Following the recent usage increases for Plusnet’s Broadband PAYG products; Plusnet’s Basic, Plus and Premier products are now due to see increases from August 1st 2006.

Prices stay the same – included usage allowances will increase, for both new and existing customers.

The highlights include an increase from 50MB to 450MB of included peak-time usage for Plusnet’s recently launched Broadband PAYG Basic product. Broadband Plus Option 1 will rise to 4GB and Premier Option 1 is going to 20GB. All products continue to have no fixed limits off peak.

These usage increases are made possible primarily by Plusnet’s "Workplace" platform managing its broadband network efficiently. All ISPs are now starting to manage their network traffic; Plusnet believes its implementation is leading the market.

Neil Armstrong, Plusnet’s Product Development Director, said: "We are completely transparent about our network traffic management. To the degree that we publish a real time representation of the data transferred across our network on our website*. On our site you can clearly see how much, what type and when data is prioritised. No other ISP is doing this."

The underlying cost of the wholesale broadband infrastructure has been relatively fixed this past couple of years due to a regulatory drive to make investment in LLU attractive. During the same period bandwidth demand has grown across the millions of ADSL broadband users. ISPs have needed to buy more bandwidth from BT Wholesale or restrict the usage per customer to accommodate the overall increase in data transfer. BT Wholesale have benefited from the economies of scale, but not passed on any cost benefit to ISPs.

Armstrong continued: "It’s been frustrating to see a lack of value for money at the wholesale level, hold back Broadband Britain during the past year or so. Now due to the efficient way we deliver data, we can raise usage allowances in advance of expected cost reductions due next spring. UK consumers will no longer be held back."

The efficiency of Plusnet’s network management capability is also underpinned by savings gained by leveraging wholesale LLU. Plusnet is perfectly positioned to continually develop the value offered across its entire product range.

Armstrong continued: "we believe our broadband products and associated line rental deals offer discerning internet users the best product proposition and value for money in the UK."

Notes to editors:

*Peak for PAYG Basic is measured from 8am to midnight. Overnight usage is free.
**Peak for Plus and Premier is measured from 4pm to midnight.

Plusnet PAYG Basic:
We’ll be increasing the included peak-time usage from 50MB to 450MB. Overnight usage remains free of charge.

Plusnet Broadband Plus:
We’ll be increasing the designed peak-time usage from 3GB to 4GB for Option 1, 5GB to 7GB for Option 2 and 8GB to 11GB for Option 3. Outside of peak-times there remains no fixed download limit.

Plusnet Broadband Premier:
We’ll be increasing the designed peak-time usage from 15GB to 20GB on Option 1, 22.5GB to 30GB on Option 2 and from 30GB to 40GB for Option 3. Outside of peak times there remains no fixed download limit.

Also, regarding Option 2 & 3 for both Plus and Premier. This will only be available for existing customers. All customers on Option 1 will be able to upgrade for free. All new customers will have to sign up for Option 1, but can upgrade at any time.

Plusnet Broadband PAYG
PAYG customers recently saw their included usage increased from 1GB to 2GB for our £14.99 per month PAYG product, along with reducing the cost for additional usage to £1.50 per extra 2GB.