1.6Gb Package OR Website

Basically the OR website says up to 1.6Gbps but when trying to order via Zen they say no it’s capped at 900Mbps. Just wonder what’s going on here and why the discrepancy? I can order this package from Vodafone and EE website it seems.

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

Basically the OR website says up to 1.6Gbps but when trying to order via Zen they say no it’s capped at 900Mbps. Just wonder what’s going on here and why the discrepancy? I can order this package from Vodafone and EE website it seems.

Zen run their own backhaul called Plexus connected via cable links, Zen must consider they don't have the capacity to offer you higher than 900Mbps.

I see… what confused me was their answer.

“I am pleased to see that we can offer a full fibre service on the Open Reach network but this is capped at 1gb”

They seemed to attribute this cap to Openreach rather than themselves.

If you can order it via a different provider then its not an Openreach imposed limitation.

Yeh seem EE and Vodafone offer it but I am not considering either of these.

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

Yeh seem EE and Vodafone offer it but I am not considering either of these.

To be honest I wouldn't touch Zen with a barge pole but thats just my view. Its why we all go with different providers

I have checked idnet (need static IP) they don’t show it available so contacted them for further info.

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

I have checked idnet (need static IP) they don’t show it available so contacted them for further info.

Sadly the static IP limits your options, this is not a recommendation but have you looked at Aquiss as they do static IP?

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

I have checked idnet (need static IP) they don’t show it available so contacted them for further info.

Sadly the static IP limits your options, this is not a recommendation but have you looked at Aquiss as they do static IP?

They do but on OR atm its only 1gbits

In reply to a post by Taras:

They do but on OR atm its only 1gbits

Thanks for clarifying

obviously on cityfibre that is different and they have higher speeds

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

Basically the OR website says up to 1.6Gbps but when trying to order via Zen they say no it’s capped at 900Mbps. Just wonder what’s going on here and why the discrepancy? I can order this package from Vodafone and EE website it seems.

Sure.

Some of the OLTs that provide both the backhaul for FTTC cabinets and for FTTP Zen only have a single gigabit connection to for their own network. Where this is the case they'll offer at most 550/75.

They may offer the 900 service using BT Wholesale. They can't offer 1.2 or 1.8 over BT Wholesale as they don't use the BT Wholesale product needed to get it.

Vodafone have their own 10 Gbit connection to the OLT so can order the 1.8 Gbit direct from Openreach.

TL;DR Zen don't have the capacity to sell more than 550/75 on their own connection to Openreach and their wholesaler will only sell them 900 through theirs, so that's all they can do.

Hi,

Thanks for the explanation.

Decisions Decisions.....

I discounted EE at first but I am considering them again on a 12 month plan just for the extra speed (1.6Gbps) which would be useful for work (deal with very large software download and digital imaging) but no static IP, that would have been useful as it can be the case that customers at work need to whitelist this IP for access. I'd expect that the IP on EE wouldn't change much a bit like the current VM one.


Otherwise its Aquiss or IDNet in the running if I decide that the 900Mbps package will do and the static IP is a must!

As the static IP is going to be a requirement for work (could work around it with a VPN client from router and route work traffic through its but having a static IP is less hassle).

Singled this down to Vodafone (1.6Gbps package) or Aquiss (900Mbps package).

I know Vodafone CS is pretty bad but it seems the actual connection seems good and reliable.

Anyone on the 1.6Gbps package with Vodafone can comment?

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

As the static IP is going to be a requirement for work (could work around it with a VPN client from router and route work traffic through its but having a static IP is less hassle).

Singled this down to Vodafone (1.6Gbps package) or Aquiss (900Mbps package).

I know Vodafone CS is pretty bad but it seems the actual connection seems good and reliable.

Anyone on the 1.6Gbps package with Vodafone can comment?

Out of interest do your customers push the data (you talk about) onto a server or NAS running on your local network via the static IP?

No it's all corporate so usually shared via onedrive or dropbox, that type of service so then I have to download it.

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

No it's all corporate so usually shared via onedrive or dropbox, that type of service so then I have to download it.

So you're saying you need a fixed IP so you can connect to a remote cloud storage where a whitelist controls access? if so why not use a VPN provider who offers a fixed IP then you can give the fixed IP address to your customers who use whitelists. You can then work remotely from home and still use the VPN provider to get access while you're anywhere in the world not just when you're at home..

Edited by PCJM40 (Wed 16-Jul-25 11:40:13)

No, sorry. The customers I deal with at work are usually big Pharma so they lock down their networks pretty tight and required our IP so they can whitelist for remote access into the network (some provide access via their own VPN, others through whitelisted IP)

Edited by SamBGB (Wed 16-Jul-25 11:50:09)

OK if its that critical for business then you really should be looking at a business graded ISP that provides a static IP

Signed up with EE. Activation due 30th July.

I found an alternative for the static IP using A&A L2TP service, I usually only need this to login to certain secured systems where download speed doesn't matter, seems to be working nicely so far.

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

Signed up with EE. Activation due 30th July.

I found an alternative for the static IP using A&A L2TP service, I usually only need this to login to certain secured systems where download speed doesn't matter, seems to be working nicely so far.

EE is BT isn’t it? I’m keen to avoid them. IDNet is my choice.

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

I found an alternative for the static IP using A&A L2TP service, I usually only need this to login to certain secured systems where download speed doesn't matter, seems to be working nicely so far.

Glad you found a solution but hopefully you realise that a L2TP service works like an unencrypted VPN? when I suggested a VPN provider (with a fixed IP address) in an earlier post you said it wouldn't work for you.

I have considered that but part of the issue with the other VPN providers is that their IPs are associated with "VPN Providers" so cause some issues with some services for that reason (being detected its a VPN)

In reply to a post by SamBGB:

I have considered that but part of the issue with the other VPN providers is that their IPs are associated with "VPN Providers" so cause some issues with some services for that reason (being detected its a VPN)

The A&A service also gives you the ability to request more static IPv4, and a range of IPv6. A typical VPN service will normally block inbound as they are aimed at those who want to secure public WiFi or trying to get around regional blocks.

So in the end I've decided against EE as I think I need the static IP more than I need the extra speed! so I have signed up with Aquiss instead. Just waiting on an activation date.

I did look at IDNET but I understand they use some of Zen backhaul (Zen isn't at this exchange if that makes a difference or not) which can be a bit funky for what I was reading but since they are not in this exchange perhaps that wouldn't have made a difference.

Either way I think Aquiss is a solid choice.