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British Telecom Conducting 330 Mbps FTTN Trials
'Fiber to the Press Release' or the Real Deal?
Many communities are waiting for British Telecom to upgrade their simple DSL networks so they actually work, and British Telecom themselves have a reputation for "fiber to the press release" -- or broadband expansion projects that sound ambitious but are less so under close scrutiny. The UK incumbent telco's latest adventure in that arena appears to be new fiber on demand trials the company says should deliver 330 Mbps downstream via fiber to the node. From the company's press release:
quote:
Phase one, which will run from 26 July 2012 to early 2013, will allow participating CPs to place orders for a 330Mbit/s downstream, and either 20 or 30Mbit/s upstream service in parts of High Wycombe, and Bristol South exchange areas, as well as in St Agnes, Cornwall where the service was first trialled. Edinburgh’s Waverley exchange will be added to the pilot in September 2012. Phase two, which we anticipate will run from March to May 2013, will test new automated order processes for FTTP on Demand. In addition to the first four exchange areas, we intend to extend the pilot to the Watford, Cardiff Stadium, Basingstoke, and Manchester Central exchange areas.
Granted this is just exploratory and the scale may be nothing to write home about, but it is interesting in the context of trying to get more speed out of existing copper. Again however, British Telecom has a reputation for announcing a lot of these kinds of programs so they sound cutting edge, while in reality struggling to offer most of their households last-generation speed DSL.
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Metatron2008
You're it
Premium Member
join:2008-09-02
united state

Metatron2008

Premium Member

Yeah right.

Maybe if you connect 4 or more twisted pair cables... Also gotta be very close to that cabinet..

TEosp
@usaccoinc.com

TEosp

Anon

Re: Yeah right.

Agreed, marketing dept ideal exist in lab setting only. Wonder if Eng/Depl depts wince everytime marketing puts out a PR?
InvalidError
join:2008-02-03

InvalidError to Metatron2008

Member

to Metatron2008
said by Metatron2008:

Maybe if you connect 4 or more twisted pair cables...

Alcatel, Huawei and other xDSL equipment manufacturers have demonstrated speeds over 600Mbps on a single loop over distances of over 200m more than a year ago, BT could be toying with one of those.

ohreally
@virginmedia.com

ohreally

Anon

Re: Yeah right.

They're not. Apparently they're looking into techniques like vectoring to try and increase speeds, but this press release is nothing more than the announcement of a product that allows people to get fibre to the premises provided they pay for some of the install cost and are in range of an existing FTTN cabinet.
nanaki333
join:2010-08-11
Chantilly, VA

nanaki333

Member

very nice article

i actually LOL'd hard at the "fiber to the press release".

NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA

NormanS

MVM

FTTPR?

In keeping with the usual four letters, shouldn't that be, "FTTM" ("Fiber To The Media")?

nja
@sky.com

nja

Anon

People need to reread what's being stated

This isn't FTTN, it's about extending FTTH(FTTP) from FTTN in FTTN areas at the customers request. The trial appears to be about testing the demand for the service, back office and cost of deployment.
It's not FTTPR
etaadmin
join:2002-01-17
united state

etaadmin

Member

Re: People need to reread what's being stated

said by nja :

This isn't FTTN, it's about extending FTTH(FTTP) from FTTN in FTTN areas at the customers request. The trial appears to be about testing the demand for the service, back office and cost of deployment.
It's not FTTPR

Yes, that is what I understand but some of the other comments side tracked me... wonder what they are talking about

Basically this is what Mexico is doing with their fiber installations... Kamus See Profile are you here to comment?

If I understand correctly any user 'close enough' to a fiber feed can request it to be extended to his/her home.

Soho97UK
Premium Member
join:2004-08-18
UK

Soho97UK

Premium Member

Re: People need to reread what's being stated

said by etaadmin:

If I understand correctly any user 'close enough' to a fiber feed can request it to be extended to his/her home.

That's what's supposed to happen in 2013. At the moment BT are still rolling out fibre to street cabinets(the user gets VDSL2) - rates up to 80Mb/20Mb depending on distance. There is some FTTP activity already but not much.

Of course there are no prices yet for the "fibre on demand" product.

ohreally
@virginmedia.com

ohreally

Anon

Re: People need to reread what's being stated

said by Soho97UK:

said by etaadmin:

If I understand correctly any user 'close enough' to a fiber feed can request it to be extended to his/her home.

That's what's supposed to happen in 2013. At the moment BT are still rolling out fibre to street cabinets(the user gets VDSL2) - rates up to 80Mb/20Mb depending on distance. There is some FTTP activity already but not much.

Of course there are no prices yet for the "fibre on demand" product.

But this won't change that. BT still intends to roll out VDSL on the same large scale - this product simply allows users who are currently able to get VDSL to also get FTTH if they are prepared to stump up the install fee.

BT's FTTP rollout is pretty glacial. Parts of my village are due to get FTTP (mostly the new housing estates and the lines that are directly connected to the exchange) but none of that has actually happened and only a fraction of cabinets have FTTC right now (including mine).

Smith6612
MVM
join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY

Smith6612

MVM

Them uploads

It's sort of Skimpy. What are they going to do about that? :P

antdude
Matrix Ant
Premium Member
join:2001-03-25
US

antdude

Premium Member

Prove it!

I will believe it when I see in my own house, but then I am not in that country. :P