BT offers free 20Mbps upgrade

August 18, 2017

Millions of BT customers are to be given a free broadband speed upgrade, Britain’s biggest fixed-line provider announced this week.

Customers in certain areas on BT’s up-to-8Mbps service will have their connection automatically increased to 20Mbps.

BT customers will also be given the chance to order a free BT Broadband Accelerator, boosting their connection to help them reach the maximum available speed.

Although the Accelerator itself is free, customers will be required to contribute £1.20 towards postage costs.

Customers requesting the upgrade will also have to renew their contract with BT, although the monthly cost of the contract will remain unchanged.

“The BT Broadband Accelerator can make a big difference to the speed of your broadband,” said John Petter, managing director of BT’s consumer division.

“We think it is so important that we’ve taken the decision to offer it to our customers for just the cost of the postage.”

“We have a track record of not charging customers any more when we increase the speed, and this time is no different.

“BT broadband customers won’t have to pay any more to get higher speeds.”

However, BT warned that there’s no guarantee the Accelerator will speed up a customer’s connection.

“Although speed improvements are likely, they cannot be guaranteed,” the company said in a statement.

“Even if it does not improve speed the device can help stabilise broadband lines making them even more reliable.”

Around 10 million BT users will receive the automatic upgrade to 20Mbps, equivalent to 40% of UK homes and businesses.