Origin / fibre / digital region closure question

Hi, just after some help towards a new provider, after sticking it out, i Just got a mac code and don't know where to go
Leaving Be as the Sky takeover appears imminent now I have paperwork

After a battle I got my mac code

Will Origin be affected by closure of the Digital Region

I am looking for a combined phone /broadband unlimited package pay Be £37 at the minute

Was worrying if I signed up I would need a new home if the digital region companies can't sustain the service following closure...

My exchange is here:
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/SLDIO

Also seen plus net have a similar service but there appears to be a doubt about definition of unlimited!!

Any advice welcomed! Be got me speeds of 16meg,
Fibre appears to be a way forward but the digital closure worries me !
(Signing up and then having to find a new home again!)

AFAIK none of the Digital Region ISPs (Origin, ASK4, etc) are taking any new orders due to the imminent closure / sale of the DR network.

No BT FTTC in your area yet?
http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/

Edited by vit0 (Sat 18-Jan-14 17:48:50)

Hi lee thanks for the reply !
I wouldn't want BT
I tried that link but it can't be correct it doesn't find my phone number and when I enter postcode it tells me I would get 6meg! I am getting 16meg with be already

Any other companies that could provide me with fibre from the Dinnington exchange?

The Origin website doesnt mention new subscriptions being on hold -
With the imminent closure does this mean subscribers will lose service?!

Thanks for your help

Your number must be with another provider rather than BT retail, use the address checker rather than postcode checker as it's more accurate.

I'm pretty sure Thales (DR network management) have closed to all new orders.

Correct Digital Region is on the way out and am working on the exit strategies for people

The postcode checker is normally useless. Who is your phone rental with, as if it is Be it should work in that checker.

If it doesn't, then use the address checker. That is nearly as good.

Also seen plus net have a similar service but there appears to be a doubt about definition of unlimited!!

Wherever you got that from, either you misunderstood or read a post by someone who either misunderstood or is being deliberately awkward.

PlusNet Unlimited is unlimited. End of. Ofcom, the ASA, and competing ISPs would be shouting it from the housetops if it wasn't. Not just someone who hasn't a clue .

My last three ISPs. O2 LLU unlimited, IDNet FTTC allowance package, Plusnet Fibre Unlimited.

Edited by RobertoS (Sat 18-Jan-14 21:35:34)

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

I tried that link but it can't be correct ... when I enter postcode it tells me I would get 6meg! I am getting 16meg with be already

That's cuz you are currently on Be's 'up to' 24 Meg ADSL2+ but that checker only looks at BTw services, where they only have 20CN 'up to' 8 Meg ADSL Max.

PN, which you mentioned, would also only be supplying that ADSL Max. I'd also be doubtful whether they can fulfil 'unlimited' at a 20CN exchange.

Frankly, at your exchange, w/out fibre, I'd think only an LLU provider can give you what you have been getting.

Grrr - I didn't spot the ADSL only apart from LLU.

However there's no problem about PlusNet supplying Unlimited there. It's also a Market 3 exchange so no problem with the price either.

I agree with you that an LLU-based ISP is what the OP needs to go for, to get good speeds. As he doesn't want Sky, and I assume not TalkTalk either, he needs to look at Aquiss, vivaciti and xilo/uno. (Putting that here to save a clogging up semi-repetitive post).

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

However there's no problem about PlusNet supplying Unlimited there.

I'd still be a bit chary about any 'unlimited' ADSL Max service, c.f. O2 Access, Sky Connect, EE out-of-area.

Have we actually heard from any PN user on 20CN who downloads reams w/out problems?

PN are still adding to WBC IPSC node capacity as required, just as they are to the 21CN side.

Posted: Mon, Dec 02 2013 at 11:44:28
Subject: Increase in 20CN and 21CN Broadband Capacity - Monday 2nd December

We will shortly be increasing the capacity of our IPSC (20CN) broadband host links by a further 1340Mbps. It's these host links that we use to deliver bandwidth to customers provisioned on an 'Up to 8Mbps' 20CN product.

