Proposal to allow BT to charge reduced line rental at Ebbsfleet fibre trial
Monday 09 June 2008 18:41:02 by Andrew Ferguson
Some 300 homes that will form the first wave of building at Ebbsfleet Valley are to be offered the chance to take part in the Fibre to the Premises/Home (FTTP/H) trial BT is running. As part of this trial BT proposes offering those homes their telephone line rental at a reduced rate.
Broadband trials have often in the past featured reduced rental costs. Things differ though for voice products as BT has a Universal Service Obligation with respect to voice products, to this extent it is having to ask permission from Ofcom to go ahead with reduced rental. Ofcom has started a consultation period so that interested parties can respond, this period runs until 10th July 2008.
Ofcom is recommending that BT be allowed to go ahead with the trial pricing, particularly as it is only for 300 homes and for a limited period. Offering people reduced rental costs is likely to increase the take-up of the service and thus get better feedback on what people like or don't like about the service.
Rough pricing has been announced by BT Wholesale for its broadband service trial at Ebbsfleet. These prices are purely indicative at this time.
| Product | Connection fee | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|
| 135Kbps symmetric | £80 | 11.87 |
| 2.5Mbps down / 0.5Mbps up | £80 | 18.54 |
| 10Mbps down / 2Mbps up | £130 | 21.45 |
| 10Mbps down / 2Mbps up, burst to 30Mbps for downloads | £130 | 23.45 |
| 10Mbps down / 2Mbps up, burst to 100Mbps for downloads | £130 | 28.45 |
Above table is indicative wholesale pricing, retail prices will be higher due to additional elements
The product range reflects what may be a more realistic way of describing products, i.e. by naming what speed should be possible for sustained periods of time, and the maximum speed you may get at times. How often people at Ebbsfleet will see 100Mbps speeds depends on how much capacity is available to link the site to the broadband providers, and how much capacity they have out to the Internet.
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Topic: Regulation |
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Posted by
absent 7 months ago
Agreed, a better way of advertising speeds but "burst to 30Mbps for downloads" will probably just be all too confusing for average Mrs Jones.
Agreed, a better way of advertising speeds but "burst to 30Mbps for downloads" will probably just be all too confusing for average Mrs Jones.
Posted by
MarcusJClifford 7 months ago
Sounds interesting, the 135Kbps symetric is I assume just for VOIP as that would be a suitable bandwith for that.
The pricing seems attractive, although as is the point that is a discounted price for the trial.
I would like to know more about how the burst system works - is it automatic i.e. if you are donwloading at "full speed" for 1 minute it will increace the speed, or like the old Eclipse FLEX system where you visited a control pannel and requested an increace in speed for a set period of time.
Sounds interesting, the 135Kbps symetric is I assume just for VOIP as that would be a suitable bandwith for that.
The pricing seems attractive, although as is the point that is a discounted price for the trial.
I would like to know more about how the burst system works - is it automatic i.e. if you are donwloading at "full speed" for 1 minute it will increace the speed, or like the old Eclipse FLEX system where you visited a control pannel and requested an increace in speed for a set period of time.
Posted by
SamC 7 months ago
@MarcusJClifford
Actually, the prices quoted above are the indicative ongoing prices for after the trial has ended (March 2010). The trial line rental charge is a flat rate of £3.95 (Free line rental from Openreach + £3.95 access charge from BTW).
And yes, the 135Kbps option is only available for voice.
Full details are in the BTW slides at https://www.btwholesale.com/pages/downloads/21_Century_Network_Community/WBC_FTTP_Indicative_Pricing_Slides.zip
@MarcusJClifford
Actually, the prices quoted above are the indicative ongoing prices for after the trial has ended (March 2010). The trial line rental charge is a flat rate of £3.95 (Free line rental from Openreach + £3.95 access charge from BTW).
And yes, the 135Kbps option is only available for voice.
