Aberdeenshire Trial - Rural Superfast

I'm hoping someone can shine some light on our situation, because I've tried the local council, BDUK, openreach and digital Scotland and no one can tell me anything. Maybe you can point me in the right direction.

Is there anyway to find out more about the fibre rollout in your area?
Last year these black tubes appeared on pretty much every pole, and the cable overhead appeared thicker. The last tube however stops about half a mile from our property. Since then a new cabinet has sprung up, 1.7 miles from our house. The openreach fibre checker has gone from accepting order but EO line cabinet 11, to the first box of exploring solutions. All positive signs. My worry is that the distance to brand new cabinet and even the black tube will be too far away.

I work from home and file upload and download on the existing 1.2mb line is dire. Im honestly worried I'm going to be spitting distance from pretty decent fibre and unable to benefit. Does anyone know where I can find out if we will be included? Or is it a waiting game?

Edited by deleted (Mon 29-Jan-18 18:33:38)

In reply to a post by Millerp82:

I'm hoping someone can shine some light on our situation, because I've tried the local council, BDUK, openreach and digital Scotland and no one can tell me anything. Maybe you can point me in the right direction.

Is there anyway to find out more about the fibre rollout in your area?
Last year these black tubes appeared on pretty much every pole, and the cable overhead appeared thicker. The last tube however stops about half a mile from our property. Since then a new cabinet has sprung up, 1.7 miles from our house. The openreach fibre checker has gone from accepting order but EO line cabinet 11, to the first box of exploring solutions. All positive signs. My worry is that the distance to brand new cabinet and even the black tube will be too far away.

I work from home and file upload and download on the existing 1.2mb line is dire. Im honestly worried I'm going to be spitting distance from pretty decent fibre and unable to benefit. Does anyone know where I can find out if we will be included? Or is it a waiting game?

I hope you get something soon, I work for a Wireless company in Aberdeenshire (In fact, judging by your username, I think I've been to see you!) and I have to say you're not alone.

Some many areas just seem completely left behind and on the face of it the logic used by BT for the roll out is questionable at best.

I know places that can get 10-15mbps via FTTC that are getting overbuilt with FTTP, but other communities of 10-30 homes with 0.5mbps ADSL only on EO Lines

It's frustrating eh! I can't work out what they're up to. FTTC, FTTP OR FTTrn, or some combination. An engineer last year mentioned gfast to me also.

How rare are Infrastructure installs? I would hate to miss out on decent speed by half a mile. I dont want to sound ungrateful, but 10mbps, although tenfold of an increase, isnt going to stand the test of time once the kids get older.

Infrastructure trials aren't rare, however it's quite rare to be on them.

You can contact Openreach https://www.formwize.com/run/survey3.cfm?idx=505d040... and they will tell you about any plans for your area (might take a week or so).

What makes you think it is a trial?

The EO line cabinet 11 makes no sense, you are either an EO line or connected via a cabinet, or are you saying that a new cabinet 11 has appeared?

Thanks Andy. I'll try this one. I filled out one a while back and they replied saying I had to ask my ISP to mark my line before they could even speak to me (whatever that means!)

MrSaffron... Not sure if this reflects what I see happening or not (no schools or hospitals on the line), but Aberdeenshire is part of a trial area http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41122106

The cabinet that has appeared is new, not even live as I know. The current message I'm getting for the existing cabinet is (I may have got confused with the terminology of EO, apologies there is def a cabinet involved):

Exchange name: Kemnay
Exchange status: Fibre enabled
Cabinet number: 11
Technology: -

Your cabinet is enabled for Superfast fibre however you're not able to order fibre just yet.

This might be because the length of the line is too long to get Superfast speeds. We're actively looking at other options.

That cabinet was upgraded to FTTC back in June 2017 under BDUK Scotland.

Unfortunately, you live too far from the cabinet for FTTC, which is why the cabinet shows as fibre enabled but you're unable to order a service.

I would contact Openreach with the form I linked to. I would also contact Superfast Scotland from here https://www.scotlandsuperfast.com/contact (if you haven't done already). Also speak to neighbours and get them all to do the same.

That trial is nothing to do with the cabinet and what you are seeing, 99% certain.

