uSwitch home phone news April 2006

From the 7th of April TalkTalk will increase their line rental charge from £10.49 to £11 per month; the second increase since 1st of February 2006. The increase means TalkTalk’s line rental charges are now the same as BT’s Together Option 1 line rental.

BT have also announced price increases for domestic customers. Their minimum call charge has risen by 10%, from 5p to 5.5p and a number of international call rates have also increased. A weekend call to U.S.A or Australia which previously costs 9p a minute will now cost 10p a minute.

TalkTalk have become the first company in the UK to offer a ‘free’ broadband package. Customers who sign up to the Talk 3 International Plan, will pay £9.99 for their calls and £11 for their line rental totalling £20.99 per month. Customers will be tied into an 18 month contract and have to pay a set up free of £29.99.

Talk3 International offers free calls to UK landlines at anytime, as well as free calls to 28 international destinations, including the U.S.A, Australia and France. The ‘free’ broadband will offer speeds of up to 8Mb, and a 40Gb download limit.

‘Free’ broadband is available to customers who live in areas where TalkTalk have access to Local Loop Unbundling (LLU). This means that TalkTalk have taken control of the actual telephone line and equipment from BT. TalkTalk is able to offer the Talk 3 International plan to about 70% of the UK through LLU. Customers who do not live in a TalkTalk unbundled area can still receive the service, but will have to pay £10 per month for their broadband.

TalkTalk will begin activating ‘free’ broadband from the 1st of June this year.