Openreach Max 330 but TalkTalk 900?

Hey,

I've had FTTP for quite some time and the openreach checker has always shown 330 is my max (and the rest of the houses in this estate on the same exchange). I assumed i was one of the unlucky ones on ECI headends.

Before i went with Zen, i had enquired with TalkTalk business (i run my business from home). TalkTalk told me they weren't available with FTTP in my area yet.

However, i had a call yesterday from TalkTalk and they were able to offer me all 6 packages, so of course i went with 900/115.

I did try to ask how they're offering higher speeds than the OpenReach ADSL checker, to which they told me that their network doesn't use all of the same parts of the OpenReach ones so are able to offer better speeds in this occasion. Though this answer seemed to be made up on the spot.

I'm a little bit baffled, how can Zen & BT not offer 900/115 yet TalkTalk can? Do they use different equipment at the exchange? I assumed they were just "renting" parts of the OpenReach network.

Edited by deleted (Thu 10-Dec-20 08:22:36)

It's possible that other providers have limited cross-connect capacity at your head-end exchange, and choose not to offer anything faster than 330.

However that wouldn't explain why the *Openreach* checker says only 330 available. Do you actually mean Openreach, or BT Wholesale?

It's also not impossible that Talktalk have made a mistake, but you'll find out when it's delivered.

Yeah - sorry i meant BT Wholesale ADSL Checker. I guess i'll just wait and see. Is there any possible way to confirm the ECI restriction without physically being in the exchange?

Dont talk talk have access to other fibre networks in some areas, not just openreach?

They do, and that is the question, is the poster from York or Dewsbury

https://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/broadband-map#...

Sadly not, South Wales, Blackwood - Exchange (SWBIG).

Just checking BT's site and they have a 900 package available for my postcode BUT if you call them and try and order it, they said its a mistake on their website. Which i find really odd.

Also, there's a brand new estate close to me, they heavily advertised gigabit capable homes. Though checking their postcodes, they're connected to an exchange (SWNBI) which is almost 3x the distance from mine, and all homes around it are connected to SWBIG as well.

Seems to me the exchange isn't capable, maybe TalkTalk have made the mistake somehow. I'm hoping not though

Edited by deleted (Thu 10-Dec-20 10:07:00)

Im in same position stuck on 330 max on OR FTTP via BT. Really dont understand it, it was newly installed (in road) in Feb this year, all other FTTP around here done end last year and a few years ago is 1000, im just waiting to see another chunk to go live in village to see what theirs say before I whinge a bit more.

In reply to a post by lloydowen:

Also, there's a brand new estate close to me, they heavily advertised gigabit capable homes. Though checking their postcodes, they're connected to an exchange (SWNBI) which is almost 3x the distance from mine, and all homes around it are connected to SWBIG as well.

If those new homes have fibre only, then the checker will show the handover exchange where the fibre terminates.

If your home has both copper and fibre, then the checker will show your local exchange. However your fibre almost certainly terminates on the more distant handover exchange.

When copper is eventually retired, many of the local exchanges will close.

I never knew that, useful to know. The handover exchange in this case is significantly smaller in size, interesting that it's not the other way around.

The FTTP in my area only went live ~6 months ago. As far as i can tell, anyone connected to SWBIG. (my exchange) has 330. Anyone on the handover exchange (SWNBI) has 1000. Curious where the bottleneck is there.

I do still technically have a copper line although not in use. I have a data-only service.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

If your home has both copper and fibre, then the checker will show your local exchange. However your fibre almost certainly terminates on the more distant handover exchange.

I think i've proven this theory today.

We've had a FTTP outage at the exchange, though the exchange with the outage isn't SWBIG its SWNBI which would be the handover exchange as you mentioned

Here. is the issue if anyone cares.

I've ordered my 900 line and it's being installed on the 22nd of Jan 2021. Wait and see if i actually get that service installed.

Edited by deleted (Tue 05-Jan-21 10:48:20)