Fibre on Demand footprint starts to grow

Fibre on Demand is something that got lots of people excited earlier in
2013, but once the pricing and limited availability become apparent for many
the interest waned. Well its time to reconsider, as it looks like the roll-out
is starting to get underway as another 18 exchange areas where Fibre on Demand
(FoD) will be available has been announced.

Bangor North Wales, Bodmin, Brighton Portslade (CC), Bude, Camborne,
Devoran, Hayle, Helston, Launceston, Liskeard, Newquay, Par, Penzance, Port
Talbot, St. Austell, Stenalee, Truro, Woburn Sands

The 18 new exchanges for the Fibre on Demand service

For those not aware of what Fibre on Demand is, it is the option to obtain a
full Fibre
to the Premises (i.e. real fibre optic cable into your business/property)
by paying a larger than usual set-up fee, that is based on your distance from
the aggregation node (which will be located near to your FTTC cabinet) and
subject to a three year contract you will get a 300 Mbps download speed (30
Mbps upload) broadband connection without any of the distance issues of ADSL2+
or VDSL2. IMPORTANT: FoD is only available to properties that
can order a FTTC based service.

Blackfriars (CC MT), Brighton Hove (CC), Brighton Withdean (CC), Gedling,
Hillside; Hereford & Worcester, Holmer Green, Irlam (CC MT), Manchester
Central (CC MT), Nottingham Longbow, Oldham, Paddock Wood, Penn;
Buckinghamshire, Ramsbottom, Saddleworth, Tonbridge, Tottington, Tunbridge
Wells

Exchanges in Central/East/South East of England offering Fibre on
Demand

Basingstoke, Bristol South (CC), Falmouth, Hook, Keynsham, Littlewick Green,
Maidenhead, Penryn, Redruth, St.Agnes, Turgis Green Chineham, Bodmin, Bude,
Camborne, Devoran, Hayle, Helston, Launceston, Liskeard, Newquay, Par,
Penzance, St.Austell, Stenalees, Truro

Exchanges in the South West offering Fibre on Demand

Bromsgrove, Cardiff (CC MT), Culverhouse (CC MT), Droitwich, High Wycombe,
Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Princes Risborough, Roath (CC MT), Southam

Exchanges in Wales & Northern Home Counties offering Fibre on
Demand

Edinburgh Waverley (CC MT), Garston, Malone; Belfast (CC MT), Watford

Exchanges in other parts of the UK offering Fibre on Demand

The acronyms are CC MT – expected to be part of the Connected Cities Market
Trial areas and CC are those expected to be in the main Connected Cities
Programme when it starts.

While we don’t have the full details for the continued roll-out, a further
82 exchanges are expected to be announced by the end of December and another
161 by the end of March 2014, taking the total to 303 exchanges. Further phases
are expected and as announcements are made we will keep people updated as we
have done with the FTTC roll-outs in the last five years.

Hopefully as Fibre on Demand grows Openreach will also catch up with the
FTTP roll-out that is the native superfast solution for some exchange areas, in
the native FTTP areas you can order a wider variety of product speeds including
40/10, 80/20, 110/20, 220,20 and 330/30 (download/upload speed), with the
install costs and monthly fees mirroring the standard FTTC products.