G.Fast ISP's

I checked my account with TalkTalk, who currently supply me with a G.Fast package, and seeing it's got about 6 months left I wanted to see what other providers still offer G.Fast. I am looking to have as minimum term contract as possible.

Imagine my surprise to find out UNO no longer offer G.Fast, they did up until September. As far as I can tell Pulse8 no longer offer it, but i am waiting for an e-mail from them. Can't find anything on IDNet's site but I am sure they did offer it. Cerberus do appear to offer it but their ordering system is poor.

So, my concern is either I have to stay with TT (and potentially pay a lot more out of contract), or move to FTTC.

I was told by an Openreach engineer sometime last year that the arear is getting FTTP but despite me checking the Wholesale checker every month, and a local road having it installed, it is not currently available here. But could it be in 6 or so months?

Does anyone know of G.Fast ISP's (apart from the big operators) and the future of G.Fast?

Thanks in advance.

Andrews & Arnold offer G.FAST

https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/home1/gfast-prices/

Cheers!

In reply to a post by Ancient_Mariner:

Andrews & Arnold offer G.FAST

https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/home1/gfast-prices/

Cheers!

Thank you! I had totally forgot about A&A

G.fast still offering by this ISP: https://www.filesanctuary.net/broadband/sogfast

Also UnchainedISP will offer SoGfast 160/30 & 330/50 but you have to request via ISP ticket as they don't put on website yet.

Don't worry too much about Cerberus' ordering system: it may be a bit manual but there will be a real human being who pushes your order through.

Of course, you need to compare the total cost of 12 months with Cerberus or A.N.Other provider (including any setup fee), versus the total cost of a new 24 month contract with TT, versus 12 months on TT out-of-contract pricing. If they're almost the same, then you might as well take the new TT contract. At worst, you end up with an extra G.Fast connection alongside your FTTP for a while.

It's tough having to gamble on FTTP availability when it may happen soon, or but maybe not for 2 or more years.

I went to G.fast from FTTC for next 12 months because the FTTP won't be available in my area until around 2025/26

In reply to a post by adslmax:

G.fast still offering by this ISP: https://www.filesanctuary.net/broadband/sogfast

Also UnchainedISP will offer SoGfast 160/30 & 330/50 but you have to request via ISP ticket as they don't put on website yet.

UnchainedISP has now updated their website for Sogfast 160/30 and 330/50 but beware - it very costy and expensive 160/30 will cost you £60 a month and 330/50 will cost you £70 a month.

https://i.ibb.co/Yhk5yWV/Screenshot.png

Edited by adslmax (Wed 17-Jan-24 23:52:14)

Hi CJT,

Was in a similar position as out of contract with BT Business and looking to move to a new supplier but found options are limited. Have gone with Cerberus and also taking their MyVoice option. Due to have a simultaneous migration of Broadband to SOG.Fast and PSTN to MyVoice (VOIP) on 2nd February so can update after that point if all went well. The ordering process was actually pretty straight forward in that created an account after putting stuff in basket and submitted along with filling in payment details, info about current supplier etc. Have had good comms from them to update on the process.

Waiting for my ATA to arrive (they will pre-config this). but apparently the VOIP is already set up so I could use via a mobile or PC client (or VOIP phone if I had one).

In reply to a post by adslmax:

UnchainedISP has now updated their website for Sogfast 160/30 and 330/50 but beware - it very costy and expensive 160/30 will cost you £60 a month and 330/50 will cost you £70 a month.

https://i.ibb.co/Yhk5yWV/Screenshot.png

adslmax

Thanks for the update, apologies for not replying sooner I have not been well.

I reached out to Unchained and they confirmed their prices for me.

Glad to see they are now on their website.

In reply to a post by NGDragon:

Hi CJT,

Was in a similar position as out of contract with BT Business and looking to move to a new supplier but found options are limited. Have gone with Cerberus and also taking their MyVoice option. Due to have a simultaneous migration of Broadband to SOG.Fast and PSTN to MyVoice (VOIP) on 2nd February so can update after that point if all went well. The ordering process was actually pretty straight forward in that created an account after putting stuff in basket and submitted along with filling in payment details, info about current supplier etc. Have had good comms from them to update on the process.

Waiting for my ATA to arrive (they will pre-config this). but apparently the VOIP is already set up so I could use via a mobile or PC client (or VOIP phone if I had one).

Hi NGDragon,

Thanks for the info, I look forward to finding out how your installation went after today!

I'd be interested to know what their VoIP service is like as well.

