What can I expect?

I'm currently on the TalkTalk 150 subscription that ends in a few weeks and get around 100mbps download speeds.

We have fibre to the end of the drive then just the original copper under the drive to the house.

So my question is, can I expect to get the reported speeds that other ISP report when I enter my postcode on their websites?

Virgin report that I can get 500mbps for the same price as my existing contract.

Virgin use a different technology so they can deliver.

It sounds like for your current service you may be on Gfast? If that is the case then fewer suppliers are selling that now. If Openreach FTTP is still not available then you may find it more difficult to find a supplier that will deliver your current speeds (and if it is Gfast then changing supplier to another Gfast supplier is not going to suddenly give you more than the 100Mbps you currently get).

Yes i probably am on Gfast. So if i sign up to someone like Virgin or BeFibre then I can expect better than 100mbps as they state?

If you sign up to networks that use their own infrastructure then you won't be limited by the Gfast limitations. This depends on what is available to you in your area as there are lots of different networks these days.

Both Virgin and Befibre run their own networks and as they are fibre (or possibly coax for virgin but guessing fibre if they only arrived fairly recently) then the connection speed would be what you sign up to. That doesn't mean there may not be times where it runs slower due to congestion in the network as these are contended services and not guaranteed - but for the vast majority of the time you will get the speeds you pay for.

Gfast and FTTC are different in that the technology is impacted by distance from the nearest node and why you only see 100Mb on a "up to 150Mbps" package.

In reply to a post by mikwillo1878:

Yes i probably am on Gfast. So if i sign up to someone like Virgin or BeFibre then I can expect better than 100mbps as they state?

What does it say here?
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/...

Virgin was rolled out in the area/street last year and according to their website they're saying 2000mbps is available for my postcode but I'd be happy with 500mbps.

For my UPRN 100010684344 it says VDSL Range A and B is available.

It also says FTTP On Demand is available but I'm not sure what that means as at the bottom of the page it says FTTP isn't available.

That's their fibre network then, if you sign up to 500Mbps you will get that as long as the service isn't faulty - there's no distance from the cabinet element to the speeds.

UPRN 100010684344 on Exchange SKELMERSDALE is served by Cabinet 50 - no Gfast? Are you sure u on Gfast?



VDSL Range A (Clean) 80 62.1 20 19 55 Unavailable Available
VDSL Range B (Impacted) 80 60 20 17.7 50.8 Unavailable Available
G.fast Range A (Clean) -- -- -- -- -- Unavailable --
G.fast Range B (Impacted) -- -- -- -- -- Unavailable --

In reply to a post by mikwillo1878:

For my UPRN 100010684344 it says VDSL Range A and B is available.

It also says FTTP On Demand is available but I'm not sure what that means as at the bottom of the page it says FTTP isn't available.

Looks like Virgin are the only realistic option if you want faster speeds, I'm not sure who if any ISP's are taking on GFast customers, so that might mean dropping to 80Mbps if you stay on a openreach line, this leaves the question of is speed an issue and you need/want the faster speed, or are you happy at 80Mbps and seeing if a better price is available.