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us!
What is the technical reason for not having ADSL in
Monkston?
I cannot give an authoritative answer, but....
When Monkston was planned, in 1990, fibre optic cable was
the future:
- cheaper than copper
- digital
Monkston is served by a fibre optic cable from Fishermead.
The capacity of that cable was dictated by the planned number
of telephone customers in the estate. Each customer has a 64kbps
ISDN channel. BT saved lots of money by putting down just
one slim fibre optic cable instead of lots of copper wire.
That was fine, until some bright spark thought up ADSL, by
putting a low frequency radio signal on plain old copper telephone
wires. The phone can be used as normal, and there's an extra
digital high speed circuit that can be on all the time.
Monkston is the only estate in Milton Keynes that has fibre
optic cable (TPON).
Existing houses, connected to the local telephone exchange
with copper wire are fine, unless the exchange is over 5.5km
distant.
Now in 2003 we are lumbered with our fibre optic cable legacy.
There is no extra capacity for high speed data.
We are in the dark ages.
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BT Broadband Campaigns Manager's reply
Dean, one of our members that works within BT kindly sent me the following:
Nick
I received the reply below from the BT Broadband Campaigns
Manager. BT are obviously aware of the problems with
people served by fibre and are doing some work to resolve
some of the issues. As you know, the exchange restrictions
will be amended in June to make broadband available to people
up to 6km from the serving exchange (subject to survey),
so this may help some, but probably not all, of the people
lucky(!) enough to be served by copper.Dean
_________________
Fibre was used tactically in certain areas to overcome some
specific operational problems, involving capacity and line
length.
However, BT is currently working on the introduction of
a simple fix that would end the frustration experienced
of some people who cannot get broadband because they are
connected to their exchange via optical fibre, which cannot
support ADSL technology. The solution would use copper cables
- some existing, some new - to bypass the fibre.
Starting from June 03 BT will alter the planning rules for
the TPON networks that are in place around the country.
Any existing copper pairs that are in existence are to be
reserved for users requesting an ADSL service; when someone
orders a PSTN/ISDN/Home Highway service it should be provisioned
over the optical network. In instances where a phone service
is already on the optical system, then BT will attempt to
migrate the customer to a copper pair when they order ADSL.
Normally the number of copper pairs in TPON areas is limited,
but BT has identified those TPON areas that should be in
reach of ADSL over standard copper pairs and are working
to install new copper capacity. This work means the first
few sites should be available from June 2003.
BT is hoping that these changes will allow the majority
of customers in TPON areas to get ADSL, but, there will
instances where it just isn't possible.
To assist in providing feedback to people, the online line
checkers will receive an update. For people on TPON the
result will change from red to amber. Additionally the text
will change to mention that a survey will be required, and
that an order should be placed with your service provider
of choice.
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This is of significance to those of us in the west side of Monkston
served by fibre. See the map.
Links
Monkston and Middleton Broadband Home
Activities
If you live in or near the Monkston grid square, and want Broadband,
let us
know!
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