In addition to this we will also be increasing the capacity of our WBC (21CN) broadband host links by a further 4.3Gbps. It's these host links that we use to deliver bandwidth to the majority of customers on our 21CN and Fibre services.

We're activating this extra capacity in line with the current budget, customers' usage habits and our projected growth in customer numbers.

Posted: Mon, Sep 02 2013 at 10:26:36
Subject: Increase in 20CN and 21CN Broadband Capacity - Monday 2nd September

We will shortly be increasing the capacity of our IPSC (20CN) broadband host links by a further 1.34Gbps. It's these host links that we use to deliver bandwidth to customers provisioned on an 'Up to 8Mbps' 20CN product.

In addition to this we will also be increasing the capacity of our WBC (21CN) broadband host links by a further 4.84Gbps. It's these host links that we use to deliver bandwidth to the majority of customers on our 21CN and Fibre services.

being the latest two upgrades.

Earlier in 2013 they were more frequent and bigger, as the bulk customer acquisition took place.

Fair point!

my number is with Be at the minute, so i need to move both landline and broadband

it was a trauma getting my mac code as Sky were refusing and using hard sales to keep me

I was a plus net customer so my reason for being a bit wary relates to perhaps a decade ago, however i have seen a website which seems to be around hating on plus net but plus net come across really well in terms of dealing with criticism and any issues

Roberto S/ XRAYSPEX - thanks for the comments about LLU, any recommendations to maintain at least the speeds i had with Be? I will go away and research Aquiss, vivaciti and xilo/uno

theres quite a bit of techie info on the thread and acronyms i am not overly familiar with (although i do understand LLU)

Origins Facebook and twitter pages suggest no issues and a thriving business with no mention of closing services down.

Ultimately, now without Digital region are my choices now more limited as Fibre is just a pipe dream?

Appreciate the help - and all your comments
I have a mac code and I wanna use it lol !!

Frankly there are only two realistic objections to Sky broadband. The technical one is the slight nuisance having the phone with them causes if you wish to migrate the broadband elsewhere. Though the situation with Be phone can be worse!

The non-tech one is if like me you have a pathological hatred of Murdoch because of the carnage Sky buying up football has caused. That doesn't stop me continuing to take The Times though! As although he has taken it downmarket it is still the best in so many ways.

Sky broadband and support these days seems to be very good, apart from the dismal Sky Connect if you can't get their LLU.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

The non-tech one is if like me you have a pathological hatred of Murdoch because of the carnage Sky buying up football has caused. That doesn't stop me continuing to take The Times though! As although he has taken it downmarket it is still the best in so many ways.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the next set of football rights goes up for sale. Sky vs BT, round 3

Sky built an interesting business around premium sports rights, and now they realise they have to diversify, there seems to be more money going into entertainment programming than before.

(I read a rumour that thought Vodafone could buy Sky this year, that would be interesting!).

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

it was a trauma getting my mac code as Sky were refusing and using hard sales to keep me

Sad, my parents rang BE support and after a 3 minute chat was emailed the MAC code. Yes the 3 min chat was explaining the Sky offers, but it wasn't a hard sell

i was annoyed too at Sky / Be being told i was automatically enrolled for antivirus software i had to opt out of which was the breaking point of me getting my mac code.... I was worried Fibre wouldn't be available to me, but BT Infinity website says it is, but can't work out if prices include VAT, looked at the others Xilo but they seem quite expensive (my budget for broadband and phone line was circa £40).

i was worried i would be excluded from Fibre with the collapse of Digital Region, Origins website doesn't seem to show they have stopped taking customers, but I don't want the hassle of signing up to have to seek a new provider only in a few months time again

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

Origins website doesn't seem to show they have stopped taking customers, but I don't want the hassle of signing up to have to seek a new provider only in a few months time again

Try contacting them but I doubt they're allowed to place new orders with Thales.

