Virgin Media installing new fibre, but I'm with BT

kwikbreaks

GingerBob wrote: »

What sort of bum arrangement do we have in this country whereby a single company can install infrastructure like this and not make it available to others?

The only reason the BT network is shared is because the original copper network which is still the main way internet services are delivered was developed at public expense by the Post Office and part of the privatization conditions included allowing third parties access to that network to avoid producing a privately owned monopoly.

The costs involved in creating the cable TV network bankrupt the companies involved and VM still carry a huge burden of debt. As it was produced with private money the need to allow others access was never imposed.

Nilrem

kwikbreaks wrote: »

The only reason the BT network is shared is because the original copper network which is still the main way internet services are delivered was developed at public expense by the Post Office and part of the privatization conditions included allowing third parties access to that network to avoid producing a privately owned monopoly.

The costs involved in creating the cable TV network bankrupt the companies involved and VM still carry a huge burden of debt. As it was produced with private money the need to allow others access was never imposed.

Well said.

IIRC there is nothing at all stopping say Sky or any of the other telecoms companies doing what VM (and BT) do, except they won't pay the cost.

Personally I'd love to have the choice between both VM and BT for fibre to the cab, or better yet to the home, but BT won't invest that much in our area (not that I'm complaining too much, VM have been offering us about 2-5 times BT's best speeds for years).

Nilrem

GingerBob wrote: »

I said; "So they are digging up the street and causing a bit of hassle". Hardly a tantrum! In fact, it's not (yet) affecting me at all. Unlike the guy up the road who hasn't been able to access his garage for two days!

Why hasn't he?

IIRC they normally put temporary covers over any holes left open, especially if it's in front of a dropped kerb or garage and normally they should inform the house holder if access is going to be impaired (I remember them leafleting us 15+ years ago with a rough date for the street, and I think doing a second drop a day or so in advance)..

brewerdave

GingerBob wrote: »

I'm not sure, but it's got one of those BT posters about "Fibre" on it, so I'm guessing 'yes'.


My current connection speed it about 20 mb download, so not too bad.

If you are getting 20Mb on ADSL2+ then currently can't see any need for fibre UNLESS you need the upload speeds.:)

Spookieuk

brewerdave wrote: »

If you are getting 20Mb on ADSL2+ then currently can't see any need for fibre UNLESS you need the upload speeds.:)

Well Netflix has a requirement of 25mb for 4k which is slowly becoming the norm for streaming content.

duchy

GingerBob wrote: »

Brilliant! So they are digging up the street and causing a bit of hassle, but unless you move to them, there's no advantage.

Sometimes those parasites Tescos dare to park on my road .....as I shop at the Aldi within walking distance it is of no benefit to me to allow their delivery vans on the road. How very dare they !!

The local lollipop lady sometimes makes me stop to allow children to cross on their way to school - delaying me. I don't have school age children - How very dare they !!

Sometimes I have to stop to let an ambulance through -It's not me having a heart attack so there's no advantage to me in giving way to them so how dare they cause me hassle .


(Of course at some point in the future I might appreciate those services.....just as one day you might decide Virgin is the best service for you. Just because you are currently with BT doesn't mean you have to stay with them beyond the end of your contract . Do you even know if you are locked into a contract or not -A lot of people assume they are locked in when they actually aren't)

lee111s

Spookieuk wrote: »

Well Netflix has a requirement of 25mb for 4k which is slowly becoming the norm for streaming content.

Netflix 4k has a bandwidth requirement of 15.6mbps.

4k is far from the norm and won't be for considerable time yet.

pete-20-11

marleyboy wrote: »

I personally cannot wait for VM to start digging up our Street and install fibre, the majority in our area are of the same opinion.

I agree. I've been trying to get VM to in-fill my road for several years.

I'm in the middle of a big VM area, but on a new road that doesn't have their cables.

BT aren't interested in providing fibre, presumably because of VM's dominance, so I am left with circa 1.5Mbps ADSL.

brewerdave

Spookieuk wrote: »

Well Netflix has a requirement of 25mb for 4k which is slowly becoming the norm for streaming content.

...can't see it becoming the "norm" for many in the next few years ....and if/when it does, I suspect the contention problems at exchanges ,will prevent many people from taking advantage anyway:)
There are already many posts by fibre customers who see big slowdowns in the evenings due to the load on BT infrastructure.

GingerBob_3

Nilrem wrote: »

Why hasn't he?

IIRC they normally put temporary covers over any holes left open, especially if it's in front of a dropped kerb or garage and normally they should inform the house holder if access is going to be impaired (I remember them leafleting us 15+ years ago with a rough date for the street, and I think doing a second drop a day or so in advance)..

Yes, they did that when the householder requested it. They started their excavations by digging two holes about 100 yds apart, one of which was in front of this guy's garage. They have since joined them with a trench. I guess the hole in front of the garage must be where there's some sort of junction? Anyway, their default position was to leave the hole uncovered, and the householder had to ask them each time he wanted access to his garage. They then put a temporary board across. To be honest, they have left a right bloody mess in the street, with trenches in the road and on the pavement, now covered with tarmac different to original surface; a very untidy job, it has to be said.