Full details are in the BTW slides at https://www.btwholesale.com/pages/downloads/21_Century_Network_Community/WBC_FTTP_Indicative_Pricing_Slides.zip
Posted by
callum9999 7 months ago
Do those prices include line rental? £18.54 for the second package (chosen as it is probably the most representative of current speeds) seems very expensive to me/
Do those prices include line rental? £18.54 for the second package (chosen as it is probably the most representative of current speeds) seems very expensive to me/
Posted by
ian72 7 months ago
@callum. if 11.87 for 135kbps is for voice only then presumably that is line rental equivalent. So, presume they all include the voice line rental.
Also, the link posted by SamC suggests (unless I'm misreading it) that the price on the pilot is the same (£3.95) no matter which package you take, so surely everyone will ask for the top package?
@callum. if 11.87 for 135kbps is for voice only then presumably that is line rental equivalent. So, presume they all include the voice line rental.
Also, the link posted by SamC suggests (unless I'm misreading it) that the price on the pilot is the same (£3.95) no matter which package you take, so surely everyone will ask for the top package?
Posted by
jumpmum 7 months ago
Read the presentation very carefully. Each EU channel costs £3.95, so 135Kbit for voice is £3.95 plus the £3.95 for the BB part. Then add on the FTTP Backhaul, Aggregation & Handover shared with ADSL WBC at the same prices as ADSL WBC.
So Price to the consumer will be higher and I higher speed package will use more backhaul so expect higher consumer price.
Contd
Read the presentation very carefully. Each EU channel costs £3.95, so 135Kbit for voice is £3.95 plus the £3.95 for the BB part. Then add on the FTTP Backhaul, Aggregation & Handover shared with ADSL WBC at the same prices as ADSL WBC.
So Price to the consumer will be higher and I higher speed package will use more backhaul so expect higher consumer price.
Contd
Posted by
jumpmum 7 months ago
No 'line rental' as these are all BB services, no baseband voice, question is , 'Does the 2.5Mbit service include a QOS 135Kbit voice path or do you have to pay for both'?. could always rely on Voice over internet, (skype etc) if you do not want to pay both.
No 'line rental' as these are all BB services, no baseband voice, question is , 'Does the 2.5Mbit service include a QOS 135Kbit voice path or do you have to pay for both'?. could always rely on Voice over internet, (skype etc) if you do not want to pay both.
Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
Wow its more BT genius, they are like superheros with a double identity.......
In the day we are the BT that worrys where we will get billions from to fibre the whole country....... By night we are the BT that take the people that can have fibre and reduce the cost for them....... genius i see how that works they are gonna make the money to fibre the whole country by errrrr errrmmmmmm.... Ill have to ask their superhero sidekick.
Wow its more BT genius, they are like superheros with a double identity.......
In the day we are the BT that worrys where we will get billions from to fibre the whole country....... By night we are the BT that take the people that can have fibre and reduce the cost for them....... genius i see how that works they are gonna make the money to fibre the whole country by errrrr errrmmmmmm.... Ill have to ask their superhero sidekick.
Posted by
kev445 7 months ago
No one is going to be able to offer 100Mbit at a reasnable price if the backhaul is WBC, it would simply be too expensive. You are looking at simular usage caps as you get on ADSL!!!
No one is going to be able to offer 100Mbit at a reasnable price if the backhaul is WBC, it would simply be too expensive. You are looking at simular usage caps as you get on ADSL!!!
Posted by
Somerset 7 months ago
Carpetburn - please try writing in English we can all understand.
Ebbsfleet is a new build so can have the new technology, replacing the exisitng copper network is the costly part. Where do you suggest the money comes from?
Carpetburn - please try writing in English we can all understand.
Ebbsfleet is a new build so can have the new technology, replacing the exisitng copper network is the costly part. Where do you suggest the money comes from?
Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
Somerset please stop making comments towards me and comment on the news story instead, even someone on your level should be able to comprehend the common sense in that statement.
Somerset please stop making comments towards me and comment on the news story instead, even someone on your level should be able to comprehend the common sense in that statement.
Posted by
Somerset 7 months ago
What's the business plan for installing fibre across the whole country? It's the remote areas that need the speed but cost the most to install.
