote:

When is it supposed to be finished? Should I wait til tomorrow to ring and ask what the fluck is happenin?

Timeframe for the upgrade is until 10 PM tonight, so there's still plenty of time for it to reach you. I'd say this is why BT and others are claiming that the upgrade is happening on the 24th. By then it will be well finished, and any glitches sorted out, saving them the trouble of people calling them during the upgrade.

Ice_Box

Maynooth upgraded! Now getting 1.75mbps down and 187 up.
Deadly.

cregser

I'm on BB+ in Blanch. My d/l has gone from ~210KB to ~335KB but my upload is still the same... odd.

optiplexgx270

cregser wrote:

I'm on BB+ in Blanch. My d/l has gone from ~210KB to ~335KB but my upload is still the same... odd.

Upload speeds - the speed at which information is sent from a PC via broadband - will remain at the same speed, said Mr Ingram.

BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4252663.stm

Im guessing they are doing the same in Ireland.

optiplexgx270

Trotter wrote:

When is it supposed to be finished? Should I wait til tomorrow to ring and ask what the fluck is happenin?

*New speeds will become effective for exisiting and new Residential Broadband customers from Tuesday 24th January 2006.

BT Ireland - http://www.esatbt.com/echannel/res.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=res_products&residentialProducts_actionOverride=%2Fpageflows%2FresidentialContent%2Fproducts%2Fbroadband

You people ever hear of Google??

On a side note if this was an IBB upgrade and the 2Mb only operated at "1.75Mb,1.36Mb" and the like of the speeds ive seen ppl post there would be a hugh thread bitching about it not being good enough and comreg being contacted etc. So why are the BT customers content with 1.75Mb on a 2Mb connection?? I'm on IBB and get 1.97~Mb all day long every day thats ~220-240K. And 3.83Mb upload

cregser

optiplexgx270 wrote:

Upload speeds - the speed at which information is sent from a PC via broadband - will remain at the same speed, said Mr Ingram.

BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4252663.stm

Im guessing they are doing the same in Ireland.

I've been with EsatBT for 2 1/2 years and despite some teething problems at the start and occasional DNS issues, I've been happy enough. But 3meg down and 128k up is reason enough for me to jump ship.

I understand that ADSL down/up ratio is 8:1, so I should have 384kb upstream bandwidth. They've no reason not to provide it other than to prevent people from adequatly using VoIP. And I believe eircom are rumoured to be actively disrupting VoIP traffic, so whats the point holding back bandwidth? It was understandable that I didn't get 2Mb/256kb before because Eircom were doing the same. But now Eircom are apparently allowing 384 u/l.

Also optiplexgx270, ideally 3Mb means 384KB d/l, but I'm getting 335KB. I'm perfectly happy with this as this is not EsatBT's fault, it's Eircom's. It's a result of the ADSL technology being used on aging copper lines to my home by Eircom, which EsatBT are reselling to me.

BT aren't holding back on d/l speeds, they're holding back on upload speed. And I intend to voice my opinion with my money.

kaizersoze

cregser wrote:

I've been with EsatBT for 2 1/2 years and despite some teething problems at the start and occasional DNS issues, I've been happy enough. But 3meg down and 128k up is reason enough for me to jump ship.

I understand that ADSL down/up ratio is 8:1, so I should have 384kb upstream bandwidth. They've no reason not to provide it other than to prevent people from adequatly using VoIP. And I believe eircom are rumoured to be actively disrupting VoIP traffic, so whats the point holding back bandwidth? It was understandable that I didn't get 2Mb/256kb before because Eircom were doing the same. But now Eircom are apparently allowing 384 u/l.

Also optiplexgx270, ideally 3Mb means 384KB d/l, but I'm getting 335KB. I'm perfectly happy with this as this is not EsatBT's fault, it's Eircom's. It's a result of the ADSL technology being used on aging copper lines to my home by Eircom, which EsatBT are reselling to me.

BT aren't holding back on d/l speeds, they're holding back on upload speed. And I intend to voice my opinion with my money.