What did your BT address checker say about FTTC availability?

I put my number in and it's offering 70meg fibre "infinity" service !

Another question is can I use my existing router with fibre?
It's an expensive netgear one !

http://www.digitalregion.co.uk/get-connected

seems to suggest no more new orders

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

I put my number in and it's offering 70meg fibre "infinity" service !

Then you can get any ISP that uses the openreach wholesale FTTC network, as well as BT Retail's "Infinity" services.

Another question is can I use my existing router with fibre?It's an expensive netgear one !

If it has a WAN port, then "maybe". Some ADSL routers aren't upto the speeds of FTTC.

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

I put my number in and it's offering 70meg fibre "infinity" service !

Another question is can I use my existing router with fibre?
It's an expensive netgear one !

Probably not as I'm guessing your Netgear router will be a combined ADSL modem & router. You'll be given a new modem and router by your chosen ISP. I've heard good things about PlusNet's FTTC service, cheap as well.

This is my router

http://docs.netgear.com/dgn3500/enu/202-10487-01/use...

Got a speedy reply from aquiss just now saying they can't supply me as "We only use BTs 21CN platform"

Not sure what that means !?

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

This is my router

http://docs.netgear.com/dgn3500/enu/202-10487-01/use...

Got a speedy reply from aquiss just now saying they can't supply me as "We only use BTs 21CN platform"

Not sure what that means !?

Yeah that router is definitely only for ADSL and therefore will not work with FTTC. Your exchange must only be 20CN, more info here:
http://www.samknows.com/exchanges/21cn_broadband

I suggest you see what Plusnet or others on this list can do for you:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/guide/fibre-broadband....

In reply to a post by vit0:

Your exchange must only be 20CN.

From BT, but you need to see what your exchange has from the LLU operators for ADSL.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

If BT is offering fibre to your line then Aquiss has it wrong. Try another ISP. If fibre is available, the fibre will connect back to another exchange, not your local one used for ADSL.

Exchange says:

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/SLDIO

FTTC status said "available in some areas"

But the 21 thing is a no

ISP doesn't list BT

It also states Zen Internet doesn't work at my address, when I had them five years ago

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

FTTC status said "available in some areas"

Great - you should use the number checker that you did before, and it said 70meg. Then you can order Fibre from anyone using your phone number - did you try Fibre or ADSL from Aquiss ?

But the 21 thing is a no
ISP doesn't list BT

No, it won't, but that's not a problem as the list isn't ISPs but those who run their own networks to the exchange. Only a few do this, and its known as LLU. BE/O2 did this.

It also states Zen Internet doesn't work at my address, when I had them five years ago

That means Zen LLU isn't at your exchange, but Zen can work over BT wholesale.

Your exchange has only BT wholesale's old system (20CN) which means any ISP using their network can only do upto 8megabit. This is why Aquiss say they can't serve you as they only work using BT wholesale's new network (21CN).

However if you can get fibre (and you want this) then you should be able to get any fibre ISP.

If you want another ADSL service, then the fact that TalkTalk network is present, means you could get a service from Viviaciti or Xilo/Uno. These companies can offer you similar speeds to your existing service with a quality product, but I don't think they're unlimited.

It depends what you want.

Edited by jchamier (Sun 19-Jan-14 16:07:50)

Thanks James - appreciate yours and everyone's help!

Aquiss said they can't provide me with a service where I live and the others are quite expensive

I have to have unlimited !! Sky was no use as they reduced upload speeds and I FTP to a lot of websites I design

I would prefer fibre , but I was a bit confused with the message that Digital Region pulling out of south yorks meant I would be one of the people affected and unable to get it
- does the site checker show its not a concern then? (Sorry I'm not clever / experienced enough!!) to read it myself !

