Plusnet Boosts Broadband Proposition With New Fibre Speeds

SHEFFIELD, England, August 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Plusnet, the UK home phone and broadband supplier, has made a host of changes to its fibre broadband products including the introduction of new Plusnet Extra Fibre offering up to 76Mb/s with a 250GB usage allowance.

Following a successful customer trial in which 57 per cent of Plusnet trialists confirmed this improved fibre product made the internet more integral to their lifestyle than it was already, Plusnet is delivering the best priced fibre broadband for the 76Mb/s download speeds on the market. Meanwhile, upload speeds have been increased to up to 19.5Mb/s.

The new look product more than doubles the usage allowance of Plusnet Extra Fibre from 120GB to 250GB, increases speeds but reduces the cost by £1.48/month. Additional changes to the fibre suite include increased upload speeds to Fibre Value, now up to 9.5Mb/s. Existing Plusnet Extra Fibre customers can upgrade to the new speeds and usage and take advantage of the lower cost via their online account or by calling 0800 432 0200.

More than half (51%) of the surveyed customer trialists said the new Plusnet Extra Fibre had resulted in them using the internet more, with 45% confirming they used their home broadband for more than five hours a day. The trialist said they were watching more on-demand TV (59%), undertaking more free streaming (51%) and more downloading (44%).

Jamie Ford, Plusnet CEO said: "Customers' internet habits have changed considerably over the last 12 months. People are using more bandwidth and services that demand faster speeds.  Our new fibre products not only meet this demand but do so at a compelling price.

"The new fibre product has been making real lifestyle changes too. One-quarter of our trialists said they work from home more and close to two-fifths say they now use internet-enabled devices as a means to entertain guests to their home."

With the improved broadband connection, 30% of customers on the recent trial said they are looking to purchase smart devices and computers, 28% of customers are looking to hardwire broadband throughout their home and 27% of customers are looking to purchase a broadband-enabled TV set.

Plusnet continues to offer 24/7, free phone UK support and in the last year has set up specialist teams that focus on the most common customer concerns. Whether it is enabling someone to get the best connection speed or prevent latency on time sensitive services such as on-demand TV, Plusnet can now give specific and individual advice to ensure the best possible experience.

Notes to editors:

* Up to 8 times faster: Speeds based on UK average standard (ADSL) broadband download speed (Ofcom Speed Report Aug 2012) vs. Plusnet Extra Fibre average. Not all lines in fibre enabled areas can support the fibre service. Customers can call Plusnet on 0808 100 1875 or visit http://www.plus.net/fibre-broadband to see if their line can.

The Research: 267 customers who have been trialling Plusnet's higher speed fibre products completed a questionnaire about their home broadband services during August 2012.

About Plusnet:

Back in 1997 Plusnet was born. Its plan was simple - to think and act differently from other providers and save the customer money. More than a decade later, the company is still providing great value broadband, fibre broadband and phone from its HQ in Yorkshire. 

Plusnet customers and industry professionals think its supports them so well Plusnet has been given a stack of awards to prove it. It is especially proud to say that for the third consecutive time Plusnet Value broadband has been honoured as a "Which? Recommended Provider" (July 2012).

Despite usage limits on its broadband products, Plusnet offers unlimited downloads between midnight and 8am every day. This does not count towards a customer's monthly usage allowance.

PR Contact:
Laura Mottram
Plusnet
The Balance
Pinfold Street
Sheffield
S1 2GU
+44(0)114-273-3605
http://www.plus.net