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Answers from BT
We met with BT on Friday the 14th November 2003. We had set
some questions beforehand.
Here are the answers BT
gave us:
- Identification of problem areas in MK. (Street level, not just estate
level.)
BT is unable to supply such detailed information
as this in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.
- Will BT propose a solution to MK's Broadband problems? If so, how
soon?
BT is putting specific resource into addressing
the issues here in Milton Keynes. We recognise that there are some areas
like Milton Keynes, where because of the history of the land development
and the geography of our network configuration, the number of customers
within broadband reach is lower than the national average. The national
average is now approx. 96%.
We are analysing the nature of the broadband availability gaps in Milton
Keynes and working on developing solutions. It is not yet possible to talk
about specific time lines, but currently our efforts in Milton Keynes are
leading and informing the approach to broadband gaps in other parts of the
country.
It is very difficult to say how soon a solution might be implemented, as
we have to fully establish the scale and causes of the issues. Nationally
BT has a range of programmes in place to assess and mitigate the issues in
such areas but we need to proceed in an orderly fashion, i.e. beginning
with evaluation of technology or possible systems changes, then moving to
trial of potential services/products. Nationally we hope to be in a
position to articulate proposals on reach in the summer of 2004.
- Will any "fixes" involve funding from other parties?
BT is keen to develop partnerships with regional
development agencies and other bodies to help extend broadband
availability as well as drive awareness. The challenges we face in Milton
Keynes are both technical and commercial and some of the models would need
partnership funding.
- A 65dB planning rule is rumoured. Is this true?
BT doesn’t comment on rumour and speculation. We
can say that in working to extend the reach of broadband different
technologies and systems approaches are being investigated. We can’t yet
say what the outcome of these investigations will be.
- How accurate is the BT web based line checker?
The web based telephone number checker is 98%
accurate. The postcode checker is less accurate as it does not refer to
individual line data.
- If a BT engineer measures a customer's actual cable length, using equipment
such as a Time Domain Reflectometer, why can't the BT web based line
checker be updated forthwith?
It can. If a BT engineer does a precision test on
a line the status can be updated within the hour and an order progressed.
- If a resident is prepared to have engineering tests made on their lines,
how do they approach BT?
From time to time, BT makes measurements and/or
tests equipment on “real” lines. In the first instance we usually work
with our own employees using their home telephone lines. However, there
may be circumstances where there are insufficient BT employee lines to
provide meaningful results. Should this be the case, we then need to
re-evaluate the test criteria and/or invite other customers to take part.
- What alternatives are there to getting a line length tested?
The ADSL services will only be deployed on lines
that meet the requirements for insertion loss. This is ascertained by a
physical test of the line.
- Exchange area naming confuses people. The name refers to a different
local area name.
Exchange names are largely historical and this is
a national characteristic. In other words when they were named the names
had a relevance and relationship to most of the areas they served.
- When will I be getting broadband in <estate name> ?
Please see the answer to question 2.
- Can we get hold of the facts as to where the cabling actually goes?
Please see the answer to question 1.
- Is there any point in having a second line installed it the hope that
it would be connected to a nearer exchange?
No.
- Is there any point in having a second line installed,
contingent on ADSL being available? Should ADSL not be available do I
get the 2nd line removed at no charge?
No.
- Do the telephone numbers themselves give a clue as to how the cable is
routed and to what exchange?
No.
- I always thought the UK telephone system was a world leader. How do we
compare worldwide?
The UK is now the second largest broadband market
in Europe as well as the fastest growing one by a significant margin. It
also shows that prices are among the most competitive in Europe and that
the availability of broadband is higher than in many other countries.
Availability now stands at over 80 per cent in the UK as a result of BT’s
roll out programme and is greater than that in the USA, France and Italy.
- Could BT make the price of ISDN/Midband fairer?
BT sets prices at appropriate point for the
market. There are also competition/regulatory constraints on pricing.
- Old village estates that used to be served by the old country
exchanges (Loughton, Milton Keynes Village) are badly served. There is
some clumsy transition jointing going on. The cables would have be lain to
allow a quick seamless "switchover" one cold winter's afternoon,
fifteen years ago. Can't these
cables be re-run? Can't this be remedied?
