BT to trial extending 512K ADSL to "10 Km"

New BT Press release...

(followups set to uk.telecom.broadband...)

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BT PUSHES THE LIMITS TO BRING BROADBAND BRITAIN ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

BT today announced a trial set to pave the way to extend the reach of
broadband ADSL services to a million more homes and businesses throughout
the UK.

Currently more than 96 per cent of homes and businesses connected to
broadband enabled exchanges are within range of ADSL services and BT
believes the trial could establish the way to increase this to more than 99
per cent.

Alison Ritchie, BT chief broadband officer, said: "BT's drive to increase
availability of broadband has many fronts and this latest development shows
we haven't stopped pushing the boundaries.

"By extending reach we will bring service to many of those in the
frustrating situation where their exchange is upgraded for broadband, their
neighbours down the road have broadband, but they can't get it."

Research at the BT labs at Adastral Park, trials involving BT staff and
international comparisons have indicated that 500Kbps ADSL services could
now be offered to many people beyond the current limit which is roughly
equivalent to 6km line length. The trial will begin in Milton Keynes
initially, though will also include areas to test broadband service
performance on lines of up to 10km line length and beyond. Not all these
lines will work but the wide range of lines tested will allow reliable
broadband service to be delivered to many more people.

BT Wholesale's large scale trial due to start on June 1, is needed to
provide more data on broadband service reliability over longer lines before
reach limits can be confidently lifted across the UK while maintaining a
high quality service and bring 1 million more homes and businesses within
reach of broadband. BT Wholesale intends to launch longer reach broadband
services later this year.

Milton Keynes was chosen for the trial involving up to 1,000 people as
approximately 18 per cent of people are out of reach - higher than elsewhere
because of the geographical development of the city in relation to the
exchanges providing its telephone services. It is also hoped to extend the
trial to include a remote rural area, as isolated farms and other businesses
based in the countryside stand to benefit enormously from this development.

BT has been working closely with the Milton Keynes Broadband Action Group to
address broadband availability issues and plans to recruit trialists with
the group's help. Broadband service providers are being asked if they wish
to take part in the trial and details of participating SPs will be announced
by May 11.

Nick Hubbard, action group co-ordinator said: "We have hundreds of people
desperate to get broadband who will be very eager to take part in the trial.
Lack of broadband because of long lines is a very hot issue here in Milton
Keynes and we're very happy to be involved in this project which will not
only solve some of the issues locally but for people with similar
frustrations right across the country."

John Best, chief executive of Milton Keynes Council said: "Twenty years ago
Milton Keynes was at the leading edge of neighbourhood technology, with
cable, community TV and high aspirations.

"Since then the city has developed dramatically but now faces new challenges
that demand a new infrastructure. We are now looking forward to another 30
years of growth as a vibrant, competitive city , and we need to design
neighbourhoods that will once again be at the leading edge. Extending the
reach of broadband throughout the city is a priority for us and we're
delighted that BT has embarked upon this initiative. We look forward to
working with BT and other broadband providers to make Milton Keynes a centre
of excellence for broadband and new media technologies."

People in the 01908 code Milton Keynes area who are interested in being
involved in the trial should register at http://www.bb4mk.org/bttrial. When
the trial service providers have been confirmed those on the Milton Keynes
broadband action group mailing list will be informed.
---------

Regards
Sunil

Sunil Sood <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> BT today announced a trial set to pave the way to extend the reach of
> broadband ADSL services to a million more homes and businesses throughout
> the UK.

Err right, so rather than addressing the *real* problem of the slow rate
of conversion of exchanges and the lack of availability of sDSL, BT piss
about with a marginal extension of range at those exchanges already
fitted for DSL.

Good to see BT is still composed of the bunch of useless tossers it
always was.

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Sunil Sood wrote:
> New BT Press release...
<snip>

> Milton Keynes was chosen for the trial involving up to 1,000 people as
> approximately 18 per cent of people are out of reach - higher than
> elsewhere because of the geographical development of the city in
> relation to the exchanges providing its telephone services.

I'm sure my home town Basingstoke has a similar percentage of
'out of range' homes. (Mine was one until the limit changed last year
from 5.5km to 6km)

However I wonder how many of the MK homes are able to be
served by cable broadband ? That's probably the real reason
for BT choosing the town. Welcome news all the same IMO.

