According to http://whois.arin.net the 30.xxx.xxx.xxx range to which the ptm1.301 connections are going is:

OrgName: DoD Network Information Center
OrgId: DNIC
Address: 3990 E. Broad Street
City: Columbus
StateProv: OH

Yes, I noticed that. I'm wondering if the IP on ptm1.301 is internal to BT though.

Probably is, though it seems odd to use a non-reserved address it it is. Partly put the post in to see if it triggered any spy paranoia reaction.

I don't think this is new - I know that my modem has had this interface and it has been connected since day one of having FTTC.

Here's a screenshot I took of my modem's stats way back in early January. I was the second customer (and first residential customer apparently) to be connected to the cabinet on a very newly enabled exchange. http://i.imgur.com/4AXbk.png

You can see that it is definitely connected and has a 30.xx IP. I don't really remember (I'm not in a position to check my modem) but I seem to remember it saying something to do with management somewhere, but I'm not really sure.

If it is definitely new for some people, maybe it is a change BT has implemented in new builds for a while now and is only just implementing it in older exchanges?

Actually, here's another screenshot I have (I must have taken screenshots of various menus for some reason).

http://i.imgur.com/d3p6O.png - it says TR069_INTERNET for the description. TR069 appears to be a protocol for managing CPE devices - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TR-069