Thanks

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

I would prefer fibre , but I was a bit confused with the message that Digital Region pulling out of south yorks meant I would be one of the people affected and unable to get it
- does the site checker show its not a concern then? (Sorry I'm not clever / experienced enough!!) to read it myself !

If the BT wholesale checker says you can get fibre then this is the Openreach service, not Digital Region.

You should be able to get Sky Fibre Unlimited (£20/m limited to 40 down, 10 up) , or Sky Fibre Unlimited Pro (£30/m, upto 80 down, 20 up). Since the estimate you got was 70megabit, I would phone sky and ask about Sky Fibre Unlimited Pro.

Don't forget with Sky your phone line has to move to Sky talk.

http://www.sky.com/shop/broadband-talk/fibre-optic/

HI there, yeah i know lol, i was looking to take my phone line with me sky will lose both my broadband and phone line.

been extremely satisfied with Be, i think looking at it my options are limited to BT Sky Fibre unlimited Pro and a phone line, unless anyone else has any other suggestions suitable for my circumstances / exchange

just wanna use my mac code now I have it lol

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

Got a speedy reply from aquiss just now saying they can't supply me as "We only use BTs 21CN platform"

There's some conflict here. Aquiss do sell Fibre and its BTw's FTTC.

Yet, earlier you said:

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

I put my number in (BTw Checker) and it's offering 70meg fibre "infinity" service !

Are you sure about that? Can you post its results using your phone # (blanking out your # but not the cab)?

Also, bit suspicious about the "infinity"; BTw don't do or talk about "infinity", that's a BT Retail product.

HI There
I emailed Aquis and the response was they didn't serve my area

a screenshot for my telephone number (blanked out for obvious reasons !) is enclosed below:

[img]http://s13.postimg.org/4w73b5r8n/Screen_Shot_2014_01...[/img]

I hope i can get Fibre as it clearly would be a better solution, just not to pleased its with BT thats all !

seems my options are limited

Edited by deleted (Sun 19-Jan-14 19:11:33)

That's not the BTW checker. This is the BTW checker www.dslchecker.bt.com

EDIT: I'll take that back. That's the BT Retail site. But you were saying that BT were not accepting your phone #, so you must have used just a postcode.

So that we can assess what any ISP, not just BTr, can offer you, we still need to see the results from BTw BROADBAND AVAILABILITY CHECKER with your address if you couldn't use your phone #.

@ BatBoy: Hence my request for a copy of what OP was relying on .

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sun 19-Jan-14 20:22:53)

I first used:

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/broad...
thats where i got that from

I used your link and got these results


[img]http://s9.postimg.org/6a6jbvvkv/Screen_Shot_2014_01_...[/img]
screencast


I previously used the BT website checker, apologies for any confusion, it wasn't intentional !

In which case there no reason why Aquiss or any other ISP can't offer you the same FTTC.

I see that the BTw Checker is now accepting your phone #?

hi there, i think thats more my fault, i think i used something different to the link i just used !
(again, i apologise if i caused confusion!)

Aquiss Sales team said (in response to an email):

"Im afraid we have no coverage from the Dinnington exchange. we only use BT's 21CN platform which has sadly not made it to your area"

given until today i didn't know what 21CN was, i was a bit in the dark !

Ah, we were puzzled how you could be on Be w/out a BT WLR phone.

I believe that when FTTC is available from some cabs within a 20CN exchange area, it is actually supplied from a neighbouring 21CN exchange. That may be confusing the Aquiss sales. Have you tried their own online checker https://secure.aquiss.net/join/n-step1-fibre.php but don't go beyond the page that gives the speed estimates unless you want to commit now.

Thats weird that online Aquiss checker gives me:

Estimated Max Sync Downstream between 71.2 Mbps and 74.7 Mbps
Upstream between 18 Mbps and 20 Mbps

So as you say contradict what the sales guy says

Whats the difference between 20CN and 21CN?

