| What should you do when a previously worrying | | | | alongside the broadband. |
| broadband has given its broadband and home | | | | For example, the new broadband packages could |
| phone packages a makeover | | | | offer customers a choice between a broadband |
| Even if the company reducing the number on | | | | and home phone bundled together or just a |
| offer and making its deals simpler to understand, | | | | broadband connection on its own. |
| as many broadband providers are forced to do, | | | | Changes may also occur because of mergers and |
| the question remains: does a broadband provider | | | | these can often lead to cross-promotions which |
| change its spots? | | | | are really good for consumers. |
| Providers that offer broadband deals which have | | | | For example, in the past mobile phone companies |
| poor reputations feel the hit in subscriber numbers | | | | have been able to add in discounts to their |
| and profits. | | | | customers as a result of a merger. |
| One UK ISP which once boasted one million | | | | This is often a small reduction in the monthly |
| subscribers now has around 850,000, although its | | | | costs of getting an internet connection but its so |
| hard to tell how much of that is a direct result of | | | | worthwhile for the operator that these packages |
| bad publicity and how much is a result of other | | | | have become some of the UK's cheapest |
| mistakes that the once great broadband provider | | | | broadband. |
| made. | | | | Finally, new services could be offered as a result |
| Sometimes, changes in packages are superficial | | | | of new hardware on the market. This is the case |
| and end users see little difference - this is a clear | | | | with the new mobile broadband for iPad deals, for |
| case of a provider changing in some regard but | | | | example. |
| not necessarily changing their spots. | | | | In this case there's no question that old providers |
| To mix metaphors, underneath they're the same | | | | won't change their spots just because these are |
| animal. | | | | new deals: new prices doesn't mean a change in |
| However, sometimes the provider has decided to | | | | infrastructure for service or customer service. |
| hand BT the reins to its LLU broadband operation | | | | This also applies if there is still a fair use policy |
| after years of technical troubles. | | | | applicable to the broadband packages that has |
| This often occurs despite a multi-million pound | | | | been a major bone of contention for the |
| investment in infrastructure by the provider but it | | | | provider's broadband users in the past. |
| can often mean a more reliable service for the | | | | However, in this case, check whether it's not |
| end users who are customers with that certain | | | | totally clear whether other network issues could |
| provider. | | | | have been exacerbating the problems. |
| In this case, home phone deals are often offered | | | | |