Who is to blame for rubbish BB speeds?

kwikbreaks

ComplexP wrote: »

That sounds like another version of the ADSL2+ technology that did squat for me. These companies can talk about 'up to 20MBits' and 'up to 40MBits' all they like but until something is done about the miles and miles of aluminium wires linking us to the exchanges we're going to be stuck with what we have.

FTTC stands for fibre to the cabinet. That means that in effect your local exchange becomes the little green box just down the street from you so your line length becomes a lot less and can support upto (yes it's still upto) 40Mbps with the technology they intend to roll out initially and (maybe) upto (that magic phrase again) 60Mbps later.

FTTP is much better - that's fibre to the premises so the whole concept of line length goes away and speeds can be a lot faster. From what I've seen that's only for new build though initially.

frontman

Either way, it's a good time to be a fibre optics manufacturer!

ComplexP

frontman wrote: »

Er.... I knew that!! lol...

No, ok fair enough, I just got the impression it was working on an exchange by exchange basis, with Slough presumably somewhere slightly below more high priority places like Little Willow by the Stream etc.

So according to Kwik, if you get FTTC and your local exchange is upgraded to handle 'up to 40MBits' you might get 20 or 30MBits, which would be lovely.

Unfortunately I have no faith that I'm going to see FTTC anywhere near me in the next 5 years.

kwikbreaks

It's only going to happen where BT think there will be enough customers to justify the investment obviously but they reckon 20 million premises by 2012 so Slough at least may be in with a chance.

There is one other drawback - I saw they are proposing that the bottom level product will have a 20GB monthly cap and cost £19.99. I fail to see why you'd want 40Mbps with a 20GB cap.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/21/bt_infinity/

frontman

Very true. Here, have a hosepipe, but you are only allowed one cup of water.

ComplexP

I wonder what they base that decision on? I mean, most people have a broadband connection in some form so perhaps it's based upon predictions of how many people in an area would be willing to pay higher prices for a faster connection?

For example, if an area is mostly populated by people on the budget packages offered by various ISPs then it may not get FTTC. But if there are a lot of people, like me, who are on a £20 per month premium service already then it might have a better chance?

I'll need to go around twisting my neighbors' arms into spending more money

frontman

I'm well and truly screwed then. Chances are most people steal their broadband round here.

kwikbreaks

frontman wrote: »

I'm well and truly screwed then. Chances are most people steal their broadband round here.

I used to work in Slough. I well recall the phrase "Happiness is Slough in your rear view mirror" but forget who coined it.

penrhyn

frontman wrote: »

Either way, it's a good time to be a fibre optics manufacturer!

You'd think so, however due to the total incompetance of Lord (sweaty) George Simpson and his finance man Mayo, the last major UK Telecomms manufacturer went to the wall several years ago.

ComplexP

frontman wrote: »

I'm well and truly screwed then. Chances are most people steal their broadband round here.

Are you casting aspersions upon the good people of Slough?