Hi

As others have said the line test heads are located at the exchange so the E sides will have to remain even after 2025 (when BT's PSTN gets switched off) to allow for remote testing. The only way the E sides could go would be if they found a safe way to move the test heads to the cabs.

Surely not? Come PTSN switch off, unless ADSL is in service, the E side tests are pointless, as all they are testing is cable that isn't used. VDSL/G.Fast has their own tests that can be carried out from the cabinet already, no need for a connection to the exchange over POTs.

The plan is to move a large amount of people to fibre by 2025, and all the old copper wires will be recovered where possible, this provides scrap value to BT, plus makes more room in ducts for fibre and maintenance. I'm sure some telephone exchanges will be closed or re-purposed as old equipment is removed further saving costs.

Now, how likely it is everyone by 2025 will a) Have an internet connection, b) Have the equipment or ability to set up VoIP, c) Will know anything about it even, given there is no PR about a PSTN switch off and we are only 6 years away, is another question entirely.

Regards

Phil

Edited by deleted (Thu 14-Feb-19 08:23:45)

In reply to a post by gromit69:

Do we know yet how OR will provide a voice service post PSTN? Will it be based at the cabinet with the DSLAM?

No not at the Cab or DSLAM, BT's service will be VOIP

The other thing the exchange provides is backup power for POTS. If you ignore that, then integrating ATAs into the VDSL line cards would seem an obvious solution. But they won't want to put a big backup battery in every cabinet.

From this point of view, a passive optical network with a battery-backed FVA in each home is more resilient than an interim solution based on FTTC and VOIP.

But in parallel with all this, mobile coverage continues to improve. I suspect that battery backup for fixed-line emergency calls will become a distant memory - going the way of phone boxes today, and police boxes before them.

After all, nobody lets their mobile phone run out of power - they might miss an important Facebook update!

In reply to a post by PhilipD:

Surely not? Come PTSN switch off, unless ADSL is in service, the E side tests are pointless, as all they are testing is cable that isn't used. VDSL/G.Fast has their own tests that can be carried out from the cabinet already, no need for a connection to the exchange over POTs.

Line testing is done from the test heads in the exchange not from the DSLAM.

In reply to a post by PhilipD:

Now, how likely it is everyone by 2025 will a) Have an internet connection, b) Have the equipment or ability to set up VoIP, c) Will know anything about it even, given there is no PR about a PSTN switch off and we are only 6 years away, is another question entirely.

Closed for new customer from 2023, I suspect there will be lots of information to come out about this as time moves on.

The E sides will still be required for other providers unless they decide to demise their kit as well which is unlikely as there is still money to be made.

Indeed.
Although you you said as it's longer it's "probably" the cause of disconnections.
That would be incorrect.

The E-Side is not directly connected to the D-Side.
They are connected via filters which filter of the xDSL signal.

The cause of the disconnections is "probably" on the D-Side.
A whole lot more than probably though.

I've never heard of an E-Side issue breaking sync on the D-Side VDSL2 link.

The DSLAMs have copper line test capabilities.

If you think they keep the E-Side after disabling PSTN/ADSL you're very wrong.

Edited by j0hn83 (Thu 14-Feb-19 09:16:06)

Where has Openreach stated that by 2025 they will remove copper?

If they do this, then TalkTalk who intend to continue with their MPF exchange based copper services will have problems.

Also the voice over broadband does not require people to be on VDSL/FTTP service, no reason it will not be over ADSL2+. Hence the continued push to get WBC ADSL2+ to support this.

In terms of setting up VoIP - it is as simple as plug in a device to the mains and the phone line and then connect the phone to that.

So 2025 means no MPF LLU anymore?

That will be news to the like of TalkTalk and Sky

>No not at the Cab or DSLAM, BT's service will be VOIP

If not at those two locations, where will it be?

Remember this VoIP will also work with people who are not subscribing to a retail broadband ISP

I didn't put any date on anything. LLU providers will cling on to their assets as long as they can.
There will be resistance to a 2025 shut off.

I was commenting on the suggestion that E-Side is necessary for copper line test facilities. It is not.

LLU/ADSL services are the only reason the E-Side is still necessary. When that goes so will the E-Side.

Line tests and voice services can be done in other ways.