Just had an email back from PN Customer Services:

Thanks for getting in touch, FTTP is a product that we are looking to invest in, in the future. So, at the moment we don't have any speed or prices for you, but watch this space!

So I guess I cross them off the (very) short list

Unfortunately many of the sales/support staff are unfamiliar with FTTP, you're be better off asking on their forums, I think prices for the 80/20 speeds would be identical to their FTTC pricing.

PN are trialling FTTP - which means it is not generally known to all their sales & support staff.

When PN trial something, they usually start with technical trials - where the technology itself is being tested - and then gradually move to admin trials, where there systems & procedures are being trialled (including the interaction with BT wholesale and/or Openreach).

FTTP is well past the technology trials now, and is sitting in a more administrative mode. It seems likely to stay with that label until PN put together a full consumer package.

FTTC went through the same thing. My original order went through in exactly this kind of state, just prior to commercial packages being opened.

For better details, look at: PN's Trials Page, and select the FTTP Trial. The packages being offered match the current FTTC packages in speed & usage allowance.

This thread on the PN forum is a recent chat on the same subject.

Note that it is a trial available to their customers, so you'd need to sign up first before upgrading. There's probably a way to confirm that they'd take you on the trial before signing up.

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

For better details, look at: PN's Trials Page, and select the FTTP Trial. The packages being offered match the current FTTC packages in speed & usage allowance.

Access to trial details is to PN customers only, but if prices match fttc packages then seems reasonable

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

This thread on the PN forum is a recent chat on the same subject.

Note that it is a trial available to their customers, so you'd need to sign up first before upgrading. There's probably a way to confirm that they'd take you on the trial before signing up.

I'm already following that thread with interest - the two main posters are on the same exchange as me; they are PN customers already and don't seem to be getting encouraging responses. (Again I can't post on the PN forum as not a customer)

I will pop a question on the TBB Plusnet forum & see if one of their reps can answer. My instinct at the moment tells me to go with my current ISP - 80/20 120GB at £50. I'm a bit nervous about the usage cap, but it is still 3x - 5x my current levels. BT's 160/20 "all you can eat" for £35 is obviously tempting, but I work from home (VPN into employer's servers) and have seen conflicting advice as to whether that is allowed under BT's Residential T&C.

Edited by bgriffiths (Mon 12-Nov-12 11:13:18)

In reply to a post by bgriffiths:

but I work from home (VPN into employer's servers) and have seen conflicting advice as to whether that is allowed under BT's Residential T&C.

I am not aware of any ISP who specifically prevent customers from using VPN access from their home customers (and it would be a difficult thing to do).

However on a domestic package you don't get the same level of assurance, repair service etc as you do on the business services. This is all fairly normal and your present ISP probably has a similar exclusion.

In reply to a post by bgriffiths:

, but I work from home (VPN into employer's servers) and have seen conflicting advice as to whether that is allowed under BT's Residential T&C.

I run a VPN server on my BT connection and have no issues connecting to it at all and have not received any feedback advising me not to