Now there's a thought .

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

The special offer pricing will only be available for those end customers with slow lines that we can identify on eligible cabinets. We are expected to publish details of those initial cabinets and eligible lines on 15 April 2016.

To me that means people who can get significantly above 18Mbps will not be able to order this product.

There is also the question as to which ISPs will decide to retail it anyway.

To me it means those who have slow ADSL (to be defined but let's say sub 5meg) but also FTTC available but don't want to pay the higher costs of a 40/10 or 80/20 service. The 18/2 will be to "tempt" them away from exchange based ADSL services while giving them faster speeds for pretty much the same as an ADSL service.

I imagine BT retail will be the first to try this out.

In reply to a post by gt94sss2:

BT wholesale aren't taking part in this trial so ISPs which rely on them can't participate..

For now. I expect that to change with a bit of pressure from ISP's who want to offer the service.

Where did you get that from please? Sure as rabbits is rabbits TalkTalk won't and I doubt that Sky will. Openreach won't have created the trial with no customers for it.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

...
To me that means people who can get significantly above 18Mbps will not be able to order this product.

Load-a-rubbish .

I had failed to register the repeated references in the OP link that it is aimed at low speed ADSLx lines. I was thinking of low-estimate FTTC.

my guess is, its so sub 10Mb lines can meet the proposed Universal Service Obligation

No because the obligation that's being discussed it that lines have ACCESS to 10meg if they wish to use it, not that every line must be getting 10meg.