Sorry to hear you been unwell. Yes. Unchained ISP are the best provider by mile ahead. Keith are very good and understand of the broadband technology side with openreach and btwholesale. You won't regret it m8. My sogfast was very stable 241/41 for nearly two months now. Happy overall. I know how expensive they are but you are getting the top priority service and that's what you are paying for. The service and support are top of the priority and Keith will reply straight away. And also the price will never increase as long you are their customer.

Many other isps are long term contract 18 to 24 months and it goes put off customers like me for me.

Let me know how you get on with sogfast service. Remember you need the openreach gfast modem or gfast router but it easy to find it via ebays.

So,

I just wanted to give you all a quick update.

Having reached out to the suggested providers all of them got back to me.

Uno no longer offer G.Fast following the stop /sell of WLR last September.

Pulse8 advised having had issues with G.Fast the decided to stop offering it, which is a shame as I would have gladly migrated to them.

A&A can offer G.Fast ranging from £45.00 (without their copper pair) for 160/30 (1TB allowance) up to £75.00 (including their copper pair) for 330/50 (with a 10TB allowance).

Unchained and File Sanctury offered good prices and were tempting.

However, I have had confirmed by TalkTalk that as I signed up to a "no price rise" package (for which I pay a bit extra per month) my price will remain at £32 per month (inc line rental) when my existing 24 month contract's Min Term expires, therefore I won't leave TT unless their either jump my price up or I finally get FTTP available where I live.

Thanks for everyones input it was grately appreciated!

In reply to a post by CJT:

However, I have had confirmed by TalkTalk that as I signed up to a "no price rise" package (for which I pay a bit extra per month) my price will remain at £32 per month (inc line rental) when my existing 24 month contract's Min Term expires, therefore I won't leave TT unless their either jump my price up or I finally get FTTP available where I live.

Thanks for everyones input it was grately appreciated!

There u go, best to stay on with your TT £32 a month for G.fast 160/30. Does your line good enough to get higher speed 330/50?

Edited by adslmax (Fri 02-Feb-24 18:37:32)

In reply to a post by adslmax:

There u go, best to stay on with your TT £32 a month for G.fast 160/30. Does your line good enough to get higher speed 330/50?

Hi adslmax

I am very close to the cabinet, so should get 330/50 if I changed products.

You are very lucky to be much closer to the cabinet. Does TT offer you best deal for 330/50 if upgraded?

Presumably the issue with doing that is that you currently have WLR3 with G.fast on top of it, and if TalkTalk don't offer SOGFAST then you have no migration path.

So, migration took place at approx 02:00 on Friday morning, updated credentials and all appeared to be working fine. Latency is a tad higher than it was with BT (bit more spiky yellow in the BQM) but not seen anything that is impacting the connection and don't expect I will. The email appeared to show that it would be an engineer visit but clearly not required (I did previously have an engineer when moving from BT retail to BT Business- both G.Fast), and I was hoping for a new modem from Openreach!!!

The phone porting from BT to VOIP took place later in the day (possibly about 18:00 but I was out), the ATA arrived on Friday but I didn't set it up until Saturday, all appears to work when phoning to/from my mobile but too early to really comment on the quality of calls etc. yet. Have had an issue with the ATA disconnecting from network overnight Sat/Sun but that is most likely an internal issue at my end so made a change and will keep an eye on it.

Updated: I have now swapped over to Openreach G.fast Modem and that's surprised me getting better sync rate in downstream (up from 241 to 269) but the upstream (down from 41 to 34) but that's doesn't bother me at all because downstream are more important role for all devices in the household.

Zyxel Gfast Router: 241/41
Openreach Gfast Modem: 269/34

https://i.ibb.co/1KFVhjy/Gfast-Modem-07-02-2024.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/0tHVwvZ/Broadband-Diagnostics-07-02...

Edited by adslmax (Wed 07-Feb-24 13:18:11)

I never understand why is BTw Checker estimated staying low as 183.4 on range A for G.fast even my Openreach G.fast Modem sync at 272.6. Stupid of BT got it wrong estimated. The BTw checker was the same for a year now. Even the engineer say my G.fast get 255/33 say on his test kit last year.

https://i.ibb.co/jLf7yM2/Engineer-test.png
https://i.ibb.co/C9PsLvh/Gfast-Checker.png

Edited by adslmax (Sun 11-Feb-24 20:02:05)

Sigh - we've explained this many times before Max.

Estimates are estimates, and they are based on a *model* of the physical line plant - the distance from the cabinet, the normal condition of the cabling, an allowance for joints and bends. That's why they give a *range* of speeds. Because of the higher frequencies used, G.Fast is *very* sensitive to variations in the line quality.

If you're very lucky, your line may perform better than predicted - and that's the very fortunate position you find yourself in. It's not something to moan about.