~ I am continuing this discussion from OFCOM - FUTURE OF 0870 NUMBERS - CONSULTATION as it is not really relevant to that thread.Quote:BT are greatly extending the limit at which you can get a 256k service and 512k broadband service on all exchanges.
I've just read that; that the 6km limit. Bear in mind that the limit is (from a technical point of view) because the longer the line, the slower you can go. It's up to BT whether it allows broadband connections to lines of a certain length. If it chooses not to, it doesn't mean that it's not technically possible, it's because of BT's decision. Of course, BT could use this to make it look (to those who aren't aware of these technical limitations) as though BT have waved a magic wand to make ADSL work over a longer distance.
Quote:On Forest Green exchange next to me in prosperous commuter Surrey and not far from the M25 the homes are all in range of the exchange but its just that BT doesn't want to pay the £50,000 upgrade fee itself for a new fibre optic cable to the exchange and the DSLAM as it only serves 230 lines. But these 230 lines raise over £30,000 per year for BT in line rental, which I highly doubt they will use up in an engineer making perhaps 2 or 3 visits a month to the exchange.
But BT is a privatised company which makes decisions based on what its return will be. NGM, you are looking at this 'problem' as a "needs must" scenario. I quite agree that broadband should be rolled out everywhere, however, the two objectives are conflicting/opposing are they not. Your answer appears to be, "Oh well, BT have pots of cash."
Quote:... and at the same time is limited in terms of how cheap it can be (if it wanted) because of fear of undercutting their rivals which they are pretty much prohibited from doing so.
But BT must charge the same price for a line in the Scottish Highlands where it (presumably) has no real competition and a buzzing urban area where cable is available.