Why do fibre optic internet services charge for 'line rental'?

Cycrow

I think you are confusing fibre and cable. All these isps that now offer fibre, like BT, Sky, TalkTalk, PlusNet, etc do not do it via a cable network. Its done via the same phone network as ADSL.

Virgin is the only provider that does cable.
There did used to be others, like Telewest, NTL, Cable & Wireless, etc. But have all since joined together and became Virgin.

and fibre to home (FTTH) is usually alot more expensive

Gordon_Hose

Cycrow wrote: »

I think you are confusing fibre and cable. All these isps that now offer fibre, like BT, Sky, TalkTalk, PlusNet, etc do not do it via a cable network. Its done via the same phone network as ADSL.

Virgin is the only provider that does cable.
There did used to be others, like Telewest, NTL, Cable & Wireless, etc. But have all since joined together and became Virgin.

and fibre to home (FTTH) is usually alot more expensive

C&W didn't become part of Virgin, instead, they sold off some of their estate to NTL a very long time ago.

C&W is now Vodafone Ltd in this country.

Virgin, I believe, is made up of NTL, Telewest and Eurobell.

Cycrow

i knew ntl and C&W were linked in some way, i just assumed it was because they were taken over.
But appears they just sold of part of thier assets

forgotmyname

I live close to a major city, No virgin here despite them having an office up the road when these houses were built.

I have Plusnet fibre and it comes through my phone line. Only the faceplate requires changing.
No additional wiring to or in the house.

kwikbreaks

CazGreg wrote: »

Thanks guys ... but not really accurate, since a) almost allthe UK is now cabled by Virgin
and b) many other providers now offer cable (and indeedsatellite) internet that doesn't use landlines, it isn't just Virgin.Also, it is no longer more expensive.
Can anyone else help?

When you fail to believe the 100% correct answers you have been given by others then I suspect nobody is going to be able to help you.

Any FTTC or ADSL will require a landline.

VM are the only UK cable provider and they cover less than half of the company.

Satellite is more expensive than the first option.

3G is likely to be more expensive too.

There are some FTTP and Wireless companies but their coverage areas are tiny. They are probably more expensive than the first option too.

Piggybacking a neighbours WiFi would be possible I guess - if you can find one to share theirs. Or maybe camping in a Maccy D car park.

anotheruser

By contrast, I get my Virgin cable broadband only for £15.50 a month with no price rises for two years. No LL.

To answer the OP, Fibre Optic still needs a "land-line" for the last little bit (from the cabinet to your house). Cable doesn't need a landline as it's nothing to do with the telephone network, so to speak.

Virgin is the only company that supplies Cable without a LL.

Daz2009

anotheruser wrote: »

By contrast, I get my Virgin cable broadband only for £15.50 a month with no price rises for two years. No LL.

To answer the OP, Fibre Optic still needs a "land-line" for the last little bit (from the cabinet to your house). Cable doesn't need a landline as it's nothing to do with the telephone network, so to speak.

Virgin is the only company that supplies Cable without a LL.

Virgin are charging £25 per month for just broadband (less any offers/deals going at the time )

http://store.virginmedia.com/broadband/compare-broadband/index.html#bbonly