Prior to the building of the new Milton Keynes,
this part of north Buckinghamshire was largely rural with some coaching
towns along the course of Watling Street and railway towns at Bletchley
and Wolverton. In the 1960’s, the villages in the area would have been
served from tiny Unmanned Automatic Exchanges (UAX), each about the size
of a domestic garage, equipped with Strowger electromechanical switches,
and providing service to about couple of hundred customers.
With the coming of the new town, the small UAX’s were removed in the early
1970’s, and the new housing estates were served from a small number of
strategically located exchanges e.g. Bradwell Abbey and Shenley Church
End.
The telephone cable network was planned solely for voice telephony. When
the old UAX’s were replaced the new cables would have been planned
according to the planning rules used at the time. e.g. for a TXE4
electronic exchange as installed at Bradwell Abbey max loop length 1250
ohms, max loss 10dB @ 1.6kHz. In the early 1970’s DSL had not been dreamed
of. “Entertainment” for Milton Keynes was provided for with cable TV. A
separate co-axial cable network was laid for this and was centred on a
headend site in Linford Wood. Subsequently regulation meant that BT had to
give up its interests in cable TV.
Current planning rules require that where economically feasible new cable
routes are designed to support ADSL (at 512kbit/s).
We received the following answers in
December 2003:
- Can I order a telephone line from a specific telephone exchange?
No, not unless you move into an area served by the exchange you seek to
be served by.
- BT have given Milton Keynes special
attention. Will BT extend this support to other towns in the country?
The additional work we are doing in MK to address broadband will benefit
other areas, as the learning here will feed into our national work to
extend broadband availability. Milton Keynes is very special to those of
us, living in or working on further broadband solutions for the city,
but all of BT’s customers and all of the geographies we serve are
important to us.
- I know this is a Broadband campaign, but some of us in MK can't even
get ISDN (Midband, Home Highway). Has BT got plans for people wanting
ISDN?
The current investigation BT is conducting in Milton Keynes involves
identifying the reasons some lines cannot be used to serve broadband.
This work also encompasses the provision of ISDN and once we’ve
clarified the causes, we will seek to identify potential solutions.
- Will BT implement a wireless broadband service in MK?
BT does not have specific plans for wireless in MK but wireless
broadband technologies are currently being trialled in other areas to
assess their suitability in addressing broadband reach issues.
- Does having telephone extensions wired inside your house increase
your line length/loss?
In some of the limited tests we’ve done, it appears that multiple
extensions, off one line, coupled with a security alarm system, an
answer machine, and a fax – may possibly contribute to excessive noise,
which may contribute to a line being unsuitable for broadband. This is
still being investigated and until we have results of research proving
this one way or the other, it would be inappropriate for us to recommend
any action.
- What is BT doing to improve the lines of communication between their
various internal teams?
Where barriers to good communication are identified BT will work to
overcome them. We all now share common over riding goals and targets
with customer satisfaction at the top of the list.
- BT recently invested heavily in downgrading Monkston's TPON. When
will BT upgrade / reroute estates that are considered "too far from the
exchange"? With the new cables in place Monkston is now approx 2.8km
from Bradwell Abbey, whereas Middleton, the estate next door and
geographical closer to Bradwell Abbey (Fishermead), is still in excess
of 6km.
We are currently investigating and identifying potential solutions to
resolve this and will share this information with yourselves as soon as
it is feasible to do so.
- From our group we are aware of approx 60 people that have taken up
ADSL service in Monkston. BT laid 250 pairs of cable. How feasible is it
to route other estates from the spare capacity in Monkston?
As in question 24, it is not possible to report back at this stage the
progress of our investigations but the point raised will be evaluated as
a part of that consideration.
- Is there any plans for BT to adapt the new
ADSL2 specification - a
longer reach (7-7.5 km variable speed) version of ADSL?
Our current understanding is that ADSL2 is able to deliver a higher
bandwidth than ADSL over short lines - less than 2.5km and provides a
range increase of around 0.2km on longer lines. In very few cases is
this increase in range likely to be of real benefit to many citizens of
MK.
BT is observing how DSL technology is developing and also, where
appropriate, lobbying for the best possible standards to be adopted at
an international level. When any decisions are made they will be
announced at the appropriate time.
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