Broadband product names misleading

iwaddo77

Hi

Is there a reason that broadband providers are allowed to use the word 'fibre' in their product offering, for example Superfast Fibre Broadband, when in fact the fibre only goes to the cabinet which in my case is several hundred yards away?

There is no fibre cable in our street yet I have so many providers offering me a 'fibre' service.

Why is this allowed, it is misleading?

Neil_Jones

No it is not misleading.
It is fibre because the "fibre to the cabinet" product is only fibre from the cabinet onwards through the system and uses your regular already installed copper lines to your house.

By your argument you could say "broadband" is misleading because there are no broad bands between houses and cabinets.

A lot of stuff to do with the telephone network is effectively tacked on because it was only ever originally built in the 1930s and 1940s to carry voice and make telephone calls. The ability to be able to carry data down the same lines that carry telephone signals is effectively one big technological bodge.

iniltous

VM were the first company to use ‘fibre’ in their advertising, and given that it’s a hybrid copper /fibre system, it’s hardly surprising that other company’s that offer a similar hybrid system also use the term ‘fibre’ in their adverts too.
As the advertising authority’s didn’t have a problem with VM, it would be a little odd if they had a problem with similar products using the same adverting strategy.
TBH, your complaint isn't something new, it’s been argued before, but years ago.

iwaddo77

Hi, I guessed that would be the case.

I have had people state they are only paying x for a fibre service whereas in fact they are paying for FTTC.

It is also confusing when trying to find whether I can actually get a true fibre service.

JJ_Egan

True fibre if you have FTTP .
Open Reach are rolling it out .Contracters feeding cabling along streets may be your first sign .

iwaddo77

Frustratingly, I have been told repeatedly by Virgin that it is not economical to put fibre into our little estate of 50 houses and this is despite the fact that the street is fully ducted right to the side of every house - no digging required.

cajef

iwaddo77 wrote: »

Frustratingly, I have been told repeatedly by Virgin that it is not economical to put fibre into our little estate of 50 houses and this is despite the fact that the street is fully ducted right to the side of every house - no digging required.

I would assume that the ducting already installed is BT property which Virgin cannot use, if you wanted Virgin they would have to install their own infrastructure which they don't think is economical in your area.

Chino

Neil_Jones wrote: »

It is fibre because the "fibre to the cabinet" product is only fibre from the cabinet onwards through the system and uses your regular already installed copper lines to your house.

Which is precisely why the term as used by ISPs is misleading; in their advertising ISPs use the unqualified term "fibre", rarely qualifying it as "fibre to the cabinet".

JJ_Egan

iwaddo77 wrote: »

Frustratingly, I have been told repeatedly by Virgin that it is not economical to put fibre into our little estate of 50 houses and this is despite the fact that the street is fully ducted right to the side of every house - no digging required.

As said is that the actual VM ducting in your street .
If so badger your estate householders to contact VM .
Those that actually want VM that is .

iniltous

iwaddo77 wrote: »

Frustratingly, I have been told repeatedly by Virgin that it is not economical to put fibre into our little estate of 50 houses and this is despite the fact that the street is fully ducted right to the side of every house - no digging required.

But, if VM were in your little estate, the chances are it wouldn’t be ‘fibre’ it would be VM’s version of a fibre and copper hybrid, I accept that if VM were available chances are 100, 200, 300Mb speed could be available, but that’s a different argument, the initial post was about the use of the term ‘fibre’ when the product isn’t FTTP.
FWIW , if you can get FTTC ( not from VM but Openreach, via an ISP ) the speed is pretty much dependent on the distance you are from the ‘cabinet’ , but if for example you could get 80Mb ( as I do from FTTC ) then personally the medium it’s delivered over doesn’t bother me, apparently those with ‘true’ fibre ( FTTP ) rarely buy the ‘ultrafast’ speeds but the lower speeds that are achievable with FTTC anyway

cajef

iniltous wrote: »

apparently those with ‘true’ fibre ( FTTP ) rarely buy the ‘ultrafast’ speeds but the lower speeds that are achievable with FTTC anyway

I have FTTP as that is the only fibre available in my area but as you state I don't need or have the ultrafast speed, 80/20 is plenty speed for my use.