The full fibre trial is much more about getting more full fibre in areas like Aberdeen itself, hence why a minister got press coverage for visiting a hotel i.e. it will be available to business who can already get superfast options.

Your cabinet based roll out is via the Digital Scotland project some areas are seeing FTTP added to areas that are a long way from the new cabinets, but this is a very small number currently.

Thank Andy... Superfast Scotland couldnt shine any light on the matter when I asked them what was in store at the end of 2017. However, I have since asked again (complete with location of this new green cabinet that appeared last week) and they are looking into it.

I know that the new cabinet, when live, will drastically shorten the distance from the current live cabinet, but still 1.7 miles to the property FTTC.... What can I expect there, sub 10mbps? Perhaps it does make FTTPoD a realistic option when it is live though, with the new pricing starting tomorrow.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

That trial is nothing to do with the cabinet and what you are seeing, 99% certain.

The full fibre trial is much more about getting more full fibre in areas like Aberdeen itself, hence why a minister got press coverage for visiting a hotel i.e. it will be available to business who can already get superfast options.

Your cabinet based roll out is via the Digital Scotland project some areas are seeing FTTP added to areas that are a long way from the new cabinets, but this is a very small number currently.

Thanks... I'm waiting for them to respond to me since this new cabinet appeared, as they told me there were no plans in my area and then it popped up a few weeks later. I can see so many things happening, but no one knows anything. Maybe that's pretty standard.

I had started the community fibre adress collection, but perhaps this is now pointless until I can establish what the plans are. I just fear that the 6 houses at the very rural road end have been overlooked and won't get a second bite at the cherry.

In reply to a post by Millerp82:

I dont want to sound ungrateful, but 10mbps, although tenfold of an increase, isnt going to stand the test of time once the kids get older.

I agree but dont underestimate how transformative it is to go from ~1Mb to 10Mb. You can do a hell of a lot with 10Mb and if that isnt enough short term, get two lines and load balance them to tide you over until something better is available.

In reply to a post by Millerp82:

I can see so many things happening, but no one knows anything. Maybe that's pretty standard.

Pretty standard for Digitial Scotland, they have never had good visibility of their plan. Their roll out maps showing what exchanges are enabled is nothing short of useless in rural areas given the distance characteristics of FTTC.

In reply to a post by craski:

In reply to a post by Millerp82:

I dont want to sound ungrateful, but 10mbps, although tenfold of an increase, isnt going to stand the test of time once the kids get older.

I agree but dont underestimate how transformative it is to go from ~1Mb to 10Mb. You can do a hell of a lot with 10Mb and if that isnt enough short term, get two lines and load balance them to tide you over until something better is available.

It opens doors for sure! I'm just wondering what is happening between the new (not yet live!) cabinet and our house. What are these black tube contraptions on the poles? Are these to allow FTTP and if so, why do they stop half way up the road (0.5 miles)?

In reply to a post by craski:

In reply to a post by Millerp82:

I can see so many things happening, but no one knows anything. Maybe that's pretty standard.

Pretty standard for Digitial Scotland, they have never had good visibility of their plan. Their roll out maps showing what exchanges are enabled is nothing short of useless in rural areas given the distance characteristics of FTTC.

I was sat thinking, how is it possible they cleared the overgrowth on a 3 mile stretch of road and installed a cabinet where there wasn't one, but no one has any knowledge that it's happened or what the plan is?! Waiting game I guess... Can you tell I'm impatient and desperate for an unlimited data solution

I dont know which cabinet 11 is but have noticed a cabinet on Kemnay exchange using half a mile of overhead fibre on new poles to feed a recently installed all-in-one infill cabinet that cant support many properties given its location.

i.e. there is precedence of them using overhead fibre in the area to feed cabinets and not specifically using it for FTTP.

Maybe some lines from cab 11 are to be transferred to new all in one cab 14 near Bograxie

In reply to a post by craski:

I dont know which cabinet 11 is but have noticed a cabinet on Kemnay exchange using half a mile of overhead fibre on new poles to feed a recently installed all-in-one infill cabinet that cant support many properties given its location.

i.e. there is precedence of them using overhead fibre in the area to feed cabinets and not specifically using it for FTTP.

The cabinet that appeared last week is roughly at AB51 5JY (if that helps?) I'm not sure where cabinet 11 is though, but certainly further away.