What's the business plan for installing fibre across the whole country? It's the remote areas that need the speed but cost the most to install.
Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
quote"What's the business plan for installing fibre across the whole country? It's the remote areas that need the speed but cost the most to install."
Isnt this we live in the middle of nowhere but still demand we get want we want and living out here we avoid what we dont want arguement getting a bit boring now. ADSL, Fibre or whatever comms out in the sticks is always gonna cost more and take longer.... It doesnt mean they shouldnt start in other areas though just because of some whingers up their mountain
quote"What's the business plan for installing fibre across the whole country? It's the remote areas that need the speed but cost the most to install."
Isnt this we live in the middle of nowhere but still demand we get want we want and living out here we avoid what we dont want arguement getting a bit boring now. ADSL, Fibre or whatever comms out in the sticks is always gonna cost more and take longer.... It doesnt mean they shouldnt start in other areas though just because of some whingers up their mountain
Posted by
Somerset 7 months ago
In the last few years broadband has become as important to many people as gas, electricity, water and the telephone. It's not just people up mountains, it's for those just outside main towns and cities.
If you insist on using expressions like 'on your level' I shall ask for you to be removed from this site.
In the last few years broadband has become as important to many people as gas, electricity, water and the telephone. It's not just people up mountains, it's for those just outside main towns and cities.
If you insist on using expressions like 'on your level' I shall ask for you to be removed from this site.
Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
quote"In the last few years broadband has become as important to many people as gas, electricity, water and the telephone. It's not just people up mountains, it's for those just outside main towns and cities.
Complete rubbish there are still SOME people in the UK that can not get broadband.
There is no reason they could not slowly roll out the service on an area by area basis.... Which is the traditional way...... That happened with the invention of the telephone in the UK and with broadband. Why should everyone else suffer witth out it just because of where a few whiners live.
quote"In the last few years broadband has become as important to many people as gas, electricity, water and the telephone. It's not just people up mountains, it's for those just outside main towns and cities.
Complete rubbish there are still SOME people in the UK that can not get broadband.
There is no reason they could not slowly roll out the service on an area by area basis.... Which is the traditional way...... That happened with the invention of the telephone in the UK and with broadband. Why should everyone else suffer witth out it just because of where a few whiners live.
Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
quote"If you insist on using expressions like 'on your level' I shall ask for you to be removed from this site."
Nothing wrong with that remark, up to you to interpret it in a positive or negative light.
If you dont like it DONT HARASS me when i critisise a BT story. Not everyone loves them as much as you may and we are all free to agree or disagree with news items.
Oh and while we are at it dont make THREATS either... Oh look someone else knows an odd rule. Just like BT you dont seem to like methaphorical competition... what a shocker!
quote"If you insist on using expressions like 'on your level' I shall ask for you to be removed from this site."
Nothing wrong with that remark, up to you to interpret it in a positive or negative light.
If you dont like it DONT HARASS me when i critisise a BT story. Not everyone loves them as much as you may and we are all free to agree or disagree with news items.
Oh and while we are at it dont make THREATS either... Oh look someone else knows an odd rule. Just like BT you dont seem to like methaphorical competition... what a shocker!
Posted by
willarch 7 months ago
While BT is under criticism could I join in.I have been dissatisfied since returning to them.I joined for phone and broadband.I took option 1 and no router at £30 a few days later I asked for it bt wanted £89 I ended up with option 2.Then found it was advertised free.I now find I am paying almost $40 a month nothing near I signed up for.On enquiry i am told they average out cost over the 18 .months Seems bt always wants to up costs with added services or is this me who just finds this
While BT is under criticism could I join in.I have been dissatisfied since returning to them.I joined for phone and broadband.I took option 1 and no router at £30 a few days later I asked for it bt wanted £89 I ended up with option 2.Then found it was advertised free.I now find I am paying almost $40 a month nothing near I signed up for.On enquiry i am told they average out cost over the 18 .months Seems bt always wants to up costs with added services or is this me who just finds this
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ahh a better way of advertising speeds, I remember suggesting this for adsl a few times. Seems BT are taking this approach on this trial at least.