Broadband ISP and mobile operator EE (BT) has today launched a second 1.6Gbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) bundle on Openreach’s network, called “Broadband built for gamers“package and claims to offer online players”lower latency, game server geofencing and home network prioritization,” Besides.
In case anyone forgot, EE already launched a 1.6 Gbps (120 Mbps upload) package last year for £69.99 per month ( here ) which came with their new Wi-Fi 6 support Smart Hub Plus router and other kit. This was based on Openreach’s latest 1.8Gbps layer (requires a new 2.5Gbps ONT port to be installed in your home) and was also advertised for use by gamers.
NOTE: Openreach’s full fiber network currently covers almost 14.5 million premises in the UK and aims to reach 25 million (80% and more) by December 2026, before targeting up to 30 million by 2030.
The fact is that an FTTP connection, at any speed, should provide excellent latency times for gaming, so the key question we have to ask ourselves today is – what does that extra £10 a month get you with this new bundle (the new bundle is £79.99 per month)? Next, is it worth the extra money?
According to EE, the Smart Hub Plus router included in this bundle includesGame mode”, which is something that used to come as part of them WiFi Enhancer Boost. This feature is powered by Netduma and adds geo-filtering as well as ping-optimization. In addition, the package also includes 24 months Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (almost £200 worth in total) giving players access to hundreds of games, which is good if you like Microsoft’s platform.
What is game mode?
➤ Geo Filter – selects the best quality servers and blocks all those with increased lag for the best game.
➤ Ping Optimiser – Allows customers to enjoy a tuned connection with less buffering when playing games, with a server ping reduction of up to 24% according to tests conducted by Netduma developers.
However, whether you really need game mode is debatable as a good vanilla FTTP line should already provide excellent latency and stability unless your ISP is particularly crazy with their routing/peering/capacity arrangements. Not to mention that people are usually very good at ‘Geo Filtering’ the server list themselves.
Sam Kemp, director of games at EE, said:
“With the launch of Made for Gamers Broadband, we believe we have taken a huge step in our ambition to become the UK’s number one gaming destination by creating a broadband package that has been truly tailored for gamers to enhance their gaming experience. . Features like Game Mode and 1.6 Gbps Full Fiber will give gamers that extra edge when gaming, and customers will never be short of the latest and greatest titles with our inclusive 24-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate..”
EE adds that tests conducted on their Full Fiber network using Cisco’s ThousandEyes (formerly SamKnows) performance monitoring technology.reveals that it offers a latency reduction of more than a third compared to standard broadband“, although they do not provide any specific details or define what “standard broadband connection” means A more interesting test would be to see how the new package compares to their basic 100Mbps+ FTTP plans for latency.
Admittedly, we’re always a bit skeptical when an ISP claims to offer a multiplayer-optimized service for online video games, as there’s a limit to how much you can tweak your FTTP connection to get an improvement in latency. Additionally, the network code used by multiplayer games must also be optimized for slower connections, meaning that beyond a certain point there is an element of diminishing returns for those with the lowest latency.
Remember that your latencies (ping times) will also depend on aspects of your own local network setup, such as whether your device connects via WiFi (what standard?) or cable, etc. Overall, it looks like the main price difference with Xbox Game Pass is added with this bundle.