BT describes its vision for Britain's digital future

[HEXUS]

Hopes to sway the government and Ofcom decision about splitting off Openreach.

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[shaithis]

I really hope they don't succeed in keeping OpenReach attached to BT!

[sykobee]

OpenReach needs to be split from BT as fast as possible, so that all providers get equal service. Everyone knows that BT gets beneficial service from OpenReach at the moment, regardless of the supposed "separation of operation" the unit is meant to operate under.

[Chadders87]

So far my £17.20 line rental buys me 1.2mbs connection, and intermittent black periods. Not to mention funding rude customer service and engineers that don't turn up. (For the latter, I know they are often over book just so they meet the rules stating an engineer will be dispatched in xx days!)

A monopoly is always bad for the economy as they are not inclined to "beat the competition" or reduce costs.

[dturtill]

try having KC thats a true monopoly we cant get any other providers for phones and fixed line internet

[Boon72]

Openreach are a joke, they make all appointments for other providers 2 weeks from booking! i've had to wait nearly a month to get them to sort our phone and fibre out on a new build!!!1

[CustardInc]

Reading all of these comments, and ones in similar threads, I'm especially glad to be living on a B road in a large town. Praise competition!

[crossy]

As a disinterested party (Virgin Media customer for broadband, never used ADSL) I really can't see any justification for OpenReach to remain a part of BT. Actually, I could see an argument that perhaps OpenReach shouldn't even be a commercial (i.e. "for profit") entity given that it's effectively a monopoly supplier to other companies.

Given the amount of bad press - approaching that of TalkTalk - for BT's "service" then I am deeply suspect about it's "vision". Unfortunately, I suspect that the current government will look favourably upon it.

[GregglesB]

try having KC thats a true monopoly we cant get any other providers for phones and fixed line internet

It's a complete joke, my parents are lucky to get 12Mbps and they're paying the same as what I am for BT infinity 76 Mbps.

KC are rolling out lightstream which we put the speeds up to 50Mbps, but will still have capped data allowance...

[Ttaskmaster]

How will they achieve this vision, when they can't even deliver as little as 2mbps, in an easily accessible area where they promised "a minimum of 70mpbs within three months" over four years ago?

[Top_gun]

I shall describe my digital future without BT. Especially as 5G is around the corner.

[MrComputerSaint]

I shall describe my digital future without BT. Especially as 5G is around the corner.

I would like to think that mobile tech would be the way forward, however I think contention will be a pain. Say for example, You'll just want to stream a movie, but on that day you find out that there is a local event near you perhaps that has invited 20000 people to your area, all of which want to use the mobile network and then you can't stream that movie because you can't barely load a webpage.

I think OpenReach should be a separate entity too.

[Top_gun]

I would like to think that mobile tech would be the way forward, however I think contention will be a pain. Say for example, You'll just want to stream a movie, but on that day you find out that there is a local event near you perhaps that has invited 20000 people to your area, all of which want to use the mobile network and then you can't stream that movie because you can't barely load a webpage.

I would have thought our mobile operators will employ some form of QoS in terms of contention and local events. Plus the fact, technology will improve by the time it is implemented.

[pollaxe]

Mobile always sounds so promising but I've yet to see realistic usage limits for users. That, I think, will have to change for it to be a viable replacement. Whether it'll be involved in back haul duties etc. going forward, that wouldn't surprise me.

I can't even get a reliable gprs signal where I live, let alone 3G or better. I don't trust BT, they promise little and then under deliver even on that. They seem to have friends in high places and get away with far too much. This is just a hollow gesture to stop Openreach being taken away from them and feels like it's too little, too late.

I'd rather see the money for HS2 be spent on a decent comms infrastructure instead.

[MrComputerSaint]

I would have thought our mobile operators will employ some form of QoS in terms of contention and local events. Plus the fact, technology will improve by the time it is implemented.

I would too

The mobile operators actually have mobile towers that they take to events, where they know there is a lot of people. They then set an extra mobile mast up to help the coverage sometimes, but still, from my personal experience, specifically talking about the end of the Great North Run in South Shields mobile data usage is just not viable. Text messages take maybe 10 mins to come through, maybe an hour or 2. Calls, some times they work.

And this is because there is around 100,000 extra people in such a small area.

I agree with pollaxe, Mobile for backhaul would be a very good idea. But then there are other connection technologies that can work, like Microwave, however Microwave links can be governed by the weather a great deal.

[shaithis]

All this mobile tech sounds great in practice but I believe it falls short just like many broadbands do......Just because you can connect between your device and the infrastructure as speed x, does not mean you can get speed x. Contention is horrendous and the mobile networks are being swamped with traffic and will only get worse.