These changes were first mentioned on another thread discussing UPC Cablecom Internet speeds. The following is compiled from their FAQs, without any rewriting (that's why there is marketing copy mixed with the data).

A. Internet

1. What are the changes in the internet offer?

• The speed of all the internet subscriptions has been increased. This enables you to enjoy faster and interference-free data transfer (e.g. when sending videos and photos). In addition, a higher speed makes simultaneously accessing the net with several devices (e.g. computer, laptop, mobile and tablet) much easier.
• The Internet offer now starts from Fiber Power 20 (previously Fiber Power 10), up to Fiber Power 250 (previously Fiber Power 150).
• The subscription prices have been adjusted in line with the speed.
• For new orders of an Internet product the Security Package is provided free of charge for one year.
• For our customers in Berne we can offer the Fiber Power 500 for the time being.

For comparison: the times required to download a 1 GB video at different Internet speeds are shown below:
250 Mbit/s: 34 sec
125 Mbit/s: 1 min 8 sec
50 Mbit/s: 2 min 51 sec
20 Mbit/s: 7 min 9 sec
2 Mbit/s: 1 h 11 min 34 sec (Free Internet upc cablecom)

2. What advantages will the speed increase bring?
Besides faster data transfer, the simultaneous use of all content in the same household on several devices will be improved. In addition, high resolution video content will be optimally supported.

3. Which subscriptions will benefit from the increases?
As of 1 April 2014, all customers with the following products will receive an automatic upgrade:

• Fiber Power 10 with 10 Mbit/s to Fiber Power 20 with 20 Mbit/s
• Fiber Power 35 with 35 Mbit/s to Fiber Power 50 with 50 Mbit/s
• Fiber Power 75 with 75 Mbit/s to Fiber Power 125 with 125 Mbit/s
• Fiber Power 150 with 150 Mbit/s to Fiber Power 250 with 250 Mbit/s

This speed increase also involves a slight price increase – customers will be informed about the details in a letter enclosed with their bill.


B. Telephone

1. What are the changes in the telephony offer?

• In the FreePhone Plus and FreePhone Super subscriptions, frequent phone users can now enjoy free calls to numbers in the Swiss mobile network (limited to 1,000 minutes per month).
• All phone subscriptions now include free calls around the clock to numbers in the Swiss fixed network.
• With FreePhone Super, you can also make unlimited phone calls in the fixed networks of 33 countries for free.
• The FreePhone Weekend subscription no longer applies as all the phone subscriptions now include free calls around the clock to numbers in the Swiss fixed network.

2. How are the free call minutes calculated and displayed?
From the beginning of the contract, you have 1,000 free call minutes available until the end of the month in progress, irrespective of the point during the calendar month at which your subscription is activated. Login to www.upc-cablecom.ch/myupc. Under "Bills and Payment" you will find your current bill with an overview of your free call minutes.

3. Can I transfer unused free call minutes for mobile phones to the following month?
No, that is not possible. Unused free call minutes expire and the following month you once again have a maximum of 1,000 free minutes available.


C. Television

What are the changes in the Digital TV offer?
The Compact channel package is now only available with the HD Mediabox.


D. Bundles

1. What are the changes in the 3-in-1 bundles?

• There are now 3-in-1 combis with an HD cable connection: HD Cable Light Combi, HD Cable Plus Combi and HD Cable Super Combi.
• The cable connection fee of CHF 29.05 is billed separately.

2. What are the changes in the 2-in-1 bundles?

• Horizon Joy Duo and Horizon Cool Duo are now only offered in combination with the Horizon HD Recorder and not as previously with the DigiCard.
• The Internet speed has been increased. The subscription prices have been adjusted accordingly.

E. Administration matters

1. General information about the speed and price increase

• Customers who are currently benefiting from a promotion will receive the speed increase from 1 April 2014 and the price increase when the promotion comes to an end.
• If you want to change to a lower-priced Internet subscription, please observe the information about changing your subscription.
• If you wish to cancel your contract, please note the following: You can terminate your contract within 14 days of being informed by us on the date on which this change comes into effect. To this end, you must serve written notice of termination, with reference to the corresponding contract change or price increase before it comes into force. If you pay an invoice containing the new prices, this shall be deemed your acceptance of these changes, in accordance with the terms and conditions.

