Upgrade of Exchange connection to local junction box......

Gurj247

Hi all,

not sure if anyone will be able to help here, but thought it was worth asking.

The new build estate that i live on has in general poor internet services (Speeds), generally no more than 1Mbps, usually far lower, my own speed is circa 0.17Mbps on average.

Someone on my estate has told me the following for the reason we all get slow speeds.

The main junction box for the estate is connected to the main exchange (which is about 3.5 miles away) by a copper wire, in turn all the houses on the estate are connected via copper to this junction box.

This therfore results in degradation of the signal to the houses.

What i have been told is that in the not to distant future BT plan on upgrading the cable between the main junction box on the estate and the main exchange (3.5 miles away) to a fibre optic connection.

This i think should therefore increase the speed that all the houses on the estate can recieve. however is there any way of confirming this is actually happening and checking the time scale for this supposed upgrade...

Thanks in advance for your responses...

notbritishgas

Try this link, enter you tele number in the box and it should sy when/if FTC will be available.

www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=29017&s_intcid=con_search_KR_Btinfinity

penrhyn

What you are talking about is called Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC).
BT are slowly rolling this out across the country under the BT Infinity brand. Other ISPs such as Sky and Talk Talk will be piggy backing on this technology as well.

You could do a Samknows exchange search to see if any dates are planned in your area.

Eg:
BT Wholesale information
ADSL status: Enabled as of 31/12/2000
ADSL Max status: Enabled as of 31/03/2006
SDSL status: Enabled as of 05/06/2005
21CN WBC status: Enabled
FTTC status: Available in some areas

Its the FTTC that you would be interested in.

or pop your phone number in here.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=29017&s_cid=con_FURL_infinity

Gurj247

Thanks for the links people.

I have used both the BT link as well as searched SamKnows to find my nearest exchange.

At the moment the BT site states that my nearest exchage is due to be upgraded by Dec 2012 (although it could be sooner), but it has not been programmed yet so to speak.

penrhyn

Its the actual exchange that you are connected to, which may not be the nearest.

macman

This will not improve your copper wire ADSL speeds though. It will only help if you upgrade to a (much more expensive) fibre connection. Fibre is not replacing the old copper cabling, it is an additional service.
If you put your phone no. into samknows it will give you the exchange name.

Gurj247

macman wrote: »

This will not improve your copper wire ADSL speeds though. It will only help if you upgrade to a (much more expensive) fibre connection. Fibre is not replacing the old copper cabling, it is an additional service.
If you put your phone no. into samknows it will give you the exchange name.

Thanks Macman and others,

I did use my phone number and the nearest is the one i'm connected too (used phone number and postcode seach on SamKnows website).

My understanding was that the copper cable from the exchange to the main junction box (on on the housing development) was to be changed to Fibre Optic, this would thus overall increase the speeds as the signal to the main junction box would not deterioate much if at all. Thus less signal loss through the copper wire to my home from the main junction box.

If as you say the fibre does not replace the copper cabling then this will have no effect....
I know that there are no plans to replace any of the copper cables that are currently connected to the homes on the housing development.

!!!!!!.......

penrhyn

BT may well be laying fibres down to the main cabinet near you, and you will be able to get an improved service, BUT, you will have to subscribe to it, and you'll pay more than for your current ADSL.

spike7451

They wont be replacing the existing copper drop with Fibre Optics but installing new Fibre Optic cables alongside them that will run to a new cabinet sited next to the original one.If you decide to change to Fibre Optic (Infinity) broadband then you will be connected to the new cabinet by means of a jumper cable from the existing cabinet.

macman

Possibly they are upgrading the main cabling from the exchange, so it might be worth seeing if you get any speed improvements when that work is competed.
If you want a full FTTC service then you have to pay the premium for it-but I wouldn't use BT.