Anyone have FTTC activated yet?

[Bluecube]

BT are currently fitting out my area with FTTC which will supposedly be activated in about a months time. What happens when it's activated? Do you automatically get the promised super fast speeds or do you need to wait on your ISP to buy the relevant access before you get any speed upgrade?

TIA

[Mike Fishcake]

I got sent this info from Zen about it:

http://www.zen.co.uk/business/broadb...broadband.aspx

Mine's being done in a few weeks, but I don't think I'll bother upgrading because it's a bit too expensive as it is.

However, I may be misunderstanding something here, so can someone in the know please clarify:

- If my exchange is now FTTC, then will they have the old cabling in as well as the fibre?
- If they don't have the old cabling in, does this mean that the problems of line distance from the exchange will be improved? i.e. I'm on "up to" 8Mb but only get 2.7 to 3Mb-ish, will this mean I may now get improved downstream anyway, without changing to an FTTC contract?

The increased upstream really tempts me, but Zen say that the FTTC system will cost "From £30 + VAT" which is about £10 PM more than I'm paying now. I don't mind paying a premium for Zen's service, but I think that's a bit too much.

[Bluecube]

- If they don't have the old cabling in, does this mean that the problems of line distance from the exchange will be improved? i.e. I'm on "up to" 8Mb but only get 2.7 to 3Mb-ish, will this mean I may now get improved downstream anyway, without changing to an FTTC contract?

This is what I want to know as well. However, from what I've seen on the ongoing maintenance in my area no cable has been taken out so I think the fibre is in addition to the old copper.

[burble]

- If my exchange is now FTTC, then will they have the old cabling in as well as the fibre?

Yep, the copper lines are there. Even if you go for one of the internet products that uses FTTC then you'll still have a run of copper going from your property all the way back to the exchange as the voice portion of the line is delivered over copper from the exchange and then the internet side of things is brought in in the cabinet.

- If they don't have the old cabling in, does this mean that the problems of line distance from the exchange will be improved? i.e. I'm on "up to" 8Mb but only get 2.7 to 3Mb-ish, will this mean I may now get improved downstream anyway, without changing to an FTTC contract?

No, you'll still be getting your ADSL from a DSLAM in the exchange so your ADSL will be travelling the same distance it did before the cabinet was upgraded.

[burble]

This is what I want to know as well. However, from what I've seen on the ongoing maintenance in my area no cable has been taken out so I think the fibre is in addition to the old copper.

No cables will be taken out, the fibre is in addition to the copper.

[Englander]

I've spied some BT men over the last couple of weeks putting in a new FTTC cabinet literally right outside my house so I imagine it'll be switched on relatively soon! I have no clue what it'll cost nor the exact speed it'll be, but it's all pretty exciting stuff.

[Stoo]

My exchange isn't on any list at the moment, so I doubt I'll be getting at any time before 2012

It's a pity as this exchange was on the early roll-outs for both ADSL & ADSL Max, neither of which work very well with our extremely iffy Al/Cu lines

[Jay]

my boss had his setup last week, he said it was 40 down 10 up

[neonplanet40]

My exchange isn't on any list at the moment, so I doubt I'll be getting at any time before 2012

It's a pity as this exchange was on the early roll-outs for both ADSL & ADSL Max

Same with mine mate. Feel judased

[Mike Fishcake]

Cheers for the info burble, even if it isn't what I wanted to hear

[Krakkenbus]

http://skyhispeedbb.com/

For those who haven't seen the sky signup page yet.