Letter re new Smart Hub 2 and free upgrade to fibre service

[JaneJanie]

Hello folks

I have received a letter in the post today telling me that I will be receiving a new Smart Hub 2 in the post in the next week and that on the 17th April my current copper connection will be turned off and I will be switched to fibre broadband. I am told in the letter that this will be completely free. However, I have not requested this upgrade and dare I say of the mindset that if it ain't broke don't fix it. My needs for the internet are perfectly satisfied by my current situation and as (touch wood) I have had no problems with my connection since I moved over 6 years ago so I am loathe to upset the boat. Similarly, whilst there are assurances that there will be no increase to my charges I am not convinced!

I was wondering if anyone else had gone through a similar situation or whether anyone has any thoughts about whether a customer can be forced to change over - certainly the suggestion in the letter is that there is no option as it has been made clear in said letter that I am likely to experience a loss in service if I have not set up the new hub by 17 April.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts.

[imjolly]

this has been posted before  https://community.bt.com/t5/Bills-Packages/Confused-about-fibre-switch-over/td-p/1996236

[Keith_Beddoe]

@JaneJanie 

You are not forced to upgrade, simply ring 0800 917 3245 and tell them you do not want the upgrade, and you will not be included in the programme.

[licquorice]

However, I suspect there will be some point in the future when ADSL is turned off and you will have to upgrade.

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@licquorice wrote:

However, I suspect there will be some point in the future when ADSL is turned off and you will have to upgrade.

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They would need an awful lot more cabinets to be installed, or more FTTP, before that even becomes a remote possibility.

The issue is that BT and other providers, can make more money by selling other services, that are only available on faster connections.

Most new ADSL connections now come from MSANS in the exchange, which are also used to deliver other services, so they are unlikely to be turned off.

[imjolly]

enter your phone number and this will show your expected speed range should you move to fibre bearing in mind the upgrade would be to superfast 1 with speed limited to 55/10mb

https://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/adslchecker.welcome

[pippincp]

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@licquorice wrote:

However, I suspect there will be some point in the future when ADSL is turned off and you will have to upgrade.

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The PSDN network will be turned off sometime in 2025.

[brookheather]

BT have stopped selling ADSL for properties that can get FTTC - you may find that you are unable to re-contract with BT for ADSL if you want a discounted rate so for the best renewal price you will probably have to move to FTTC anyway.

[David]

Hi @JaneJanie 

BT announced back in October that they would upgrade 700,000 ADSL customers to FTTC for free without  any requirement of recontracting as you say your ADSL connection suits your requirements but the upgrade would give you a better overall quality of service.

Thanks,

David.

[Keith_Beddoe]

But FTTC introduces another point of failure (external fibre cabinets) and possible instability due to the much higher frequencies being passed down copper cables which were never designed to carry them.

It really depends on whether more speed is actually needed.

Many people are quite happy with the speed ADSL supplies, especially if they are close to the exchange.