Yeah, that's called forward powering I believe.

Sorry, somehow missed that part of your post, must have been sleep-reading...

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

So G Fast is like FTTC but uses a different frequency to 'transmit' over copper from the "pod" to the premises? If you're very close to the pod you can have faster than FTTC broadband. Otherwise I'm not sure what the point is. Are the pods just like mini fibre cabinets so more can be placed nearer to homes? But its just to get faster speeds over copper, not increase the fibre footprint?

Sum up G Fast in a short paragraph!

Yet another xDSL-type technology using higher frequencies along with some very clever signal processing to deliver higher speeds, albeit with more distance limitations, over existing copper wires.

In reply to a post by ian72:

I believe they have also looked at using reverse power - taking a feed from the consumer premises to power the pods. But, I believe it is pretty complex taking power feeds from a number of households and you would need to ensure a single property could power the entire pod just in case only one has a running system at a point in time.

Maybe I've misunderstood, but given electricity prices I'm not sure some of us would agree to subsidise our ISP's power requirements.

I read somewhere it was estimated to cost around £50-80 per year, based on 4 houses connected to one DP node.

You're not subsidising their requirements, it would be for yours, as you'd be using the service if you chose to take it out.

You wouldn't be forced to.

Just like you have to pay the electric that is used to power the ADSL/VDSL modem or /fibre ONT in the home now

Edited by MrSaffron (Wed 16-Aug-17 13:29:58)

Then if it becomes available as an option don't sign up for it... Those that want faster speeds when and if this happens may be willing to pay (and if it wasn't done this way then the solution would likely be more expensive so the consumer would just end up paying more for the rental anyway).

Not quite, we don't currently supply electric for the FTTC cabinets, or ADSL hardware in exchanges, but we do have the modem which is in our own property, so it would be an additional cost. If that cost was small I wouldn't be fussed though.

But you do pay for BT getting the power to the cabs and would pay for BT getting the power to the nodes - within your broadband bills. If it was cheaper to run that power back from the consumer and therefore reduced the overall cost then that ought to be a better option. One thing is certain - BT don't pay for the electricity out of the kindness of their hearts.

Was that cost split between four properties, so a max of £20 a year, if so I would be ok with that, but not sure about £80 of electricity. Suppose it would depend on the cost of the service as well.