Wakefield, FTTC cabinets but not in rollout puzzle

Hi

Wakefield exchange isn't in any roll out plans published by Openreach, however over the last week BT/Openreach has been doing work on a few cabinets, one I went past with some digging going on it was clear they were taking a power feed (had mains cable out the ground ready to connect) which got me interested, as of course normal cabs don't have power.

Today I went past one of the areas again they were at and a green FTTC type cabinet has appeared. I didn't take a photo but it looks just like this one. http://www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...

So is this FTTC happening or are these powered cabinets for some other reason? And if it is FTTC, why the secrecy?

Regards

Phil

Got a postcode for the new cabs ?

Edited by yarwell (Tue 13-Aug-13 19:24:43)

Hi

The cab I saw is at WF1 4XA. If you search for that via Roadworks.org it is shown on there.

If you browse the map on Roadworks.org you can spot another 2 which state the same thing, new cabinet and power feed. I haven't seen what has been done on the other ones about from the one above as haven't been that way, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same FTTC type cabinets.

None of them serve me, but I was getting hopeful it was a sign of FTTC rollout.

Regards

Phil

Edited by deleted (Tue 13-Aug-13 21:52:57)

I live in Crofton just outside Wakefield and we're meant to get fibre end of the year. We shall see

You are indeed getting FTTC in Wakefield.

Looking at another streetworks in the area:

Location : opp s/o 30 Grove Road, junc Thornhill Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 1NW...
Description : WAKEFIELD (PCP 5) STREET CABINET& POWER INSTALLATION. Excavate to lay approx 1m BT duct in carriage...

I checked on the surrounding postcodes and found this:

Address STREET SIDE DSLAM CAB NMCFAY, GROVE RD, WAKEFIELD, WF1 1RL on Exchange WAKEFIELD is served by Cabinet 5

Unsure why the secrecy but that's the FTTC cabinet serving cabinet 5.

Wakefield is getting upgraded. Finally!

In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

I live in Crofton just outside Wakefield and we're meant to get fibre end of the year. We shall see

Exchange Name: CROFTON
Status: Coming Soon
Forecast date: September 2013

Hi

Thanks for confirming what it appeared to be. Very odd no mention of Wakefield exchange getting FTTC though, Samknows, Openreach checker and various Openreach Excel spread sheets that list exchanges for FTTC upgrades make no mention of Wakefield exchange getting FTTC anytime soon.

Maybe there is no immediate plan to go live with FTTC and this is going to be a very slow trickle of FTTC cabs over many months. Still you might have thought the status on the Openreach map would be coming soon or at the very least shown us under evaluation, but still shows as not in roll out plans. Very strange.

Regards

Phil

How soon after the cabinet is installed does it take to offer it to customers?

Only ever had ADSL so not sure on how fibre works in comparison

In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

How soon after the cabinet is installed does it take to offer it to customers?

- "it depends". Power supply might be a delay, or a blocked duct making running the fibre take longer.

Some have been stood for 6 months without taking orders, but the date on the checker is the best indication although this can slide.

Basically it's out of your hands so check the checker weekly and order when you are able to.

The exchange will go live sooner rather than later. Cabs sitting unused all over the place aren't likely.

Wakefield's cabs could be going to Hunslet, Rothwell or another nearby exchange.

This wouldn't be the first time an exchange went from nothing to accepting orders with nothing in between. Keep an eye on the cabinet I noted.

This is interesting, I have stumbled upon this site because I am in a smiliar situation.

I am in New Whittington, Chesterfield, S43 2DF, exchange is SLOLD.

I check regularly and every program list i have seen makes no mention of SLOLD and the checker says there are no plans. However I noticed earlier this week that new style fibre cabinets are popping up locally. There is one at the top of my street which is accross the road from the old box 16 and has a channel that has been filled with asphalt going to a nearby manhole.

Roadworks.org shows a few more cabinet being installed in the exchanges catchment area.

Is BT just doing everything on the quiet now because customers are giving them a hard time over delays etc ?

Its funny because over the last few months I have noticed contractors pulling cables on the main road and I immediately thought it looked like a fibre install but I discounted it knowing that BT hadnt made any indication of upgrade plans so I always thought it would always be at least a year from any announcment.

Hi

The OpenReach checker now has Wakefield as 'Coming Soon'.

Regards

Phil

Good stuff, caught up eventually.

Thought I'd add this here since we're all talking local to Wakey

I'm in Kirkthorpe, ASDL here is 1-2Mbps if you're lucky. FTTC wasn't available when I moved in 4 months ago, but the Plusnet checker at least is showing I can order it now. Someone at Openreach indicated to me that Cabinet 18 (Normanton exchange) was due to get it in September, so it makes sense.

What doesn't make sense, is that the predicted speed given is 2.5Mb, lower than the 3Mb they (wrongly) estimate for ADSL. The fact that I haven't yet located my cabinet makes me wonder if it's some ridiculous distance away, making fibre a non option here.

Hi

Just an update. After a flurry of activity and FTTC boxes appearing all seems to have gone quiet with my own cabinet not upgraded. The OpenReach checker has now changed Wakefield from "Coming soon" with an estimate of December 2013 to "Future exchange" sometime in 2014.

Regards

Phil

Hi

Further update. My own cabinet now has a FTTC one near it, however Wakefield is now coming soon March 2014, we shall see.

Regards

Phil