Bulldog Doubles Broadband Speed

[Gareth]

More details: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04...dog_broadband/

Bulldog has cut the ribbon on a faster broadband service that provides speeds of up to 16 meg.

The local loop unbundling (LLU) operator - owned by Cable & Wireless (C&W) - says its decision to double the speed of its existing service makes use of ADSL2+ technology and provides upload speeds of 1 meg.

Blimey, supposedly available for ½ the UK in September, and all for £25 p/month!

[bopdude]

Sounds like another one to add to my 'watch this space' list

[smee05]

if bulldog can break the 10 meg barrier....i cant see NTL lagging too far behind

[Hans Gruber]

Could be interesting, meant to be available in my area in June. Not close enough for 16mbit though

[Paul K]

I wouldn't hold your breath for the promised speeds, numerous people are still struggling to get more than half their "supposed top speed" from their service. You can only hope they handle this launch better than their last effort and that they pull their finger out and resolve their billing and CS/ TS issues that are still plaguing them and many of their customers

If they do solve the problems then I don't mind trialling any new speeds they want.... only 1/4 mile from our exchange here!!

[AdamD]

Can't see any option for current customers to upgrade, doh
Yet the site says you can, but it'll cost £20 or £30, depending on how you do it. (Online vs customer services)

How much does it cost to upgrade to DoubleSpeed Broadband?

• There is a standard service re-grade administration fee of £20 / £30 via your online account / Customer Service respectively. DoubleSpeed Broadband services (Unlimited Plus / Anytime Plus) cost an extra £5 / month on top of their standard 8 meg service counterparts (Unlimited / Anytime).

[AdamD]

Just got some more details, the actuall upgrade will be to 24mb, not 16, but they're quoting 16mb as a "safe figure"

From customer service:

Q: So, its 16Mb download and 1Mb upload?
A: Correct, although the 16Mb is just a "safe" figure. For lines that can handle more, potentially its up to 24Mb.

Q: So basically if my line was able to get 24Mb, I can get that?
A: Yes sir, the 16Mb is just a level figure, but in theory you will get whatever your line can support up to 24Mb.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Gareth

More details: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04...dog_broadband/

Blimey, supposedly available for ½ the UK in September, and all for £25 p/month!

Don't forget to add the additional £10.50 for the compulsorily phone line

[James Henry]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Don't forget to add the additional £10.50 for the compulsorily phone line

All ADSL requires a phone line, unfair to consider it as part of the price of the internet service unless you don't use a landline. Very few people don't.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by James Henry

All ADSL requires a phone line, unfair to consider it as part of the price of the internet service unless you don't use a landline. Very few people don't.

However those considering moving from Ntl currently don't have to have a phone line tied to their BB.

As you know, in fact they have one tied to their TV, bit of a bugger if you're not made aware that you'll need to potentially pay for both (assuming you're only moving your BB and not your TV.

In effect it makes the BB £10.50 more expensive than you thought it was. It's an old debate on here, some think it's fair not to include the additional cost of bundled phone lines some don't.

[Chrysalis]

refreshing to see an isp not advertise a speed that a tiny % would see.

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

refreshing to see an isp not advertise a speed that a tiny % would see.

Yep, exactly what i thought when i read it
Although there will be the few that brag about "upto 24mbps" to their friends instead :p

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

refreshing to see an isp not advertise a speed that a tiny % would see.

They don't advertise the appalling CS/ TS response and billing issues that a % of their customers see too but that's another story lol.

[Chrysalis]

billing is their weakness but rather that then network performance imo, saying that other isps have bad billing and bad network so I know which I would prefer.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

billing is their weakness but rather that then network performance imo, saying that other isps have bad billing and bad network so I know which I would prefer.

To give a fair appraisal, I'd say my connection is fairly rock solid, the issue comes when things do go wrong. Bulldog blame BT, or they don't log the issue with their own tecs. they know about major issues with exchanges but don't post it on the status page.

Their billing is a real issue - when you start with them it seems to take forever to get on to a regular bill. Once you get a regular monthly bill you have trouble getting them to take the money from your account. Even when you've been with them for some time and been having your money taken every month the billing system seems to forget about you and stops taking your money. It's then a fight to get them to take money from you - many can't get Bulldog to take money from them when this happens and then end up with huge bills they never wanted.

Personally that'd be enough to put me off joining them.