BT ditches broadband line length limit (UK)

carbsy

BT says it has effectively removed the limit on 512Kbps services, bringing the prospect of universal broadband coverage in the UK one step closer.

After running a series of trials in broadband blackspots around the UK, BT has managed to extend the reach of its ADSL products.

As well as making 512Kbps available to virtually the whole population, the success of BT's trials also means that 1Mbps ADSL will now work over 6km -- compared to a previous limit of 4km.

Get the full scoop here

Ciaran500

Hurray, this means Eircom might be able to do that in about 5 years. \o/ :rolleyes:

Samson

Ciaran500 wrote:

...Eircom might be able to do that in about 5 years.

I think you're being a tad optimistic.

Gonzo

thats sickening for us in Ireland knowing that this will prolly never happen here, 1mb up to 6km away in UK.... whats the limit here for 1mb dsl... not even as far as 1.8km:(

Stormfox1020

Have also read in an atrticle that my May 2005, 99.6% of the population in the UK will be able to get broadband. The other .4% cannot get electricity. So basically if you can get Electricty in the UK you can get Broadband. I think by May 2005 Eircom may have 1,000,000 Lines activated but i dont want to jump the gun.

damien

Stormfox1020 wrote:

I think by May 2005 Eircom may have 1,000,000 Lines activated but i dont want to jump the gun.

No they won't. They might have one million lines connected to exchanges that have dsl cabinets if we're lucky but that will not mean 1m lines activated.

By May 2005 Comreg has been told to be at the European average for broadband penetration. This is August 2004 and we are not even half-way there. Ireland is lagging behind more and more.

Gonzo

in dunshaughlin (co meath) which is dsl activated, the rate of dsl line test failures is shocking due to most ppl on dacs, splitlines/carrier lines thus preventing so many people from getting broadband, the telephone lines have been here since the dawn of time it seems and rotting ever since, houses have spread everywhere and eircom have not upgraded their capacity and split the lines instead over and over as new houses are built. this is a disgrace on eircoms part and im sure many other dsl zones are in the same boat, apart from all these failures im sure its shortning the distances from the exchanges for people who can qualify for broadband.

DSLinAbsentia

The quality of their lines is obviously not being tackled with the outrageous line rental increases then! :mad:

Ya gotta love Irish competition.

Can't wait for wireless BB so I can tell'em to take their line and shove it...

damien

DSLinAbsentia wrote:

The quality of their lines is obviously not being tackled with the outrageous line rental increases then! :mad:

Because not enough people are freaking out about it. Join IrelandOffline and start getting your bitch on ! Take the survey too (sorry I hadn't mentioned the survey all day on this forum so had to get it in. )

damien

Gonzo wrote:

in dunshaughlin (co meath) which is dsl activated, the rate of dsl line test failures is shocking due to most ppl on dacs, splitlines/carrier lines thus preventing so many people from getting broadband,
the telephone lines have been here since the dawn of time it seems and rotting ever since, houses have spread everywhere and eircom have not upgraded their capacity and split the lines instead over and over as new houses are built.

this is a disgrace on eircoms part and im sure many other dsl zones are in the same boat, apart from all these failures im sure its shortning the distances from the exchanges for people who can qualify for broadband.

Gonzo, I don't doubt for one minute what you say but have you got numbers about the line failure rates ? (Eircom supply Comreg with the numbers but Comreg say it's commercially sensitive so won't give it out allegedly) Better just a list of names and contact details so we can have this on record.

See http://irelandOffline.org/horror where we're gathering these stories.

Another thing is all these pairgains / dacs / split lines , can you get photos of these ? It'd be great if you could email them to me at: research@irelandOffline.org

Gangsta

If BT have developed this, wudnt esatbt do that too coz they r owned by BT?

dahamsta

EsatBT only control the equipment in 39 exchanges in the Republic, and even with that they have no control over the quality of the lines (which are pretty forking shoddy). Although they could possibly implement this in those exchanges, consumers still wouldn't feel the benefit because the unbundled lines are provided almost exclusively to businesses.

adam

spongebob

carbsy wrote:

After running a series of trials in broadband blackspots around the UK, BT has managed to extend the reach of its ADSL products.

