01/07/2021   For Information

This briefing is for Communications Providers (CPs).

This briefing is to notify CPs about the GEA-FTTP Equinox special offer. It will start on 1 October 2021, and provide long-term certainty of pricing to Communications Providers making GEA-FTTP their default broadband technology when purchasing from Openreach. The offer will be open to any existing Communications Provider for participation until 30 March 2022.     

Following extensive engagement with industry, Openreach is pleased to announce the notification of a new GEA-FTTP special offer - Equinox. This offer provides long-term pricing certainty until 30 September 2031, for Communications Providers (CPs), across Openreach GEA-FTTP footprint built to date and to be built up to December 2026. Discounts are available to CPs that choose to place a set percentage (see details below) of new orders they are willing to place on the Openreach network on GEA-FTTP, where available.

Objectives

This offer is designed to:

(i)            Make GEA-FTTP the preferred technology through a simple CP commitment and competitive pricing;

(ii)           Offer extended pricing certainty across a broad choice of speeds, enabling CPs to create their own                         competitive and differentiated offers; and

(iii)          Align and simplify pricing and commitment structures across the Openreach GEA-FTTP footprint.

Measure

This special offer will start on 1 October 2021. The main condition for CPs to be eligible for full connection and rental discounts is to achieve a target percentage of GEA-FTTP new provision orders they are willing to place on the Openreach network, where GEA-FTTP is available, at the start of each measurement period, specifically:

-       75% until 31 March 2022

-       80% until 30 September 2022

-       90% thereafter

A CP’s performance will be assessed every three months, with discounts paid back as a rebate within the next quarter, allowing for time to calculate the relevant Fibre Only measure. This is net of any cancellations occurring a month after the period ends.

Further conditions apply to benefit from discounts in full:

-       A forecasting accuracy measure, which allows Openreach to resource GEA-FTTP provisioning                                    appropriately; and

-       The use of the correct order journeys, and implementation of a no return to copper policy, which allows                Openreach to derive infrastructure safety benefits and efficiencies.

Full terms and conditions apply, and are provided here.

Pricing

Connections

For the following speed variants only: 40/10, 55/10, 80/20, 115/20, 160/30, 220/30, 330/50, 550/75, 1000/115 Mbit/s

A year 6 review mechanism applies. Further terms & conditions apply. Please refer to these for full details.

Rentals

A year 6 review mechanism applies. Further terms & conditions apply. Please refer to these for full details.

10G GEA Cablelink

For the initial period of 5 years corresponding to Openreach’s build phase, a 10G GEA Cablelink discount applies, allowing CPs to affordably access as much of the Openreach GEA-FTTP footprint as they deem necessary. The discounted price is £750, increasing by CPI or 0% whichever is highest on an annual basis. 

Further pricing discounts

-       ARPU share mechanism, offering a further rebate to CPs that achieve a higher speed mix, and therefore              where their spend/line exceeds a certain level. This level is initially set at £17, and means CPs achieving                above that level will receive a 50% rebate of the difference with that level. Indexation applies.

-       Bandwidth modify discounts apply, allowing CPs to promote faster speeds to end customers.

-       New To Network rental discounts apply, offering 12 months of 550/75 Mbit/s for the price of 160/30 Mbit/s

Further terms and conditions apply. Please refer to these for full details.

Alternative Ramp-Up

Until March 2022 only, and if they are not able the meet the Equinox conditions in full, CPs have the ability to qualify for an alternative Ramp-Up instead, giving them access to a reduced set of discounts. Please refer to the contract for terms and conditions applying to this period.  

How CPs can take advantage of this special offer

CPs should contact their business development manager if they'd like to participate in this special offer. CPs will need to sign the special offer terms and conditions, using Adobe Sign, and as appropriate, confirm whether they intend the effective date to be 1 October 2021, or whether they intend to confirm later and in writing the effective date, which in any case cannot be later than 1 April 2022.

Openreach may at its sole discretion re-open the offer for new joiners, including for newly established CPs (who are not part of a group of companies with an existing CP) after 1 April 2022.

For a short-hand summary of the offer, please click here.

This briefing supports ACCN OR728.

More information

If you've any questions about this briefing, please get in touch with your business development manager or customer experience manager.