Free 20Mbit upgrade for BT users

BT has announced that all its broadband customers will receive a speed upgrade to 20Mbits/sec, at no extra cost. From today, BT Total Broadband business customers within range of one of the 549 ADSL2+ exchanges can order the new service, which will increase their download speed to 20Mbits/sec, with upload speeds increasing to 1Mbits/sec. BT Total Broadband home users can expect the upgrade sometime during early summer.

Home users who wish to receive the speed upgrade will need to sign a new contract with BT. Not all telephone exchanges are ADSL2+ enabled yet, although you can check if you live in one of the enabled areas at www.bt.com. Some will also be offered the BT Broadband Accelerator, or I-Plate, for free if they can’t get the full speed, although it’s at BT’s discretion who is eligible for this.

In a snipe at some of its competitors, Gavin Patterson, CEO of BT said:

“Unlike other providers, BT is upgrading customers to 20Mbits/sec for free. High-speed broadband provides a faster and more reliable service that will transform the way we live, work, learn and play. We are already the UK’s largest retailer of broadband and today’s announcement shows that we offer terrific value for money. We believe the true value of broadband is in helping customers enjoy the exciting new services that it makes possible. In line with the Government’s Digital Britain review, we will be making higher speeds more widely available.”

The government’s interim Digital Britain report recommends that every home in the UK should be guaranteed at least a 2Mbits/sec broadband service by 2012.