As well as making 512Kbps available to virtually the whole population, the success of BT's trials also means that 1Mbps ADSL will now work over 6km -- compared to a previous limit of 4km.

There is a detailed description of the New Variant line test in the UK on the Milton Keynes Website . BT tested the relaxed Db limitations in Milton Keynes and in Scotland and have decided that the tests were sucessful.

Selected Quotes.

How is BT doing this?
Following the trials we have a much better understanding of the performance of ADSL over longer
lines. One of the key issues has been improved clarity on how much impact the internal wiring
within customer premises has on performance of long lines.
The trial found that for one in five lines over 60dB [less than 1% of all lines] a visit by a BT
engineer was required to get the service working. After an engineer visit just 5% of lines over 60dB
were found not to work – this relates to less than 0.2% of all UK lines.

The missing bit here is that BT actually Visited failed Test locations to find out why they failed and repaired the faults in most cases. Then they tested again. Eircom do not fix lines that fail BB tests.

BT also remove Pairgains and suchlike crud from lines.

What effect does the internal wiring in a house have on line loss?
In the trials it was confirmed that: on long lines the internal wiring within a home or business
property has a more significant effect on the overall line performance/line loss that previously
understood. This is one of the significant breakthroughs of the trial. The installation of a broadband
specific face plate on the main telephone socket and the isolation of internal wiring from the
broadband connection has meant many of the trial customers were able to get broadband where it
would previously not have been possible

Sound Familiar to anyone in here ?

Why is this announcement being made when the trial is still under way? It is not due to end
until September 30th?
The evidence produced by the trials so far is decisive and has enabled us to move quickly on this.
Our priority is to bring broadband to as may people as possible, as quickly as possible. Thanks to
the trialists we've been able to do that.

Decisive begod! We don't do decisive in Ireland do we ?

What would an engineer do to try to get me broadband service if it doesn’t work when I try to
install it?
The Service Provider will send you your broadband installation kit after taking your order. Once you
have received the kit, follow the self install instructions. The trial results showed that for one in
five lines over 60dB an engineer was needed in order to get a broadband connection working. For
approximately 5% of customers with lines over 60dB it did not prove possible to provide service
even after an engineer visit. The engineer will do one or more of the following to try to get the line
working:

• Ensure PSTN line is fault free
• Swap local loop pair for a shorter or better cable pair (if available)
• Isolation of the customer’s phone extension wiring
• Check micro-filter at PC and main socket installed correctly (and ask customer to confirm he has
installed micro-filter at other sockets with telephone equipment)
• Check customer’s own equipment is not causing faults
• Fitting a new front plate at the master socket

Amazing, Eircom would never do all that would they ?

How much will end users be charged for the engineering visit?
BT won't be charging for the engineering visit. The engineer visit is part of the new standard repair
process for long lines and will not be chargeable.
If an engineering visit is required, BT will agree to waive the usual fee for this work, provided we
are able to have some flexibility in the delivery date.
However, if the customer’s internal wiring is found to be at fault, an offer will be made to the
customer to correct this at a cost (as per current process and procedures).

So BT fix their end for free and you fix the crap in your own premises only.

Thats very fair is it not !

M

Stormfox1020

Someone email this thread to an eircom director or chairman. Would be funny to see what responce they give. But they probably cant be arsed to write back because the Bombin around dublin in their flash new porshe's, they bought with the money the goverment gave them to rollout Broadband.

Johnny_the_fox

I think the North was the first to be fully covered in the UK... sometime ago.

<edit> oh correction ..

From zdnet (back in March)
The Northern Ireland Executive announced today that it intends to live the dream of 100 percent broadband with the news it has picked BT to supply the high-speed Internet technology to every single home and business in the country.

The contract was awarded by the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and means BT will ensure 100 percent 512Kbps broadband access for anyone that wants it -- however rural their location -- right across the province by the end of 2005. The deal is a multimillion pound contract but no figure has been disclosed. more

on the BT site -> here


</edit>