BT and EE to MERGE networks – here’s how it affects you
The internet and mobile providers will be joined by 2022 to create one seamless network - the first of its kind in the UK
TELECOMS giants BT, and EE are to merge to create one super network by 2020.
As part of the marriage between three of the UK's biggest communications firms, which will affect 30 million customers in the UK, BT is planning to move its call centres back to the UK and Ireland.
Customers who sign up to the new BT Plus service will be able to get their broadband, internet and mobile bill in one place and switch between networks.
Existing customers will not be affected by the merger, although customers will be encouraged to sign up for new deals.
BT, which announced last week that it is to axe around 13,000 jobs over three years, said it will return to the high street in the form of taking space in 620 EE shops to promote its own products.
Marc Allera CEO of BT’s consumer business said: “We’re beginning our journey to create one converged, smart network built on our world-leading fixed and mobile networks – going beyond 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi and ultrafast broadband to seamlessly connect our customers wherever they are to the things that matter most to them.”
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The merged network will mean that if you have broadband with BT and a mobile connection with EE that the two networks will work together to boost the speed of your internet connection.
If your broadband network goes down the mobile network that is still working will boost the other network to get your internet back up and running again.
This ability to boost your signal with a separate device will be available using BT Plus, a service which will be released soon.
The merging of the networks will take place gradually over the next four years.
Under BT plus you will also be protected if you loose internet connection or if your broadband suffers outages.
If this happens you will be sent a 4G wi-fi hub with unlimited data in the post via next day delivery meaning you can stay connected while the issue is fixed.
EE also announced that you will be able to gift data to the people who are also on your data plan.
In theory, this means that if you had excess data at the end of the month you could transfer it to a family member who had run out.
This can also be used as a tool for parents to control their children's internet usage by gifting them data so that they will be able to go and play games after they finish their homework or cutting off data until all their work is done.
This will be available across BT, EE and Plusnet by 2020.
BT is yet to announce how much the service will cost and whether it will mean an increase for existing customers.
BT will also be adding Amazon Prime and Now TV to it's set-top box streaming services in 2019
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