BIOS: Technology Means Business

BT has made 2MB broadband standard for all customers - at no extra cost. Indeed, the company has even dropped its monthly subscription prices by £2. The move means BT's entire family of retail consumer and business broadband products will now come with 2MB as standard. Unlike some upgrades, BT's existing customers will be upgraded automatically and free of charge.

In February, BT gave all its retail broadband customers speeds up to four times faster at no extra cost. Now, existing customers on Broadband Basic (£15.99 per month), BT's entry level service, will start to be migrated from up to 1MB to up to 2MB. And new customers on Broadband Basic will receive up to 2MB as standard.

Gavin Patterson, group managing director, consumer, said: 'The announcement creates a standard of a minimum broadband speed of 2MB for all our retail broadband services. We won't be asking existing customers on Broadband Basic to do anything or pay anything for this upgraded service. These higher speeds open up a wealth of new possibilities for the use of broadband such as high quality video over broadband, online gaming and superfast downloads of music tracks and film clips.'

Patterson added: 'Customers are demanding more from their broadband through the explosion of new content and applications. High speed broadband is key to meeting that demand and delivering these new services to a mass market. The future 'battleground' in broadband will be in differentiating services rather than price and speed as it is today and, with this upgrade, BT will concentrate on addressing these new challenges.

'Our new family of broadband packages will make it easier for our customers to choose the right product for their needs, according to the amount they actually use the Internet - now low Internet users can enjoy even faster broadband for a low monthly price.'

Broadband from BT is subject to availability and survey. If your line won't support 2MB, BT should offer the best speed available for your line. A BT line or similar non-cable line is required and usage allowances apply. For more information regarding prices and services, click here.