Broadband News

If some of the election promises come true (oink, oink, flap, flap) we might be looking at an FTTP roll-out. That would be funny. Watching BT rip out all the new cabinets and running cable.

More seriously I *am* a bit surprised the roll-out is continuing let alone accelerating. There's so much uncertainty right now it seems like too much of a gamble.

I think they have to bash on with fttc to protect the copper cabal a while longer...
;)

quote"If some of the election promises come true (oink, oink, flap, flap) we might be looking at an FTTP roll-out. That would be funny. Watching BT rip out all the new cabinets and running cable."

Now thats worth the price of admission and popcorn LOL

Has anyone checked this list against the list of marginal seats for the election? It's nice to see that it doesn't have a London bias. Since most of London is already LLU it seems a bit silly upgrading all those exchanges.

Southampton?

http://www.trefor.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/exchanges.htm I haven't counted the list or checked to see howw well they correspond to each other, but this list has dates on it as well.

Trevnan having LLU doesn't make mine, or anyone elses line superfast. What is good is seeing Poplar finally getting sorted out as the exchange capacity issues there mean many people are without any form of broadband.

Just because your exchange is on the list, doesnt mean you'll get the service, they already did Basingstoke, only did about half of the cabinets..

"Since most of London is already LLU it seems a bit silly upgrading all those exchanges."

Depends on how you look at it. With FTTC, the LLU operators will be forced back on to Bitstream-like services as it will not be worthwhile unbundling the cabinets in all but a few cases.

https://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerOrders/control/termsandconditions?docId=29318&pageTitle=BT%20Infinity%20Enablement%20Dates

Hey guys check that link it has some planned enable dates to go with the activation

And Scotland misses out YET again.. well done BT >:(

CD - what's your plan?

this is retarded oldham was on the first batch of exchanges but it wont be live until december even tho they have done all the cabinets ? w t f

Well I'm pleased that BT are doing some areas that are not covered by VM.

FTTC is still a good solution for built up areas where digging up roads and running fibre internally in flats would be difficult. However for those that are too far from the cabinet for VDSL2 to work it will be another kick in the teeth, that is if they are covered in the first place!

This is completely market driven as BT are loosing ground rapidly due to VM, H20 and other localised projects.

Why is BTW not doing anything in shropshire area ? BTW lost interests in Shropshire since ADSLMAX went live in 2002.

BTW are waste of time!

I see they're doing Exeter which already has VM. Still I guess it's good for those who were missed out by the original Eurobell rollout.

Rob

No Yorkshire and Humberside then?

Opps retract my last comment, did not read the whole list LOL

But still stands for the Humber region though, albeit VM and Kingston have Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe centres there are a lot out in the sicks that dont have these

What about Scotland????? We miss out once again. Its time to look at alternatives!

Surely FTTC is re-usable though, if they want to go FTTP its just a case of extending the fibre from the cab to the home, it was never going to be direct fibre from the home to the exchange was it?

Yes FTTC cabinets could be used for FTTH. This could allow for a more flexible PtP fibre from the cabinet to the home at a lower cost compared to fibre all the way to the exchange. But it makes it difficult for true open access to the fibre, something that is only really possible with PtP fibre from exchange to the home.

BT are losing share to H20? Does H20 actually have some customers now then?

Both surprised and glad to see my exchange on there. Whether Im still living here in 2yrs time is another matter.

Yes, my exchange is on the list. Now I cannot wait for it. I barely get 4-5mb :(

This discussion delivers.

Just as a note BT aren't losing market share to either VM or H2O, and about 50% of the investment in FTTC can be carried over to FTTP by using the VDSL backhaul fibres for PON.

hmmm, has no-one thought how much BT are going to charge the poor customers??? ATM they are one of the most expensive, when all the **hidden charges** are added... :p

...and all of us on fibre right now, can still sit back and laugh at them....

It's all very well enabling the exchange, but there is no info on when the local green boxes are to be upgraded.

@AndrueC Don't actually know if H2O have customers yet. My bad, sorry.

What will TalkTalk, o2 etc. charge?

quote"What will TalkTalk, o2 etc. charge?"

If the History of LLU is anything to go on they will charge a damn site less and provide you with a damn site more.
(BT unlimited fibre... Translation certain protocols we throttle as and when we want even if you are a light user).

Great to see that the Farnham exchange is getting the upgrade. Just a shame im one street away from its catchment area! My exchange still only has BT as the provider and only up to 8meg where as farnham has 21cn, several LLU providers, and soon FTTC! very frustrating!!!

There was an article in the Gurdian about Fibrecity, the journalist went to visit a customer at his premises to see a live demonstration. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/mar/26/broadband-speed-digital-britain

Well I'll be buggered if I know what's going on. My street has been cabled as has by now most of Sheffield yet our exchanges are no where to be seen on any list. so WTF

Is it me or does there not appear to be 300 exchanges there on the list ?

