max broadband speed at local exchange ?

andykolo

Want to change broadband provider and found a few deals of interest but all subject to the speed available via my local telephone exchange how do i find this out ????

mhendo

Generally the speed available at most BT exchanges is 2Mbps (through BT wholesale's IPstream product). From approx April, this is expected to rise to 8Mbps - to be known as MaxDSL.

There are ISP's who have installed their own equipment in the exchanges, and are able to provide anywhere between 8-24Mbps - all dependent on your telephone line length & quality. See this post for links to checkers for each of the LLU ISP's to see if they can provide 8Mbps+ services to your line:- http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1448979#post1448979

Chuffy

Is this across the board? I contacted BT and they said they had no plans to upgrade my exchange or line. I live too far away at the moment and can only get 512Kbps.

Nush

I have my broadband through NTL using my BT line. My connection speed is 1.1 Mbps and I have no complaints with it. A friend is through BT and is still on 512 Kbps, she is not happy as BT said they would up it over 5 months ago.

mhendo

Yes MaxDSL is a national thing - I don't know how they are rolling it out (whether its a phased thing, or all exchanges will "switch on" at once).

MaxDSL will allow all users to connect at the best possible rate their line can handle (so not subject to the same attenuation limits) - I think its more based on the SNR margins. So you may see a speed increase as a result, although it might not be much.

If you can get the attenuation & SNR/noise margin figures from your modem/router then I can give you a rough idea of what sort of speed your line can handle.


Nush....are they on 512Kbps because BT Broadband won't upgrade them, or because BTwholesale say the line will only support 512Kbps? Put their number in this checker to see what speed BTw say they can receive:- http://eco.btwholesale.com/broadband1/index.asp (see box on the right)

It may be due to line distance that they can only receive 512Kbps.