20CN is an old backhaul network which is not linked with the fibre products.

21CN is the newer cheaper backhaul network using by BT Wholesale for their own ADSL2+ and fibre products

In simple terms:

• 20CN is kit in the exchange that provides only up to 8 Meg ADSL Max (as yours)
• 21CN is kit in the exchange that provides up to 24 Meg ADSL2+
• FTTC is kit in a cabinet near you that provides Fibre VADSL and so doesn't need to use the ADSL kit in the exchange, but your voice line will still go back to your home exchange

So, as I believe, the FTTC BB will go from the cab the nearest 21CN exchange.

Maybe the person you communicated with didn't realise you were talking about Fibre. The reply is correct for non-fibre .

Well, I'm not in a fibre area. My exchange is 21CN enabled though; I jumped over from Be* to Plusnet Unlimited.

So far the speeds have been very good - sometimes a tiny bit slower in the evenings but not enough to actually "feel" when browsing or to notice buffering when streaming.

In all honesty, I'd be hard pressed to really tell the difference. A static IP was purchased for a one-off £5. Granted I can't tweak my line profiles any longer but that's not really the end of the world.

If you're looking at Fibre suppliers, give Plusnet a thought. In the case of Fibre, what BT often do is run the fibres to a nearby 'headend' exchange (e.g. one with plenty of capacity and, crucially, 21CN links). So if your local cabinet is Fibre enabled you're laughing.

Now that OP's definitely established that Fibre is available, PN, and most other ISP, is an 'unlimited' candidate.

@OP: Have you tried PN's online checker, http://www.plus.net/ , to see what it'll offer?

Edited by XRaySpeX (Mon 20-Jan-14 00:27:35)

HI, plus net gives me:
[img]http://s18.postimg.org/ed11bzr8p/Screen_Shot_2014_01...[/img]
img

Edited by deleted (Mon 20-Jan-14 06:36:51)

I couldn't see the £5 add on in the package builder? think thats an essential for me ! Whats your upload speed

You need to fix that link.

You need to request the static IP once your account is setup, iirc it's in the members control panel.

Upload speed depends on where your uploading to and your connection.

I got PN's (including phone line with unlimited calls) to £39.99, which is about the budget i wanted.

Appreciated thanks to everyone + Thanks loads bearing with me, feels a bit better knowing that I can get Fibre, but a pain knowing my netgear dgn3500 is not compatible as i was hoping to use that (i have about 25 wireless devices all set up and loads of portforwarding going off, for things like Plex, remote access etc)

I just recalled, via an email, I contacted Origin about my router ages ago and they assured me it was compatible....

this is what i was told:

I've spoken with my technical colleague about the Zyxel/NetgearDGN3500 setup. We can have the Zyxel set to bridge mode, which means you would still use the Netgear in exactly the same way as you are now. As long as your Netgear has the ability to handle PPPoE then it will work fine. When you log onto the Netgear you should see a quick set up option, you would follow this set-up and enter the PPPoE details that we would provide.

The name of the router we provide is the Zyxel P-2812HNU(L) - Fx Series.

So they were indicating i could still use it, Im pretty good with router set up
but never used bridge mode or PPPoE or whatever......

i think for the speed bump, i know i guess i will have to accept the pain if i can't use it, but worth a punt if i can !!

fixed, thanks !

Wrong advice originally on the router. It has no ethernet WAN port

Post deleted by RobertoS

Edited by RobertoS (Mon 20-Jan-14 12:01:05)

Interesting.

It was myself who replied to you over the weekend as I recall my wording. Our internal staff checkers must not be giving out right information (I will be getting the coding checked literally in a few minutes as it uses the same API calls to BT). Clearly something not right internally.

If our online checker is giving out information, then we are picking up various markers from BT, showing that fibre should be available.

Can you reply back to the sales email with your phone number as it presently only lists a poctode?

