https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288962#M345781 <P>A reduction in the estimate doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction in performance, it’s just an estimate, a point at which being released from contractual commitments can be applied, if this speed cannot be restored .</P><P>Someone renewing with a lower estimate doesn’t affect the actual speed they are receiving, it will remain the same as it was, there is no mechanism or reason why the network provider would intervene for someone renewing at a lower estimate and reduce performance ,&nbsp;<SPAN>it’s a little paranoid if some suspects that accepting a lower speed estimate somehow will result in a lower actual speed .</SPAN></P><P>Renewal speed estimates can be based on your actual line speed , so if someone had a unreported line fault that was causing a reduction in line speed , the reduction in actual speed would cause a reduction in the estimate speed, if an underlying fault is repaired, and the actual speed improves as a result, the estimate speed should also improve.</P><P>On a more general note , the more users on a cabinet , the more the likelihood of crosstalk that can cause a reduction in speed&nbsp;</P> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:54:06 GMT iniltous 2023-04-16T17:54:06Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288961#M345780 <P>A very general question, but I'm shopping around for a new Boradband and TV deal and one thing with BT puzzles me... the speed is 20% lower than last time, and <STRONG>half</STRONG> what it was in 2016. The last renewal was a lower speed than the time before.</P><P>The people on the phone always say they can't give me a reason, but in general, what causes this? To many houses? Feels like a but of a shafting considering the price rises for the "improvements to the broadband newtwork" <span class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":face_with_tears_of_joy:">😂</span></P><P>Estimated Speed:</P><P>2023: 32Mbs (Fibre Halo 3+)<BR />2021: 28Mbs (Fibre 1)<BR />2016: 55Mbs&nbsp;(<SPAN>Infinity 1)</SPAN></P><P>Guaranteed:</P><P>2023: 26Mbs&nbsp;(Fibre Halo 3+)<BR />2021: 33Mbs&nbsp;(Fibre 1)<BR />2016: 50Mbs (<SPAN>Infinity 1)</SPAN></P> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:15:05 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288961#M345780 mcman 2023-04-16T17:15:05Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288962#M345781 <P>A reduction in the estimate doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction in performance, it’s just an estimate, a point at which being released from contractual commitments can be applied, if this speed cannot be restored .</P><P>Someone renewing with a lower estimate doesn’t affect the actual speed they are receiving, it will remain the same as it was, there is no mechanism or reason why the network provider would intervene for someone renewing at a lower estimate and reduce performance ,&nbsp;<SPAN>it’s a little paranoid if some suspects that accepting a lower speed estimate somehow will result in a lower actual speed .</SPAN></P><P>Renewal speed estimates can be based on your actual line speed , so if someone had a unreported line fault that was causing a reduction in line speed , the reduction in actual speed would cause a reduction in the estimate speed, if an underlying fault is repaired, and the actual speed improves as a result, the estimate speed should also improve.</P><P>On a more general note , the more users on a cabinet , the more the likelihood of crosstalk that can cause a reduction in speed&nbsp;</P> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:54:06 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288962#M345781 iniltous 2023-04-16T17:54:06Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288964#M345783 <BLOCKQUOTE><P>it’s a little paranoid if some suspects that accepting a lower speed estimate somehow will result in a lower actual speed .</P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Can you expand on why you feel this is paranoia? Thes speeds are literally in black and white in my welcome emails for basic broadband upon each previous renewal, and the speed quoted for this year is the top package available to me.</P><P>My area has had some massive housing developments built in recent years, BT says it cant tell me if this is the problem, but I'm guessing overprovision is the problem.</P><P>&nbsp;</P> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:12:30 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288964#M345783 mcman 2023-04-16T18:12:30Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288970#M345784 <BLOCKQUOTE><a href="https://community.bt.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/200166">@mcman</a>wrote:<BR /><P>A very general question, but I'm shopping around for a new Boradband and TV deal and one thing with BT puzzles me... the speed is 20% lower than last time, and <STRONG>half</STRONG> what it was in 2016. The last renewal was a lower speed than the time before.