SOGEA query

I am trying to get my head around the implications of changing from FTTC to SOGEA. Can a router connected to an internal phone extension work as before on SOGEA? Does SOGEA use exactly the same copper line as FTTC? Will SOGEA still be available after FTTP becomes available in an area? If so, how long is it likely to remain available for existing SOGEA users?

It should be exactly the same as FTTC, it just doesn't have a telephone port/line.

Thanks for reply Ian72. Can anyone answer the other parts of my questions:
Will SOGEA still be available after FTTP becomes available in an area? If so, how long is it likely to remain available for existing SOGEA users?

Doesnt FTTP have to be available to 75% of properties before copper (and FTTC) stop sell applies?

And it wont get withdrawn until after the stop sell which lasts a year

In reply to a post by Terryphi:

I am trying to get my head around the implications of changing from FTTC to SOGEA. Can a router connected to an internal phone extension work as before on SOGEA? Does SOGEA use exactly the same copper line as FTTC? Will SOGEA still be available after FTTP becomes available in an area? If so, how long is it likely to remain available for existing SOGEA users?

1)
Yes, nothing changes there.

2)
Yes, SOGEA and FTTC are both VDSL2 - the only difference is SOGEA does not include a 'voice' telephony service on the line itself.

3)
Sort of. Some suppliers may elect to only provide FTTP once it is available (quite wisely potentially) even if SOGEA technically available. The reality is you'll be moving to FTTP ultimately.

4)
Depends on various factors, but again, your ISP would handle any transition from ADSL/FTTC/SOGEA to FTTP and the answer won't be precise and the same in every case.

In reply to a post by Terryphi:

Will SOGEA still be available after FTTP becomes available in an area? If so, how long is it likely to remain available for existing SOGEA users?

Yes, and it will remain available until a copper "stop sell" applies in that area. At that point, if FTTP is available at your property then you'll no longer be able to order a new SOGEA line, regrade your existing one, or migrate it to a different ISP.

However, you can continue with your existing line under your existing ISP: it won't be pulled away from you.

Openreach are counting on natural churn. *Eventually* I imagine Openreach will apply pressure to your ISP to get you to migrate, but I've not yet seen any scheme to forcibly terminate SOGEA service, because there's no hard cutoff time for copper withdrawal.

(That's unlike the PSTN withdrawal, where there's a hard cutoff of Dec 2025. Plans have been announced to start intermittently degrading broadband service on WLR lines, to try to force users to contact their ISP and get a regrade to SOGEA. Whether people will act remains to be seen)

However if you are with an ISP within the BT group (BT, EE, Plusnet) then they are likely to be proactive in moving you over to FTTP when it becomes available, and you may have to fight if you want to stay on SOGEA.

Given someone asked, can I ask, do you get faster speeds having SOGEA FTTC?

Does it result in a cleaner line and thus higher sync rates not having any voice on the line?

It doesn't affect your speed, it's the same FTTC service. Some suppliers are saying you will get better speeds on SOGEA, it's not true.

Well I swapped my line to sogea some weeks ago as the price was benificial, my speed has now dropped some 5mb and also the hand back speed has been dropped significantly

Thanks candlerb. Very helpful. As you can see I am with IDNet so fingers crossed.