Is it likely that the collection of houses at the new cabinet went through a community fibre process, hence the placement of equipment and that it infact has nothing to do with a roll out in the area? Surely they would assess the line to where it terminates (my house) and pull in the remaining properties to the proposed works (wishful thinking)?

Cabinet 11 is actually in Kemnay based on the speeds people are getting believe its close to
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.2328173,-2.4492204...

So where is this cabinet that needed 3 miles of overgrowth clearing?

In reply to a post by witchunt:

Maybe some lines from cab 11 are to be transferred to new all in one cab 14 near Bograxie

Praying I'm one of them! I'll keep an eye for an update on Openreach about this cabinet. Thanks for finding out its number.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Cabinet 11 is actually in Kemnay based on the speeds people are getting believe its close to
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.2328173,-2.4492204...

So where is this cabinet that needed 3 miles of overgrowth clearing?

It's exactly where the red marker is here https://goo.gl/W8QhyL Cleared all along Finnlaig farm to Fetternear hall and down side roads too. A few days later a few poles were replaced and then the day after that the cabinet appeared (which I've now been told is number 14)

This just in from Openreach:

Thanks for contacting us about fibre.
I've had a look and can see the circuit connecting your property from the exchange (11) through cabinet (KEMNAY) isn't currently fibre enabled.
However, the good news is there is a project to divert you to another cabinet. I'm sorry, but as this is an ongoing project with many customer's included, we can't give any completion dates just yet.
When the fibre service is available for you and orders can be accepted, this information will be given via this link:
https://www.homeandbusiness.openreach.co.uk/fibre-br...

Waiting game then to see what speed I will get from cabinet 14 when it's available!

The reason projects are so reticent to talk was some complaints to ASA and the fall out from when plans end up having to change which leads to lots more anger than the frustration of seeing things happen but knowing nothing.

On dates, things do ebb and flow a lot, e.g. one bad storm can mean having to reschedule everything as staff end up having to repair existing connections.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

The reason projects are so reticent to talk was some complaints to ASA and the fall out from when plans end up having to change which leads to lots more anger than the frustration of seeing things happen but knowing nothing.

On dates, things do ebb and flow a lot, e.g. one bad storm can mean having to reschedule everything as staff end up having to repair existing connections.

That's understandable!

I've asked if they can confirm whether it's copper from the house to the cabinet (I'm still wondering what part these black tubes play and the effect they would have on the speed). But either way, I guess a drastically closer cabinet means perhaps the possibility of FTTPod. Options at least, which is far better than nothing at all!

Thanks so much everyone for your knowledge and expertise.

In reply to a post by Millerp82:

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

On dates, things do ebb and flow a lot, e.g. one bad storm can mean having to reschedule everything as staff end up having to repair existing connections.

That's understandable!

You will be familiar with The Cabrach - just think of those who live up there! Their exchange is a large garden shed nine miles from anywhere.

If the cabinet is the usual rectangle shape with vents, and not a slim long green box attached to a pole then its the FTTC copper based solution

The overhead fibre description fits in with how they are getting the fibre to the cabinet.

NOTE: FoD is going to be costed NOT from the cabinet but the closest aggregation node and that is going to be in Kemnay I believe, so On Demand Build Charge is not going to be small at all. Aggregation nodes are spread out to serve a maximum footprint of 1400 FTTP premises.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

If the cabinet is the usual rectangle shape with vents, and not a slim long green box attached to a pole then its the FTTC copper based solution

The overhead fibre description fits in with how they are getting the fibre to the cabinet.

NOTE: FoD is going to be costed NOT from the cabinet but the closest aggregation node and that is going to be in Kemnay I believe, so On Demand Build Charge is not going to be small at all. Aggregation nodes are spread out to serve a maximum footprint of 1400 FTTP premises.

Ah, that's a shame... Hopes up there!

I can't work out why these black boxes on the poles come from kemnay and stop a mile beyond the new cabinet (but still half a mile from us). They appeared around Sep/Oct time. This is what they are http://www.eurocoms.co.uk/fibre-optic-cable-repair-2/

If they were being used to get fibre to the new cabinet, then wouldn't they terminate at the cabinet? If they continued to our road end of 6 houses, I'd be hopeful, but to stop so far away seems odd.