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

Thats weird that online Aquiss checker gives me:

Estimated Max Sync Downstream between 71.2 Mbps and 74.7 Mbps
Upstream between 18 Mbps and 20 Mbps

So as you say contradict what the sales guy says

Whats the difference between 20CN and 21CN?

In reply to a post by aquiss:

Interesting.

... Clearly something not right internally.

If our online checker is giving out information, then we are picking up various markers from BT, showing that fibre should be available.

I'm not looking at moving to Aquiss but I put my number in earlier this morning out of curiousity, and yes, I'd say there does seem to be a problem.

The result I got back said

Problem Discovered
There are currently no advanced plans for superfast fibre services within the ******* area.

However, don't be too upset, superfast fibre broadband is expected to be available to two-thirds of the UK by end Spring 2014. We will have more information in the coming months, so do check again soon!

In the meantime, do consider our wide range of ADSL/ADSL+ broadband services available in your area already.

Don't worry I'm not too upset considering my town has had at least 95% (at the last check) coverage for many months by BT FTTP/FTTC, and I'd put money on at least 50% of that being FTTP.

However, thinking about it, as FTTP is available on my own number maybe that's part of the problem - i.e. Aquiss can't do BT FTTP, but that wouldn't excuse the statement "There are currently no advanced plans for superfast fibre services within the ******* area."

Will do Martin , thankyou.

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

Will do Martin , thankyou.

Just to add, we have corrected our internal staff checker. Appears a wrong API version had not been updated and also we picked up a missing marker that we had not been detecting.

We are in the process of updating both sets of code to use the same core files, thus mirroring data on both sides going forward. To be honest, this was on our development list from 2013, but had not quite got to the top of the slate.

I can only apologise for my personal response over the weekend which has led to confusion. I feel a bit of a chump

I wouldn't worry about it. Mistakes happen but what's important is whether they get corrected or not. In this case the problem has been identified and, hopefully, fixed.

That error message is literally the final default message after all our status/conditions have been checked. It was written about 3 years back, so the text is somewhat out of date.

We don't presently check for FTTP availability or detect for FTTP live services, therefore it's fallen straight to the else statement.

I will add your comments to our internal list for consideration of some improvements.

Thanks Martin, just sent a personal mail.

As for PN i did call and spoke to someone really nice and had some good informed info then i did a search and saw some pretty poor reviews (http://www.trustpilot.co.uk/review/www.plus.net), which kind of shocked me, seeing as I depend on reliability.

open to all other suggestions before i give up my mac code, needing:
unlimited/no traffic managed
calls package
decent upload speed (manage website for FTP)
ability to use own router or supplied for WPA2 wireless with port forward availability.


you guys have been brilliant on here, thanks for helping me sift through the mud and your patience with me

Plusnet really are not that bad, I've been with them for over ten years. I have also recently moved our broadband at work over to them.

I believe there has been problems with support response times recently due to the greatly increased customer base, but that is being addressed with a new UK call center recently opening.

In reply to a post by Zzzmaillists:

... i did a search and saw some pretty poor reviews (http://www.trustpilot.co.uk/review/www.plus.net), which kind of shocked me, seeing as I depend on reliability.

I like this one, (amongst a huge collection of similar illogical rants that seem to bear no relation at all to PlusNet. I wonder how many of those posters are also on the PN Community forums, which would be a sensible pace to start f they weren't happy).

I have been with Plusnet for a few months now and it is the worst company that i have had to deal with! First of all when I first joined it took a number of weeks for the broadband to be installed after one of the engineers decided when he got to the property he couldn't be bothered to install the phone line, this was proven with the second engineer came out and said that it was a simple job that the first engineer could have done in a matter of minutes!

Once the phone line was installed, the phone line didn't work which meant I couldn't make any calls! This meant that another engineer had to be called out.

The first engineer decided he couldn't be bothered to install the phone line? That's Openreach of course, or an Openreach subcontractor if they do line installation, and is a a simply ridiculous statement.