Its amazing that even when a company is investing £1.5 Billion people still find reason to complain, stop complaing that you live somewhere that isnt on the list. We are still in the first 3 months of the rollout and you will get it eventually. Clearly few of you actual have any knowledge of how a business works. Since when is it financially viable to provide a new service to the smallest customer base?

You begin with the larger areas that will have the largest uptake and that are the easiest to do so you get cash coming in so you can invest in more areas. If you can figure that out, I wouldnt trust you with an egg whisk.

If you are so desperate, why not give donations to BT? What? You think the £20 you pay per month should cover everything and get you what you want? FYI, it costs about £18 million to upgrade an exchange, £18 thousand per cabinet and roughly £200 per METRE of Fibre! Im sure all donations would be welcome.

@Darkness123 "I barely get 4-5mb" Think yourself lucky, 4-5mb is fine for most peoples needs, we can't get a stable 0.5mb connection in our village (I'm lucky enough to have a VFast Wireless connection however - but this is less than 4-5mb atm)! It would be nice for BT to get the areas sorted than can't get a reasonable speed first as these areas are in serious of danger of getting totally left behind! :(

No news for any exchanges in Gloucestershire yet, ridiculous.

Oh, and before any of you say anything, I live in an area that gets 2.5Mb, no ADSL2+ and no roll out. My area cannot get sat or wimax or anything like that.

And, to cyberdoyle and carpetburn, you do realise you need to get FTTC before you can run ir to the premises? You seriously think that they will run individual Fibres from the exchange to each premises?!?!

TaRkADaHl: It all very well shouting etc, but BT is the company that LOST a deal, due to not acting fast enough, while smaller companies got in!

@ Docki isn't Sheffield you part of Digital Region? If so check their website for your postcode availability. For all those people upset at not being on the list wait for future deployments, move to an enabled area or start your own coop like the people of Alston did. Whinging on unternet forums won't get anything done.

That is the main reason BT has got a bad rep for high prices, lack lustre support (yes I tried to go back to BT, but they kept switching from one to the other, I eventually got an 'engineer' who promised my line would switch... It never did!!! never going back, now BT are hiding long contracts behind the simplest stuff!!

@docki - What you've probably seen is them digging up for Digital Region, not for BT. There have been a lot of DR boxes put up and the ducting dug through to them - We've got one right outside our office door, but no service till 2012 (not that I think it'll be any good anyway).

there are a lot more on this comments section...
http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2010/03/30/bt_fibre_again/

has any one seen how slowly BT work?? some say it may take 10 years to put the fibre in...

Those laughing at Virgin Fibre will stop when BT says it will take 2 weeks to get it, and virgin usually 4 or 5 days! :D

@docki
Sheffield has 2 Exchanges on:
Broomhill and Mosborough (Which happens to be mine)

@KarlAustin

Where are you located ?

I would be surprised that if a SYDR cab has been installed next to the BT PCP cab outside your door that it is not going live till 2012 ?

@christopherlyon

SYDR is also covering those two exchanges in sheffield, aswell as the rest of them.

@comnut, Virgin has an existing service BT is building theirs. @TaRkADaHl I hear you, there are plenty of people on hear who have no idea how businesses work. Needless to say if the people on here were running ISP's they'd be out of business in weeks.

@tikka69
So my areas going to go from being able to just achieve a 1meg service to have 2 Fiber based services? Can't wait!

Rememeber guys, just cos an exchange is enabled it does not mean that the local cabinet for you will be enabled, and it still doesnt guarantee that you can get it, some lines will need to be replaced. However, if the exchange is enabled; thats stage 1 done :D

So if an non BT ISP uses this infrastructure, do they have to take it end to end, or can they just join the last mile fibre with their LLU equipment?

Fingers crossed then, my cabinet is only 25M away though :)

I really wish my exchange is listed... my exchange only has ADSL (up to 8Mb), so what's the point for BT to upgrade LLU'ed and 21CN'ed exchanges even further? They should focus on rural areas a bit more.

Here's my exchange - http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/MYTAD

Hang on? So Hednesford, Cheslyn Hay, Burntwood, Heath Hayes all get upgraded but not Cannock? That makes no sense!!

@christopherlyon

Not fibre based as such but fibre to the BT PCP ( FTTC ). Then that will just leave the short copper loop between your house and the street cab, the closer the better.

@phead

A non BT ISP will have to connect to the SYDR infrastructure at an interconnect point to then gain access to all the region. They cant share fibre out the street cabs as such with the SYDR DSLAMS out there.

