Broadband ISP Plusnet UK Discontinues Static IP Address Option

Low-cost broadband ISP Plusnet (BT Group), which over the past few years has already lost many of its extra features (pay TV, home phone (on FTTP), mobile etc.), appears to have added yet another service to the digital dustbin after customers began complaining that they could no longer add a Static IP address to their accounts.

Concern about future support for the Static IP feature, which costs an extra £5 per month to add, first emerged over the summer after some customers reported to ISPreview that they were no longer able to add the service to their accounts. But on 20th August 2024 a spokesperson for the provider denied this and told ISPreview that they “don’t currently have any plans to remove this option” (customers were still able to manually request it).

NOTE: Static IP addresses represent an Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to your internet connection that generally doesn’t change, unless there’s a major network migration. This is useful for running servers, hosting domains, security features and getting around problems caused by Carrier Grade NAT (where relevant).

However, regular readers will know that we don’t put much stock in statements that use a “no plans” style response, since that phrase is easily one of the most used and abused in the modern PR arsenal. Plans can and often do change, frequently at short notice. Sadly, it seems as if that has once again proven to be true.

Several of Plusnet’s customers recently contacted ISPreview to complain that the provider’s support staff were no longer allowing Static IP addresses to be requested, with those who attempted to do so being told that the feature had been discontinued. A related information page and the provider’s T&C’s also appear to have been updated to remove related references. Several related posts about this can be found on their community forum (here, here and here).

Sample Customer Complaint 1 (norliss)

“My full fibre service was activated earlier so I thought it I’d log in and buy a static IP address but the option was no longer there. I called up and was told this was no longer available. If this is the case it seems to have been dropped very suddenly and with no notice?”

Sample Customer Complaint 2 (salxyz)

“I’ve just called PN to enquire about getting a static IP address. Initially I was doing a bit of research and saw your could buy one for £5 from the add on section of your account, but this no longer seems to be the case. PN told me over the phone that static IP addresses are no longer being issued.”

Sample Customer Complaint 3 (Mark)

“Looks like Plusnet have removed the static IP option – it’s missing as an add on from everyone’s account and a few posts on the forum that when you call PN, response is that it’s no longer available. No mention yet what happens to existing IP’s – posts in last couple of days across the forum from people getting the same answer when they call.”

Yesterday, one of the provider’s community admins (JordanTA) finally confirmed the development: “The option for new static IPs was removed in October it looks like, those with existing static IPs will remain unaffected“. The fact that existing customers will continue to be supported is a positive sign, but it remains unclear how long that will last, although Plusnet’s own statement does slightly contradict their community admin with respect to the timeline.

A spokesperson for Plusnet told ISPreview:

“The Plusnet £5 Static IP option was withdrawn for new customers wishing to add it on to their account on the 18th December 2024 but remains in service for existing subscribers for the foreseeable future. Our guides remain on hand to support these customers with managing their Static IP service.”

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