BT has slammed TalkTalk’s claims of offering SME
broadband for 60% less as not being a like-for-like comparison. BT
has also slashed its prices for business broadband, with a £15 per
month package now available.
Carphone Warehouse division TalkTalk claimed today through its Opal
business division that its
latest package aimed at small businesses cost 58% less that the BT
equivalent.
“The claims of Opal are over inflated and fail to compare like with
like. Judging by their previous track record and claims in the
consumer market, this announcement needs to be treated cautiously,”
said a BT spokesman.
The spokesman said Opal compared its business package against BT
Business Total Broadband Option 3, which cost £40. This he said is
not like-for-like due to additional services available.
Bill Murphy, managing director, BT Business, said: “In the current
difficult climate, businesses need more than just broadband access,
they need a complete service to drive competitive edge. What’s the
point in buying just the steering wheel when you need the rest of
the car too?”
Paul Lawton, managing director of Opal, said the business
broadband launch was the first installment of a raft of
next-generation services for businesses. "This is a building block,
and once you get good connectivity you can do other things on top."
These included video, VoIP services, as well as hosted services, he
said.
BT has announced cuts in the prices of its business broadband
packages today. The price of BT’s Broadband Option 3 will be
reduced by a 35% from £40.50 to £30 per month. This will include
mobile broadband connection, at no extra charge.
BT Business Total Broadband Option 1 will now be £15 per month
from £19.79 before and Option 2 is being reduced to £25 from
£26.99.