"Steve Firth" <usenet-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1gchozg.k6lqtowvj1ajN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> Sunil Sood <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > BT today announced a trial set to pave the way to extend the reach of
> > broadband ADSL services to a million more homes and businesses
throughout
> > the UK.
>
> Err right, so rather than addressing the *real* problem of the slow rate
> of conversion of exchanges and the lack of availability of sDSL, BT piss
> about with a marginal extension of range at those exchanges already
> fitted for DSL.
>
> Good to see BT is still composed of the bunch of useless tossers it
> always was.

Please do not knock it. This is excellent news for those who cannot
currently get adsl due to being too far from their exchange. It will not
stop them from converting new exchanges, that will still go on.

Beck wrote:

> "Steve Firth" <usenet-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:1gchozg.k6lqtowvj1ajN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
>
>>Sunil Sood <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>BT today announced a trial set to pave the way to extend the reach of
>>>broadband ADSL services to a million more homes and businesses
>
> throughout
>
>>>the UK.
>>
>>Err right, so rather than addressing the *real* problem of the slow rate
>>of conversion of exchanges and the lack of availability of sDSL, BT piss
>>about with a marginal extension of range at those exchanges already
>>fitted for DSL.
>>
>>Good to see BT is still composed of the bunch of useless tossers it
>>always was.
>
>
> Please do not knock it. This is excellent news for those who cannot
> currently get adsl due to being too far from their exchange. It will not
> stop them from converting new exchanges, that will still go on.
>
>

Agreed. I think this is good news, even it only helps a few people.

--
Alexander Mann

Beck <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Please do not knock it. This is excellent news for those who cannot
> currently get adsl due to being too far from their exchange. It will not
> stop them from converting new exchanges, that will still go on.

they keep telling me that the reason for the slow rate of conversion of
exchanges is because of a shortage of appropriately skilled staff. How
will diverting them to fiddle with extending range help that situation?

--
Having problems understanding usenet? Or do you simply need help but
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"Steve Firth" <usenet-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1gchozg.k6lqtowvj1ajN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> Sunil Sood <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > BT today announced a trial set to pave the way to extend the reach of
> > broadband ADSL services to a million more homes and businesses
throughout
> > the UK.
>
> Err right, so rather than addressing the *real* problem of the slow rate
> of conversion of exchanges and the lack of availability of sDSL, BT piss
> about with a marginal extension of range at those exchanges already
> fitted for DSL.

One million more homes and businesses who could potentially benefit from
this change is not a small number.

Exchanges are being enabled for ADSL at a reasonable rate - over 85% of the
population are now on an enabled exchange and that number is increasing
weekly.. with BT estimating it will be available to 95%+ of the population
in 2005.

As for a lack of SDSL - yes, that is only available in limited area's but
neither have you seen the "public" (even businesses) argue for it nationally
the same way they have for ADSL.

However, SDSL coverage will also be increasing as BT start to replace their
1st generation DSLAM's on already enabled exchanges.

These replacements will allow SDSL etc to be rolled out more more widely..

Overall, this is very good news and all it really boils down to, is a change
to the existing ADSL line test limits - so it doesn't even require much
"work" on BT's parts..- just sufficient trials to make sure it works and
doesn't affect other existing ADSL users.

Regards
Sunil

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 13:43:34 +0100, usenet-(E-Mail Removed) (Steve
Firth) wrote:

>> Please do not knock it. This is excellent news for those who cannot
>> currently get adsl due to being too far from their exchange. It will not
>> stop them from converting new exchanges, that will still go on.
>
>they keep telling me that the reason for the slow rate of conversion of
>exchanges is because of a shortage of appropriately skilled staff. How
>will diverting them to fiddle with extending range help that situation?

They are diverting staff? - your source for this information is?

--
Hiram Hackenbacker

"Steve Firth" <usenet-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1gchs8z.10z7n7kt8rtuqN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk.. .
> Beck <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > Please do not knock it. This is excellent news for those who cannot
> > currently get adsl due to being too far from their exchange. It will
not
> > stop them from converting new exchanges, that will still go on.
>
> they keep telling me that the reason for the slow rate of conversion of
> exchanges is because of a shortage of appropriately skilled staff. How
> will diverting them to fiddle with extending range help that situation?

What makes you think they will need to divert staff? From what I
understand, alot of the exchange work is sub-contracted to outside firms
anyway

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c60bmd$69gd4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> New BT Press release...
>
> (followups set to uk.telecom.broadband...)
>
> -------
> BT PUSHES THE LIMITS TO BRING BROADBAND BRITAIN ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

Thanks for that Sunil. After reading this I sent a nice begging email to
Alison Ritchie asking to be put on the trials. Her reply was as expected,
that individuals cannot go on trials, but she is going to forward my details
to the people at the trial department with a view to adding my exchange to
the trials.