How to contact Openreach re Exchange only line and FTTC?

BigAde

Hi
I've been waiting for FTTC to arrive before moving from my current ISP (Coms). I'm currently on ADSL2+.
After many months of waiting, the BT Openreach website changed today to say that my Exchange was fibre enabled and 'accepting orders'.

On contacting various ISPs however I've been told that as my line is an Exchange Only line (EO), I can't get FTTC. While I understand the technical reasons why this is, no one can tell me if there are any plans to install a cabinet outside the Exchange to solve the problem.

So I want to find out one way or the other if there are plans to add a new cabinet outside the Exchange or if I should abandon the whole idea and just be satisified with ADSL2+. I don't want to be waiting months not knowing as I'll just get on with moving ISPs if I've got no chance of getting FTTC.

So anyone know how I can get in touch with Openreach, as having looked at their website, there doesn't seem to be a way to get in touch unless you're reporting a fault.

Thanks!

kwikbreaks

They will not give you this information. SFAIK they don't even accept fault reports from individuals they only deal with ISPs and telecos.

BigAde

Thanks kwikbreaks - so is there ANY way of finding out this information? If not, I'll just assume the worst.

kwikbreaks

SFAIK there is no way to get advance notice of any FTTC provision work. On the bright side you should get absolutely top notch ADSL.

Unless you are running multiple concurrent streams, doing monster downloads, or using cloud backup services you really wouldn't notice any great advantage in FTTC over full fat ADSL. There are some rural FTTC users who would get slower FTTC than your ADSL.

iniltous

I don't believe at the moment there are any plans to make E/O exchange lines, into regular lines that go via a PCP ( primary cross connection point) the green BT boxes ( cabinets, cab for short) you see around the place, and if your line, as you know, doesn't go thru a cabinet then you cannot have fibre to the cabinet (FTTC)

System

iniltous wrote: »

I don't believe at the moment there are any plans to make E/O exchange lines, into regular lines that go via a PCP ( primary cross connection point) the green BT boxes ( cabinets, cab for short) you see around the place, and if your line, as you know, doesn't go thru a cabinet then you cannot have fibre to the cabinet (FTTC)

Thanks for that info about EO lines, I never knew that.

It therefore means that the majority of my village are never going to get fibre as there is a distinct lack of BT cabs here.Our only hope is ADSL2+ if they ever get around to it

Buzby

New fibre cabinets are installed in areas where there is traffic and demand to justify it, but 'village' rings warning bells. There just may not be enough interest and uptake to make OR make the investment.

BigAde

kwikbreaks wrote: »

SFAIK there is no way to get advance notice of any FTTC provision work. On the bright side you should get absolutely top notch ADSL.

Unless you are running multiple concurrent streams, doing monster downloads, or using cloud backup services you really wouldn't notice any great advantage in FTTC over full fat ADSL. There are some rural FTTC users who would get slower FTTC than your ADSL.

Thanks kwikbreaks - while I'm aware of the differences in performance and to some extent I agree with you on that, if FTTC is going to be available, I'd prefer to take that option.
If it's not available, then fine, as you say 16+Mbps isn't too shabby.


I'd just like to know, one way or the other.

BigAde

iniltous wrote: »

I don't believe at the moment there are any plans to make E/O exchange lines, into regular lines that go via a PCP ( primary cross connection point) the green BT boxes ( cabinets, cab for short) you see around the place, and if your line, as you know, doesn't go thru a cabinet then you cannot have fibre to the cabinet (FTTC)

If that's the case, why did they bother converting village exchanges to fibre in the first place? In the case in my village, the vast majority of lines will be EO, so what's the point?

brewerdave

BigAde wrote: »

If that's the case, why did they bother converting village exchanges to fibre in the first place? In the case in my village, the vast majority of lines will be EO, so what's the point?

I live in a "village" - 6 miles outside Cardiff:rotfl: -we are getting fibre but ONLY because of BDUK funding -have you checked to see whether your exchange is likely to get fibre via this method??

BigAde

brewerdave wrote: »

I live in a "village" - 6 miles outside Cardiff:rotfl: -we are getting fibre but ONLY because of BDUK funding -have you checked to see whether your exchange is likely to get fibre via this method??

The exchange has fibre, that's not the problem. It's just that the majority of the homes in the village are connected EO, so there are no cabinets necessary for fttc.