Fibre Checker Oddness

I've been told by Openreach that my cabinet should be accepting orders about now (I was told two weeks about 3 weeks ago), and I've just checked, and the wholesale checker is now showing the following for my phone line:

Your cabinet is planned to have WBC FTTC by 31st December 2012. Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a fibre technology with an estimated WBC FTTC Broadband where consumers have received downstream line speed of 69.2Mbps and upstream line speed of 20Mbps.

Note the italics - it says the line currently supports, but the cab isn't enabled yet? I can't order from any ISP yet as it throws the 31st December bit at me, but surely the second part means it actually is?

Database glitch, or ???

Edited by Stoo (Thu 25-Oct-12 18:03:25)

Just a confusing use of language on the checker site that has never been changed.

So what does it actually mean?

it means Your cabinet is planned to have WBC FTTC by 31st December 2012 and they think u will get 69.2 down and 20 up when it is ready for you to order

The italicised bit will be the only part that remains once the cabinet goes live - with no change to the words. The presence of the first sentence means it isn't live yet.

The actual date given in the first sentence is also a misnomer. A date at the end of a quarter is only a placeholder, to show that BT are targetting a date of sometime in the quarter. It is unlikely to be actually that date - and much, much, more likely to change to something else a couple of weeks before the real go-live date. However, if it still says that in mid December, then it is likely to change to 31st March first (as a new placeholder) before changing to the real date.

Unfortunately, some people (an unlucky few) have seen these placeholders (and the quarterly changes) for over a year. Many more see a delay at least once.

Openreach have informed me that it will go live in the next week or so, but the language used is very ambiguous!

If something "Currently" supports X, that, in most uses of English means "Now". *Insert ramble regarding dropping standards here*

I expect it is the result of some software outsourced to a place where English isn't a first language. It suggests that the acceptance testing isn't very particular though.

However, it has been consistent: the bad wording has been like that for as long as I've known it - near 2 years now.

Just had it confirmed with Openreach:

I’ve checked the details of EA/LOW 59. It looks like nearly all the work has been completed and it’s in commissioning phase.

If so and all goes well, it should be live to take orders next week.

Hopefully I'll be able to wave goodbye to the shoddy barely 2meg line I have at the moment next week and actually stand a chance of being able to use all of these fancy new media services I keep hearing about

Mine basically says "We have no clue about your speed" They just dug up the area around the cabinet again to re-do the electrics but I'm hoping for a go live in a few weeks.

-=-=

Your cabinet is planned to have WBC FTTC by 31st December 2012. Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a fibre technology with an estimated WBC FTTC Broadband where consumers have received downstream line speed between .1 to 80 Mbps and upstream line speed between .1 to 20 Mbps.

-=-=

Nice and vague!

I've just had confirmation from Openreach that EALOW Cab 59 is enabled and has port availability, trouble is, Zen's system can't place an order because the Openreach system is still showing 31st December..

Forwarded my email from OR to Zen to see if I can get some movement..

Zen's system can't place an order because the Openreach system is still showing 31st December

Do you mean because BT Wholesale's system is still showing 31 December?

It changed a couple of days ago to something a little more concrete:

-=
Your cabinet is planned to have WBC FTTC by 31st December 2012. Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a fibre technology with an estimated WBC FTTC Broadband where consumers have received downstream line speed of 80Mbps and upstream line speed of 20Mbps.
-=

The electricity is up and running in the cabinet, so I'm hoping it'll go live soon and I can test those speed predictions!

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Do you mean because BT Wholesale's system is still showing 31 December?

Yup - The lady at Zen asked for a copy so she could take it to someone involved in the ordering process or something.

She said even if she put it through, the system would just reject it.

I'll see if I get an email tomorrow

Edited by Stoo (Wed 07-Nov-12 22:56:28)

Woohoo!

In reference to www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/adslchecker.welcome:

Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line speed up to 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports an estimated ADSL Max broadband line speed of 3.5Mbps; typically the line speed would range between 2.5Mbps and 6.5Mbps.

Our test also indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL2+ broadband service that provides a fixed line speed up to 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports an estimated ADSL2+ broadband line speed of 4Mbps; typically the line speed would range between 3Mbps and 7Mbps.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a fibre technology with an estimated WBC FTTC Broadband where consumers have received downstream line speed of 69.2Mbps and upstream line speed of 20Mbps.

The actual stable line speed supportable will be determined during the first 10 days of use. This speed may change over time, to ensure line stability is maintained.

If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to confirm if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase.

Order placed