</P><P>The people on the phone always say they can't give me a reason, but in general, what causes this? To many houses? Feels like a but of a shafting considering the price rises for the "improvements to the broadband newtwork" <span class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":face_with_tears_of_joy:">😂</span></P><HR /></BLOCKQUOTE><P>BT changed a few years back to how they calculated customers estimated speeds, back in 2016 it was done using what BT think you should get and used data from nearby customers.<BR />This later changed again to be more accurate and refind but still using an average of properties on the same connection/vacinty<BR />Now it's done using actual and recently observed speeds which is far more accurate but if you had a fault recently, then the observed speeds drop as well, which gives a lower estimate and lower stayfast guarantee.</P><P>Essentially BT are under promising to over deliver, estimate a bit lower means when you get more you're happy.</P><P><BR />Then just to add some more confusion, you'll see other ISP's offer faster estimates because they have no observed speeds, so it looks tempting to switch but really nothing changes, they don't have accurate data so give a best guess, also ISPs will now offer an average speed of that package, which is made up of what 50% of their customer base get during peak times, which is why some rural people complain other ISP won't serve them and start shouting about a monoploy, slower speed customers reduce their average which makes their packages slower.</P> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:50:13 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288970#M345784 -Richie- 2023-04-16T18:50:13Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288972#M345785 <P>My download speed has been around the same for several renewals - but the guaranteed stay fast speed kept dropping.</P><P>It got to the point they would only guarantee 24Mbps&nbsp; -&nbsp; even though 29Mpbs is needed for a single BT Ultimate stream on the BTtv box. So effectively they would not provide a guarantee on a service I was paying for.</P><P>Eventually got it put back to a realistic 44Mpbs.</P> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 19:08:14 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2288972#M345785 ozsat 2023-04-16T19:08:14Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289007#M345791 <P>If the property in question isn't currently supplied by BT, the system will provide a low estimate. This happened to us, BT estimated 32mbps as the previous tenants were with Sky. Once our BT services were connected, we synced at 103mbps... This is on fttc with g-fast&nbsp;</P> Mon, 17 Apr 2023 06:12:11 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289007#M345791 NigelB72 2023-04-17T06:12:11Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289071#M345796 <BLOCKQUOTE><P><SPAN>If the property in question isn't currently supplied by BT, the system will provide a low estimate. This happened to us, BT estimated 32mbps as the previous tenants were with Sky. Once our BT services were connected, we synced at 103mbps... This is on fttc with g-fast&nbsp;</SPAN></P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Interesting, but all three guaranteed speeds I gave were for BT renewals, and the highest speed I have had on paper from BT was the first contract after moving from Sky, in which both the estimated and guaranteed speeds were twice as fast as the respective maximum they will guarantee now.</P><P>Around 30Mbs seems to be a common number based on these replies, is this normal now?</P> Mon, 17 Apr 2023 11:42:53 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289071#M345796 mcman 2023-04-17T11:42:53Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289079#M345800 <P>I think it's because even though Sky are on the Openreach network, they unbundle at the exchange which means the Speed Estimate is literally based on the average in the area on a standard connection.</P><P>Once we got connected with BT at whatever was the fastest quoted speed, I re-contracted at the higher speed and higher Stay Fast Guarantee via g-fast&nbsp;</P> Mon, 17 Apr 2023 12:17:17 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289079#M345800 NigelB72 2023-04-17T12:17:17Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289123#M345806 <P>If ( for arguments sake ) I had a sync rate of 75Mb , at renewal the ‘estimate’ &nbsp;had reduced to 60Mb , if I were still syncing at 75Mb it’s completely irrelevant, the paranoia quip , is if anyone in this situation thinks that either their ISP or Openreach then take a conscious decision to reduce speed simply because the consumer renewed with a lower speed estimate, they don’t, even if that were possible ( and it isn’t ) why on earth would they want to ?