yep I noticed that also, so they trialling it on existing customers only currently. Thats why the page is hidden then.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

But as Zen appear to be using the new MPLS POPs for consumer-grade FTTC, thus bypassing WBMC where they have these and feeding direct from Openreach via GEA, the undoubtedly valid technical profundity of your shooting down of me may not be entirely relevant.

Sorry, I think you've missed the complete disconnection between Zen's WAN VPN products (that I assume can run over any ISPs connection) and Zen's MPLS backhaul internal provision that allows them to offer EFM and FTTC products at a cheaper operational price than BT's WBC.

The WAN VPN is a product for companies to link together their offices; so they offer QoS so that the company can choose if they don't want someone using internal desktop to desktop video conferencing from flooding the network (it sounds as if its configurable so its a negotiating start - some companies may prefer video conf to have priority).

None of that table applies to broadband products as I read it. The products are completely different. (I suggest you ask Zen direct if you're not convinced).

Edited by jchamier (Tue 24-Sep-13 07:31:21)

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

But as Zen appear to be using the new MPLS POPs for consumer-grade FTTC, thus bypassing WBMC where they have these and feeding direct from Openreach via GEA, the undoubtedly valid technical profundity of your shooting down of me may not be entirely relevant.

GEA or WBMC it's quite irrelevant. They would still need to know the IP profile of each FTTC customer in order to prioritise their line properly and would still need DPI in order to know which classes to put traffic into.

The mechanism in the IP VPN PDF purely applies to prioritising traffic on the Zen network and on customer routers. It is a point to point solution not the everything to a single point solution Plusnet's management is.

In reply to a post by David_W:

It may be that Zen selected exchange hardware that gave them the option of fitting ADSL2+ and/or POTS line cards in the future if the economics of offering these services using SMPF/MPF is favourable.

A bit of digging reveals Zen have already indicated they will use their MSANs for LLU ADSL2+ at some point in the future, but have concentrated on launching the new fibre products first.

What does that mean, will Zen be just another full LLU ADSL+ provider if one takes a line rental and broadband package with them where an exchange is enabled?

In reply to a post by 4M2:

What does that mean, will Zen be just another full LLU ADSL+ provider if one takes a line rental and broadband package with them where an exchange is enabled?

Your guess is as good as mine. The linked post merely says that they will LLU further exchanges and an ADSL product review will be launched at some point in the future.


The strong implication is that Zen will start offering ADSL2+ using SMPF on exchanges where they have presence, and will presumbly migrate existing ADSL customers on those exchanges to their MSAN.

I'm not aware of any indication as to whether Zen intend fitting PSTN line cards to their MSANs so that they can offer 'full LLU' services using MPF.

That sounds OK: one could keep Zen WLR line rental and take broadband as partial LLU (SMPF) with Zen. It would not be a package as such, rather it would be similar to the current separate "consolidated" WLR line rental and G.DMT/21CN ADSL deals that they are offering now both on a 30 day minimum term?

ok on zen's pop page it seems when zooming in these pop's relate to phone exchanges and the one in leicester is for the 2nd exchange in the city that I am not on, other cities have multiple pop's but leics only has one so I have emailed zen to ask which network I would be on with my exchange.

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

on zen's pop page it seems when zooming in these pop's relate to phone exchanges

Zen produced a Google map of their PoPs, but I'm not sure whether they've kept the data source up to date.

If you know which exchange your FTTC goes to that'll give you the answer.