BT uncouples its 5G offering from its Halo

UK operator group BT restricted 5G to customers of its Halo convergent bundle, but just three months later it has reversed that decision.

‘BT today announced it is making its 5G plans available for all customers,’ heralds the press release, as if giving all its customers access to the latest mobile technology is an act of philanthropy. The release announces new 5G plans for all customers, but as far as we can tell from the website, that just amounts to removing bundle discounts. Apparently BT (i.e. EE) 5G is available in 50 towns across the UK.

“Our BT Halo customers have been some of the first to enjoy 5G in the UK, and we’re now giving all of our customers the chance to get superfast, reliable mobile connections even in the busiest places,” said Pete Oliver, Managing Director of Marketing, BT Consumer. “Whether you’re watching HD TV or sport on the go, or FaceTiming your family on the way home, 5G makes a huge difference to everyday experiences and opens up even more exciting new experiences like seamless augmented reality and HD mobile gaming.”

If 5G is so great, why wasn’t BT offering it to all its customer straight away? The answer is presumably that it hoped it offering it uniquely through Halo would drive uptake of its flagship bundle. A change in strategy so soon would seem to imply those hopes were forlon, otherwise why not stick with it? Then again this could always have been the grand plan.