That article is from the UK and is almost a year old. It has no relevance here. Your upload speed is not being held back intensionally by BT.
The new upload speed IS 384k. Thats what I and most are getting on the 3mb package.
Give things a chance to settle down and the work to finish. If it's not sorted by tuesday or wednesday, ring them. It could be a problem at the exchange.
Even if you do decide to change provider then most likely the problem will still be there as it all goes through the same equipment.

cregser

I was going to give them time, of course. But scrap that anyway... I've just been upgraded

But I'm always ready to jump ship as soon as a better offer arrives. Smart are supposed to be coming to Blanch soon enough.

kaizersoze

Sweet:D
From what I've read on here from Garfield, Blanchardstown is on the wrong side of the M50 for their fibre network. He said it would be a long time before it got done. Has that changed?

cregser

I've nothing concrete but a friend of mine said at christmas that he is signed up and waiting for Smart. So it can't be too long. Also, when I entered my phone number on smart's site a while back it said - register your interest and we'll think about it. Now it says "This exchange is on our current Network Build Programme". I don't know how common that phrase is, but we'll see.

Also, with the sheer amout of housing estates around here they should be rushing to get here.

OfflerCrocGod

cregser wrote:

Also, with the sheer amout of housing estates around here they should be rushing to get here.

I wouldn't hold my breath. They need fibre; if it's not there they can't use Blanch. Maybe in a few months but not any time soon.

Gregor Samsa

cregser wrote:

I've nothing concrete but a friend of mine said at christmas that he is signed up and waiting for Smart. So it can't be too long.

A friend of mine signed up for Smart in Ennis last March and was told he'd be up and running by the summer. He's still waiting, with no realistic estimate of when he can expect the exchange to be enabled.

speedbird1

I have just run the Speed test as posted and the following is the result.
Your Downloas Speed is 754kbps
the other reading is given as 90.4
It does not look like any ungrade, would I be correct.
I noticed my speed even surfing has slowed a lot the past 4 days.
I am with BT on the Ennis exchange.
Thanks

Trotter

optiplexgx270 wrote:

*New speeds will become effective for exisiting and new Residential Broadband customers from Tuesday 24th January 2006.

BT Ireland - http://www.esatbt.com/echannel/res.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=res_products&residentialProducts_actionOverride=%2Fpageflows%2FresidentialContent%2Fproducts%2Fbroadband

You people ever hear of Google??

Yes .. I heard of google once.. Good question though, it made me think really hard!!

Everyone has been upgraded or is in the process of being upgraded today. People living a few miles away from me who's line is in the next exchange were upgraded this morning. I was entitled to wonder if my exchange had been excluded.

Google though.. must write that one down.

TerrorFirmer

Now this is interesting - Upload dramatically improved. No change whatsoever in download....:(

Cal

I'm getting 2.54Mb down & 320Kb up. Not bad but I'd have expected a bit better down.

Cal.

adox

Downstream 2558 Kbps (319.8 KB/sec) 2762 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 320 Kbps (40.0 KB/sec) 345 Kbps (inc. overheads)


I`m on BBplus.

sturgo

Just been upgraded. 1.66 down .132 up. I'm on the Rathmines exchange.

johncl

whiskeyman wrote:

Am on BT BB plus, (Sandyford, Dublin)
Was always getting the usual 1.71MB d/l and around 80kbps upload speed.
Checked this morning and am getting 2.61MB d/l and 320kbps upload.

Nice.

right... am paying for esat bt broadband plus, had been getting 110 KB/s, am now getting 220KB/s. nice, but does this upgrade mean with esat bb+ i should have been getting 220KB/s previously? was i paying for a 2 meg line and only getting 1 meg speeds?

exchange: NUTLEY
isp: esat bt
package: bb+
blacknight speed test d/l: 1.74Mbps
blacknight speed test u/l: 185kbps

j

sturgo

johncl wrote:

right... am paying for esat bt broadband plus, had been getting 110 KB/s, am now getting 220KB/s. nice, but does this upgrade mean with esat bb+ i should have been getting 220KB/s previously? was i paying for a 2 meg line and only getting 1 meg speeds?

j

That's bad.

johncl

sturgo wrote:

That's bad.

you're right. i'm a bloody idiot though to be honest. should have realised.

Agent Orange

Connected at 3mpbs. My cousins are sending me things at a rate of 310KB/s. Not too shabby!

zilog_jones

I'm in Limerick and I noticed I got the upgrade around this time yesterday. Your modem/router should tell you what speed you're connected at (192.168.1.1 is the standard on the Zyxel modems - go to system status and show statistics). My uploads have definately increased, but I haven't downloaded anything off a decent server yet.