BT possibly to re-take BB crown from NTL

[Zee]

ZDNet UK has run the numbers that show that BT Retail may once again become the largest broadband service provider in the UK. Currently BT Retail has a 24.3% share of the broadband market, which is only 2.4% behind the combined figures for NTL, Telewest & Virgin. A few months previously NTL:Telewest was 5% ahead.
This is not a case of NTL shrinking but its rate of growth appears to be slowing down, and the most likely causes being the limited geographic coverage of the cable broadband services from NTL:Telewest, plus to a lesser extent the renewed advertising campaigns from BT Retail

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communicatio...9283231,00.htm

[Graham M]

It's probably due to Newbies on the Broadband wagon phoning BT because they've heard you get Broadband from BT and not knowing that there are plenty of other providers around.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Zeph

It's probably due to Newbies on the Broadband wagon phoning BT because they've heard you get Broadband from BT and not knowing that there are plenty of other providers around.

Possibly the ntl/Telewest rate is slowing down due to churn. Disgruntled customers or ones accepting a deal that suits their needs better cut into their growth rate.

I think churn is less damaging long term if a customer leaves for a better deal as he is likely to return in the future, unlike one who leaves for a reason like bad service etc.

Churn was always a big problem in ntl, and the only way they combated it was by offering cheap or free service to keep customers a bit longer.

I guess nothing much has changed.

[trebor]

I've just given 1 months notice mainly due to the very poor service provided by NTL so perhaps it's my fault.
the other thing working against NTL is the fact bt are expanding the adsl service whereas the NTL network is not being expanded (correct me if I'm wrong)

[slowcoach]

Originally Posted by Zeph

It's probably due to Newbies on the Broadband wagon phoning BT because they've heard you get Broadband from BT and not knowing that there are plenty of other providers around.

Exactly, and the fact that more people have a BT line so consequently it is less hassle to phone them for broadband. If like me you consequently find that your BT line is crap you then start to look for alternatives.

[Gopher]

Originally Posted by Zeph

It's probably due to Newbies on the Broadband wagon phoning BT because they've heard you get Broadband from BT and not knowing that there are plenty of other providers around.

Or NTL's Continued inabillity to offer BROADBAND for the Harrow area

[Graham M]

Wow, 1 single area... BT don't cover 100% of the UK still and I don't think they ever will

[scrotnig]

Actually, for n00bs, BT are among the best.

Overall I'd only recommend either BT or NTL. Both have their issues butgenerally too many of the alternative ADSL providers have too many problems.

[Zee]

BT covers almost 100% of the UK:

East100%
East Midlands100%
London100%
North East100%
North West100%
Northern Ireland100%
Scotland98%
South East98%
South West100%
Wales99%
West Midlands100%
Yorkshire & Humberside100%

And it isn't just 1 area, NTL or Telewest don't cover even 50% of the UK, since it is so close, if ntl:Telewest were to cover the same amount as BT, they would a lot more ahead then BT in customer numbers.

[Chrysalis]

well ntls foothold is shrinking since as new houses get built and ntl laying no cable this is inevitable.

[Stu038]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

well ntls foothold is shrinking since as new houses get built and ntl laying no cable this is inevitable.

Not just new houses but large areas of existing builds need investment eh mate

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by Zee

BT covers almost 100% of the UK:

East100%
East Midlands100%
London100%
North East100%
North West100%
Northern Ireland100%
Scotland98%
South East98%
South West100%
Wales99%
West Midlands100%
Yorkshire & Humberside100%

And it isn't just 1 area, NTL or Telewest don't cover even 50% of the UK, since it is so close, if ntl:Telewest were to cover the same amount as BT, they would a lot more ahead then BT in customer numbers.

those stats are a bit of spin, you only have to read adslguide to see that people are getting told by BT sorry your line too long broadband wont work. Those stats are based on a big if that all lines can have broadband.