Then the second engineer proved the first one couldn't be bothered as he said it was simple job that could be done in minutes.

The second engineer then does something, and the result is thephone line didn't work, at least for outgoing calls.

It seems it never occurred to the poster that the first engineer realised there was a problem and had to refer the job back. The second didn't spot the issue.

And in both cases it was Openreach that failed Plusnets customer, but PN is given the blame.

hi ronski, thanks for your thoughts - so your experience has been good
most of the negatives are around adsl broadband whereas i am looking at fibre

any other unlimited fibre recommendations for around the £45 mark (inc phone line rental)?

We too have been with Plusnet for ages, and on FTTC since mid-2011. We've moved in the meantime, and have had line rental with them for the last 2 years.

We're on the older version of their unlimited package (so have a 250GB allowance), and have had no problems with the operation of the service. Even back when they had traffic management limits in place, you never really noticed anything.

We're on an 80/20 package, getting 80/20 sync speeds. My Samknows tester shows that the regular download speed is around 72Mbps for most of the day, dropping to around 69Mbps in the mid-evening peak hours.

We have the unlimited call package too, and the only problem there is remembering to re-dial after 60 minutes, to stop call charges from being incurred.

We *did* have problems getting FTTC installed initially, which were down to issues with BT's internal ordering system. This took some sorting out, but was handled well by Plusnet's online support team.

PN are having support issues (not enough staff for the amount of customers they've acquired), which ought to sort itself out as they open a new office in Leeds and train new staff. However, I usually use their own forum for support issues - they're very knowledgeable, and pretty responsive on there.

Well I wish they'd contact their customers, and tell *us* what their plans are.

Origin say we won't be affected for the foreseeable future but longer term they simply don't know either.

Stuck here our workplace is almost in Rotherham Town Centre, surrounded by lots of other businesses, with just Digital Region as an option for VDSL broadband. No option for BT offerings, even though the exchange is enabled. They simply can't be bothered to update their wretched ancient (1970s) rusting street cabinet which is just across the road, visible from our front window, with the Digital Region one but a few feet away.

Soon there won't be any fast "infinity" broadband for us. ADSL wasn't that good either, because we are well over a mile from the exchange.

It's all completely ridiculous and quite pathetic really.

I guess they've got a lucrative least line business going on around here.

BT should be required to take over the street cabs and connect them to their networks where there is no alternative service. They are in a very privileged position which they have abused consistently in my opinion.



It's about time lines were valued on what they could be used for. That would sharpen up BT a bit. If the line cannot support VDSL why SHOULD we pay the same rental as charged for a line that CAN ?

PS: Not on Be Pro anymore. Must update my sig:

I've only had a few problems over the years which was sorted quickly.

I also look after my brothers broadband, when he moved house the line which had been dormant for years was reconnected, a few days later when his broadband was due to be connected his line went dead.

His phone was sorted in days, but the broadband took months, mainly down to BT Open Reach stealing
his line, then putting him on a dacs line. The criticism I have with PN is that we'd go around in circles, as you get different support staff dealing with the case, rather than one person dealing with it. But this would be the same for all the cheaper ISP's. PN can only go by what BTor tell them and it was BTor that caused all the problems.

Edited by R0NSKI (Wed 22-Jan-14 13:26:55)

Thanks for the last three posts of Feedback

As I am looking for a combined calls/line rental / UNLIMITED fibre solution with a budget of up to £48 a month, the choices feel really limited. I do totally get RONSKIs point about BT being part of the problem (i have a similar horror story when i moved to this house 7 years ago with mistakes they made!)

So aside from BT/Plus net, are there any other providers that have the whole solution i need?
PN being quite local appeal more than BT tbh, but still a bit worried (its the signing up to contracts then not getting the service that worries me, i guess!)

its hurting my head so much i just wanna action my mac code now i got it !