@Gamerwillz: with that logic you are saying it makes sense to spend £1.5 billion to provide access to 250,000 people rather than 10 million people.

You clearly cannot do math.

I hope you never run a business, becuase you will probably setup a tractor shop in carnaby street and wonder why no-one comes in.

finally im somwehere that is going to be supporting fibre in December, thats great as i work from home and could do with a better upload.

@Luckyknight,

My thoughts exactly. I live in Hednesford so was surprised to see it on the last roll out list, but to not have Cannock this time round but kit out the smaller surrounding exchanges makes little sense.

Belfast (Balmoral), Lisburn, Bangor, and now Newtownards have all been given dates for provision of FTTC. Why is Northern Ireland's maiden city being left to trail behind once again? What is BT's deciding factor in choosing the exchanges???Derry should be given preference for FTTC as businesses as well as consumers depend on it!

I wondeer how many London exchanges will now be delayed due to the latest little BT incident LOL

Although there is a N Ireland exchange listed, is the executive not promising FTTC by next year in all exchanges?
Or did I dream that?
I've noticed a lot of double cabinets appearing round the country, just not where I live!

CB - what's funny?

@tikka69 - About 200m from the main BT regional node :)

Just checked again and their postcode checker says September 2011 now - so hardly getting a move on. As I say though, everything I've seen about it and heard about it, I'd not touch it with a 10ft barge-pole right now.

quote"CB - what's funny?"

Nothing im just fanning the recent BT flames LOL

@KarlAustin

Please PM me as to why, curious to hear seeing as though I am shall we say, close to it........

I'd have to login to the forums then and then find you on there and that seems like too much effort for a BH weekend :) I'm sure you can work out my email address though if you want to convince me it's not all that bad. Admittedly the last presentation I saw on the technical side was last year @ UKNOF.

I GOT SO HAPPY WHEN I SAW LEIGHTON BUZZARD!!!

So i went and started looking into BTs policy's on P2P, Throttling etc and i instantly became sad again!

I had BT option 3 for 2 years and it was terrible! when they say they throttle they really mean, worse thing is that was back in the day when they were still trying to cover it before they were exposed.

I hate BT with an absolute passion. They are the worse company i have ever came across (for their size) and their stupid policies on slowing my network and telling ME what is "time critical" is a disgrace.

I will wait for Virgin Media

Does anyone know if other providers are/will be using BTs infrastructure? I would love to use fibre but BT dont want me as a customer and i dont want them either.

I use about 300-500GB a month so need an alternative! I dont have cable and this fibre is my only hope i guess but i wont use a service that throttles like they do.

@pinshot

Other providers will be offering packages, but with the FTTC rollout being in its infancy, not many providers have come forward with their propositions. Sky are looking to run trials and AAISP have a package on the market now. Haven't hear any others express an interest as of yet, although I'm sure there's been a lot of interest at Openreach's end.

pinshot - why don't BT want you?

^^^ Probably because they deem 300-500GB excessive usage.

Albert Dock is due for FTTC late summer 2010.

Anyone know what this means as far as the cabinets go? When will these be fitted?

I live on an estate of >700 dwellings where we can only get around 1M download. So its the date when we may see an improvement on the estate that matters to me.

None in Scotland I note!

WALES, WALES WALES!!!

Will someone please tell BT about Wales?

It is clear that BT's plans does not include Wales (and please don't remind me about Cardiff being one of the first cities to get FTTC - thats not the point. Just count the number of Welsh exchanges in BT's list!).

I fear my business broadband of a 512k connection (and thats in one of the largest towns in Wales) will remain for many years to come.

*Guesty gets prepared to hijack <any> fibre that comes near him...

Hmmm.[mad]

i notice a correlation between Labour votes and Exchange upgrades, which explains why SOUTH WEST hardly gets mentioned - thanks BT, we'll find a better provider i hope. Currently i get 1 Mbg from BT landline on ALUMINIUM, not even copper. They are the Pits.

I used to have Be which was brilliant but when we moved I had no real other choice than BT because our exchange is not LLU the connection is ok (8mb) but know where near what i'm used to. This is the first good news i've had since being with BT.

owlnet - who is going to provide something for everyone in the south-west?

Why is it always England that gets any new equipment before Wales or Scotland or NI? I cant see getting any meaningful internet service north of Glasgow or Edinburgh in my lifetime.

quote"Why is it always England that gets any new equipment before Wales or Scotland or NI? I cant see getting any meaningful internet service north of Glasgow or Edinburgh in my lifetime."

Ask BT or whatever comms provider you use. Its not the English population at fault.

So not a single exchange in Scotland included in this? Pathetic.

quote"So not a single exchange in Scotland included in this? Pathetic."

Maybe BT dont like the scots?