</P><P>The speed available is the best a line can provide upto the limit imposed by the speed profile purchased, lines can deteriorate or be influenced by ‘noise’ , most notably crosstalk, and that can affect the achievable speed , it’s unfortunate that cabinets that are ‘busy’ are more likely to have some customers who have a reduced speed ( compared to what they may have previously enjoyed ) due to the proximity of a ‘new’ FTTC customer, on an adjacent pair in the copper network, however it’s also true that a ‘proper’ faulty line that has a seen lower speed estimate as a consequence of that physical fault ( battery , earth, high resistance, partial short etc ) , if repaired, will see an improvement in sync speed and the estimate will follow that upwards…</P> Mon, 17 Apr 2023 15:53:33 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289123#M345806 iniltous 2023-04-17T15:53:33Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289149#M345813 <P>Thank for all your answers.<BR /><BR />The simplest explanation is probably the demand caused by the volume of housing built in the area over the last decade and I guess a lack of investment to match.<BR /><BR />There is not even a difference between Fibre 1 and 2 speeds on my renewal page, and of course, no still no full fibre. The speeds are less than they use as an average on the Essentials marketing.<BR /><BR />The best they can offer is 32 Mps. It's not good enough in 2023. Still, no other provider will be better and I guess that's why nothing will change.</P> Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:58:59 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2289149#M345813 mcman 2023-04-17T16:58:59Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2419260#M358391 <P>I have been with BT for some 32 years plus - and over 17 at my current address. (and yes more fool me for being loyal) When I first moved here I was on Fibre 2 - and was achieving 72 MB DL - and there was a 46mb dl guarantee (FTTC)...&nbsp; over the years that guaranteed speed has dropped down - 43, 36, 27 and now I look at renewing it is only 17..!!&nbsp; - I have had to endure arguments about UGC requiring replacement (which did improve the service a little) - This said I have have had a stable connection with average connection of 36-40 mbps down and 6-7 up.&nbsp; &nbsp;I am now out of contract - and see that openreach are in our area installing FTTP - and am a sad muppet who rather likes the BT feel - and don't like having to change emails etc... and need a landline - but - I have no way of finding out when BT will be FTTP!&nbsp; could be this year, or next or... even later - and the added issue is now my partners work is stating we MUST have a minimum of 40down and 10up - which BT cannot promise...&nbsp; and as we both work from home - this is forcing my hand to consider moving (which is daunting to me as I hate change - a neurological thing I have).&nbsp; &nbsp;But it is very interesting that over the years the guaranteed speeds have dropped - (I have the evidence through my contracts - which I have kept over the years - and&nbsp; various emails when resolving poor service) - despite this - over the years - apart from the odd bad customer service operator - which is expected in such a large corp - I have had good service and care.</P><P>So - yes - <STRONG>the guaranteed speeds are dropping</STRONG> - and it is likely due to the age of the copper networks and the growing demands on them - and Fibre to Cabinet still being reliant on the old cables to the house which are prone to weather interference - heavy traffic etc.&nbsp; so not being able to cope with higher speeds.&nbsp; Also the provider not wanting to fall foul of legislation where they have to compensate if they don't provide what they guarantee.</P><P>Also - does any one know where I can 'nail down an accurate timing' for FTTP availability in my area - - otherwise I will be forced to move to alternative providers such as City Fibre (and those using their installations) or Virgin Fibre...&nbsp; (as I said I struggle with change and Like my email, my included virus package...&nbsp; etc and having all in one package - rather than having to go through multiple providers - albeit the recent EE merger has cause me stress too.. <span class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":disappointed_face:">😞</span></P> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:45:47 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2419260#M358391 HoodedOracle 2024-12-19T09:45:47Z https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2419271#M358394 <P>Spoken to a couple of wonderfully helpful customer care operatives <span class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":slightly_smiling_face:">🙂</span> - apparently OpenReach install FTTP in my area in happening at the moment and should be ready in a couple of months.&nbsp; &nbsp;So hopefully my wife and I can ride that out and move to FTTP in Feb next year -&nbsp;</P><P>&nbsp;</P> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:47:13 GMT https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Why-would-broadband-speed-drop-every-renewal-Please-move-posted/m-p/2419271#M358394 HoodedOracle 2024-12-19T10:47:13Z