BT Broadband Tax

Interesting coincidence pointed out by PC Pro

that highlights the hidden true cost of broadband via ADSL (if available of course!), namely that a telephone line must also be rented in order to take service, regardless of whether customers actually want to make voice calls.

Whilst the mooted 50p per month telephone line tax was scrapped in the recent Budget, it now seems that BT has stepped in to secure the increase for itself.

Perhaps this means BT are going to deliver the USC with all this extra revenue?

Of course, had BT invested in the infrastructure it was gifted at Privatisation a quarter century ago by incrementally deploying fibre in the access network, then BT’s OPEX costs would be a small fraction of that incurred by having to continue to support its now antiquated copper wire access infrastructure and UK PLC should now be expecting a reduction in the cost of broadband instead.

Also posted on www.fibrestream.co.uk