Hold On to Your Wallet, Brits!
It may play out on April Fool’s day, but the truth is no joke: millions of UK customers could see their broadband bills climb by as much as 8.8% thanks to sneaky in‑contract price hikes.
Why the Price Spike?
Broadband firms are raising rates to keep up with the rabbit‑ish climb of inflation and business costs. Yet a recent study from G.Network, a full‑fibre champion, shows London’s businesses and consumers feel stuck in a slow‑poke internet trap.
- Only 33% of Londoners actively seek a new provider, mainly because current prices are driving them mad (36% are price‑driven).
- Speed doesn’t match the cost: Londoners lose about 42 hours yearly battling sluggish connections.
G.Network’s Stand
Kevin Murphy, the CEO, warned: “It’s unfair to catch folks in brutal in‑contract hikes for a service that barely meets expectations. Signing a contract means you should know the exact price you’re paying—no surprise inflation bumps. Customers deserve transparency.”
In response, G.Network is pledging:
- No in‑contract price hikes.
- Competitive, market‑beating rates.
- Up to £150 cashback for those who leave current contracts during this April craze.
- 13× faster gigafast full‑fibre broadband.
Business Pain Point
For the corporate crowd:
- 37% of London business leaders say poor internet hampers productivity.
- Key pain spots: customer service (34%), document access (33%), research (33%), and even financial transactions (30%).
- Cost is a bottleneck—average monthly charges for a symmetrical 1Gbps business connection hover around £336 (some can hit £610). G.Network offers the same speed for as little as £159.
Another hurdle: wayleave agreements—a legal dance between landlords, tenants, and providers to install fibre in offices. Skipping this step can block full‑fibre installations, dragging productivity down.
Murphy added: “Fast, reliable broadband is the lifeblood of modern businesses. Yet, needless obstacles like complex wayleave deals keep many from achieving fibre connectivity. Providers must match businesses on cost and Service Level Agreements to keep the capital’s productivity high.”
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