2. I would like to change my subscription. What do I have to do?

• You can change your subscription at any time. Changing your subscription is free of charge. The start point of the minimum contract period is reset when you change your subscription.
• An activation fee of CHF 49.– will be charged if you need a new end device (modem, Mediabox) as part of a subscription change.

3. Is it possible to change back from the new product offer to the previous product?
You can change your product as you want at any time, if the previous product is still currently offered by upc cablecom. If, however you had a product which we no longer provide, you cannot return to this product but you can change to the current product which is most similar to your original product. For example, with a change from a 3-in-1 to a 2-in-1 combination, the subscription costs for the more complex product, in this case the 3-in-1 combination, would have to be paid until the end of the minimum subscription period of one year.

4. What contractual cancellation periods apply with regard to new offers?
The same contractual cancellation periods apply for new products.

5. Try & Buy
The Try & Buy offer is not available with the new offer. You can cancel the products you have ordered after the expiry of the minimum contract duration of one year.

What is not clear to me is if one has the old "Super Combi DigiCard/Horizon" or "Plus Combi DigiCard/Horizon" bundle aside from the extra 3CHF in monthly fee for the speed increase in internet will they also get the extra 1000min for Swiss mobile network?

You only get the speed increase. If you want the free calls to mobile networks you have to ask to be switched to the new bundle, with the new prices as displayed on their website.

Thanks for letting me know the new info. I will definitely check out the new bundle with mobile phone numbers included!

Do you happen to know if the free to mobile minutes also covers call to US mobile number, or is there an additional charge?

Quite happy with 150meg

Would rather not pay extra for 250 which I don't want

Hi guys,

I got a letter from UPC Cablecom, reading along the lines of "yeah, we've been so hot upgrading that we can now give you 50Megs speed instead of your current 35M..." So far, so good. However, last paragraph reads: "this is an automatic change that happens April 1st, there is nothing you need to do. Your invoice will increase with CHF 3.-- for this"

Reads more like: there is nothing you can do - we have bandwidth to sell and you are gonna be paying for it...

Gotta say, I am quite happy with the service but 35Megs is plenty speed for me at home, so when they politely feed me the extra 3franks with no option to stay put, I am taken aback.

It is just a year after I finally escaped the jaws of Sunrise with their early termination policies and nightmares releasing the home number, I cannot be going through the search for another provider and as stated - I actually like the service. As-is.

Called their support line, nice girl kept repeating "we give you more speed, this is why you pay more" despite my clear statement "I like it like it is" and "I do not want to pay more"...

Who got a letter like this and what are your thoughts? Cheers

http://www.englishforum.ch/tv-intern...-feb-14-a.html

It's a pain in the bum but not much you can do other than stream a few tv channels online when you're out just to congest their network a bit more. 3 francs isn't much but the principle sucks.

Not true, you can apply for a down grade to a lower speed/tariff. There's no cost for the changeover. See the T of C that Sean.C posted.

Got the same and wasn't happy. the amount is not much but as a customer they should atelast give the option to choose. Similar experience with the customer care.

Only after you have finished your 12 month contract I'd imagine.

got the same .. but the offer was to go from 150Mbit to 250Mbit for 3 CHF more..well I agree the automated upgrade is cheeky..but boy..100Mbit more for 3 per month...

So in the end did you manage to have her waive the CHF 3 increase?
I am in the same situation as you. I am also willing to downgrade my speed and pay less but that would involve a new contract and being stuck again for 12 months.

Is that increase legal? any way of refusing the upgrade?

Since when did a 3chf increase per month equate to a "situation"? In the UK it's not unheard of at all for an increase in company investment in infrastructure to equate to a small increase in charge to the consumer.

It's 3chf a month... get a grip!

Then party on down to a lower internet subscription...

I agree that it's nothing in the grand scheme of things. But I was paying 99CHF per month before. My TV box conked out and they said they don't have any more so had to upgrade to the horizon BS. Up to 109 per month.

Now I'm getting an upgrade to 112 per month. So all in I'm paying 13CHF more per month. 156CHf per year. That's a couple of tanks of fuel.

And in the end my laptop's wireless card isn't man enough for 150meg let alone 250meg so I'd rather quite like to downgrade to 50meg

Not sure that's possible when in the 12 month contract period

You can change your contract at any time (it's clearly written in the OP), it just starts the 12 months all over again.