Eclipse and this LLU business.

Old_Gold

I have just had a letter saying that I am being switched over to LLU. I have previously told them I do not want to be switched. Does anyone know if I have a choice? Who would be an altenative to switch to? Any help, opinions, etc gratefully received.
BTW the switching date is 11 Dec which leaves me no time to seek an alternative.

patwa_2

Hello,

Unless I am very much mistaken, you need not worry about the switch. Have they actually said your service is being switched from one company to another, or do they just say your exchange is being switched over to LLU?

LLU stands for Local Loop; Unbundling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbundling

This involves BT selling off parts of its network to third parties, internet service providers, etc. The advantage of this is that other companies, who buy/rent the exchanges from BT, can install their own equipment there, thus being able to offer faster services to their customers.

You may have heard of TalkTalk's 8Mb broadband offer, and how some customers can't access that speed. That is because BT still remain in overall control of their exchange, limiting the speed to 2MB due to the equipment at that exchange. Once LLU has happened on the exchange, and TalkTalk have put their equipment on it, they will receive the full 8Mb or as near as given network conditions, distance from the exchange and line conditions.

In your case, it would appear that Eclipse will receive control of your exchange from Bt. You need not worry, as chances are your speed will either go up, if you are already paying for a faster service, you will be automatically upgraded for free (as Tiscali did with our other line) or you will be offered faster internet access.

If you're happy with the service at the moment, there seems little point in doing anything. You cannot ask them to not LLU the exchange, it's a centralized decision, and as it affects tens, maybe hundreds of other customers who may welcome the faster access, they're not going to desist just on the say-so of one of them. Sorry if that sounds harsh, just trying to put it into prospective.

Enjoy what you have, enjoy the rewards if you get them, and if you don't want them, just relax and sit tight.

Hope the link above helps, and that I've managed to explain the situation.

Hussein.