The long wait for ADSL for exchanges that have triggered
On Christmas Eve BT Wholesale released 88 RFS dates, which pleased a great many people. Alas there are a 51 exchanges that triggered on or before 10th December 2003 that as yet have not received a Ready For Service date.
Normally RFS dates are released within two to three weeks of an exchange triggering, but the rate at which exchanges are triggering appears to have broken this pattern now. Campaigners in some cases are becoming disillusioned by the long times they are waiting for an RFS date, especially given that the last batch of RFS dates were mainly for April 2004. This means it could be almost six months from triggering to being able to order the service.
We would hope that BT Wholesale can announce the vast majority of RFS dates for these listed exchanges in the first batch of 2004's RFS dates which should appear next week. For those exchanges that are not given a date, it would certainly help if full and frank explanations could be given as to why some exchanges are taking so long. We are aware that one of the issues with the Torpoint exchange is that wayleave orders are taking time to be given, and this may also be the case in some other exchanges. If the delays are due to the surge of registrations when the batch of 2300 triggers were announced, then BT should say so, and work to ensure resources are available to the planning teams to clear the backlog.
Exchange triggered on 15th July 2003
| Torpoint |
Exchanges triggered in November 2003
| Hampden Row | Llansteffan | Tirley | Whiteparish |
| Dirleton | Compton | Great Mollington | Broughton |
| Syminton | Croughton | Chilbolton | Whitwell |
| Braco | Asthall Leigh |
Exchanges triggered between 1st December and 9th December 2003
| Gargunnock | Capel | Great Shefford | Kirkby Fleetham |
| Scaynes Hill | Northill | Chadlington | Kemnay |
| Mintlaw | Stogumber | Annan | |
| Strathmiglo |
Exchanges triggered on 10th December 2003
| Anstruther | Blackmoor | Brent Pelham | Dalmellington |
| Doune | Fintry | Flimwell | Freeland |
| Grendon Underwood | Gullane | Haytor | Holbeach |
| Hutton Rudby | Kirkbymoorside | Little Gaddesden | Nethybridge |
| Ramsbury | Ramsden | Rudgwick | Ruskington |
| Rusper | Stanton St John | Tockwith | Woolacombe |
Update: The exchange in Collier Street has been removed from the waiting for RFS list, since further checks showed that it was issued an RFS date of 28th April 2004 just before Christmas. Our checker did not pick up the RFS date for this exchange due to the number on record going out of use.
