Will Fibre 50 cap my upload speed?

[Dabmonger]

I'm moving from NOW to EE, and the fastest option available to me was Fibre 50 (no doubt due to my download speeds being below 50Mbps, whereas the rest of the properties around me in the cul de sac have significantly faster speeds).

However, my typical upload speeds are about 12Mbps. Am I about to be capped at 9Mbps that's stated for Fibre 50?

I phoned EE and went round houses basically, and I got told by more than one operator that I can always leave within 14 days! 

In addition, I was latterly passed to someone in Sales who called me "Mr David" and did not have an accent from the UK & Ireland. I thought all EE call centres are no longer abroad - it doesn't mean that the operator wasn't abroad, but it sure seemed like it.

[Dabmonger]

Yeah, I found the Address Checker in the end 🙂

 Probably the same.

[XRaySpeX]

No change there then. As the Govt. contends the UPRN is an exact & unique ID for properties in UK 🙂 .

[Dabmonger]

Let's see what happens on Tues when the transfer takes place. If the upload speed reduces from 12, which will probably occur, I may well try and phone them again. 

It was said by the last guy that it's an Openreach thing, which is clearly not the case, as I currently have no formal limits being applied.

Thanks very much for all your help.

[XRaySpeX]

In the beginning there was just FTTC technologically capped @ 80 Meg. Fairly soon after most ISPs brought out a cheaper 1/2 speed ISP-capped 40 Meg FTTC. Then sometime later I'm pretty sure it was BT who introduced an intermediate ISP-capped 55 Meg FTTC with upload capped at 10 Meg.

See Fibre Broadband (FTTC / FTTH) Guide 

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How fast is fibre broadband?

Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband comes in three main variants which offer a downstream line connection speed of 80 meg (80 Mbps), 55 meg (55 Mbps) or 40 meg (40 Mbps), but the actual maximum throughput speed of the service will be slightly lower than this at around 76 / 52 / 38 Mbps. Different upstream speeds are available at either 2Mbps or 10Mbps on the 40 Mbps variant, with 10 Mbps on the 55 Mbps version and finally 20 Mbps up on the 80 Mbps. 

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So I'm a bit surprised that Sky NOW has a bigger cap, presumably 20 Meg, on its Fibre 55 Meg plan.

[Dabmonger]

As I was mentioning earlier, I've been well used to choosing FTTP pricing plans in Edinburgh and Poland that are basically a balance between cost and speed. 

With dial-up, I can't remember there being a choice of speeds - it was just so expensive for what you got! 

As for FTTC broadband, I've been used in the past to pricing plans, but I always went for the fastest option. 

On moving from NOW with no cap, I was expecting that the days of FTTC speed choices was a thing of the past. I understand that FTTP is a very different story. 

With BT, I could get "Fiber 2" that would sort out my issue, but I'd get an inferior router and no calls package (I need Anytime Calls for my mum).

[Dabmonger]

I don't even know if Sky has any cheaper capped options anymore. In fact, I very recently took out a Sky contract, and don't remember any speed options when I was purchasing. 

The problem arose however that I would need a Sky engineer and a new phone number, which was a non-starter for me ... so I cancelled. 

I can't believe the hassle of getting uncapped FTTC broadband, anytime calls and no change of phone number. What's the world coming to?!

[Dabmonger]

Just to confirm that the name of the fastest EE FTTC option becomes "Fiber 67 Essentials" under the "Pricing summary" prior to checkout. 

That's why I called it "Fiber 67" on the phone to EE, but when the Guide checked with a manager they were told that "Fiber 67" must refer to Sky - clearly not.

In summary, I just cannot understand why EE would wish to muck about with different speed options, especially since "Fiber 67 Essentials" costs only a quid more a month. I just don't get it really.

[XRaySpeX]

Fibre 67, Fibre 72, Fibre 73, Fibre 74, ... it's all the same thing. It's 80 Meg FTTC connection speed with the no. used in its title just the ISP's estimate of the average speed over all its users as longer lines are not capable of reaching 80 Meg.

[Dabmonger]

Indeed. But it shows that having different names for plans, and having different plans in the first place, just causes issues for EE staff, let alone customers. 

I just don't know why they don't just let FTTC setups operate without caps.

[XRaySpeX]

Range of price banding! Generally you pay more for faster.