How are you guys getting this Voucher scheme? I've contacted my local council and they keep replying that they have no information yet and to try again in a few Months.

https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk

Suppliers
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is supplier-led. This means suppliers will be requesting the voucher on behalf of their customers. The value of the voucher will contribute to the build cost of installing a full fibre connection at the customer�s premises.

Gigabit broadband vouchers are a one-off contribution to small and medium sized businesses and residential customers wanting to install a faster connection over gigabit capable infrastructure. Some suppliers already involved in the scheme have found that aggregating their customers has allowed them to increase their fibre footprint in areas they were previously unable to go.

You need to speak to the ISP you place the order with. Cerberus are registered as a supplier already.

Edited by j0hn83 (Sat 14-Jul-18 12:45:46)

Thanks for that, I had been Googling but didn't find that. My Desktop quote was £3,900.00, I'll see what Cerberus come back with after the full OR survey

In reply to a post by candlerb:

Regarding the market A surcharge: I don't know the answer, but I'm sure Cerberus will tell you. Out of interest, how much is the surcharge?

The Market A surcharge cost for Cerberus FTTPoD I've been quoted is £1140+VAT for 12 months, paid quarterly in advance.

Edited by Pheasant (Sat 14-Jul-18 15:37:40)

That's a lot - although on the flip side your install quote was very reasonable (and with luck may reduce on survey).

I found a discussion about the market A surcharge here - it sounds like the charge is applied by the service provider when they don't have backhaul to the exchange and have to buy it from someone else.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

- it sounds like the charge is applied by the service provider when they don't have backhaul to the exchange and have to buy it from someone else.

Well Cerberus (along with Fluidone) use BT Wholesale as the backhaul provider for FTTPoD lines and considering all FTTP enabled exchanges already have BTW 21CN links in place, I�m utterly confused why Cerberus are charging extra on some lines. I don�t think Fluidone charge extra based on exchange classification.

In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

In reply to a post by candlerb:

- it sounds like the charge is applied by the service provider when they don't have backhaul to the exchange and have to buy it from someone else.

Well Cerberus (along with Fluidone) use BT Wholesale as the backhaul provider for FTTPoD lines and considering all FTTP enabled exchanges already have BTW 21CN links in place, I�m utterly confused why Cerberus are charging extra on some lines. I don�t think Fluidone charge extra based on exchange classification.

This was the reasoning given to me from Cerberus by email:

�The monthly cost I have quoted for the FTTPoD service has an extra surcharge levied as the site is within OFCOM Market Exchange A. This exchange rate areas are essentially where there is no competition with broadband providers, so in Market A exchanges BT pricing is higher non all broadband services and surcharge is levied on the rental.�

In reply to a post by Webbs:

This was the reasoning given to me from Cerberus by email:

�The monthly cost I have quoted for the FTTPoD service has an extra surcharge levied as the site is within OFCOM Market Exchange A. This exchange rate areas are essentially where there is no competition with broadband providers, so in Market A exchanges BT pricing is higher non all broadband services and surcharge is levied on the rental.�

But exchanges where FTTP/FTTPoD lines terminate at will almost certainly NOT be market A, ie its only the larger/major exchanges which support full fibre and therefore not always your nearest exchange. I could understand it if they levied the surcharge on 20CN lines like Plusnet do (or did) but for 21CN FTTP/FTTPoD lines? But let's not forget that Cerberus have previous for giving out incorrect pricing...remember the bargain basement offer of £88.50 per month for FTTPoD under the old pricing structure? I wonder if Ofcom might take an interest in Cerberus' discriminatory pricing practice...

Edited by deleted (Sun 15-Jul-18 10:06:14)

In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

But exchanges where FTTP/FTTPoD lines terminate at will almost certainly NOT be market A, ie its only the larger/major exchanges which support full fibre and therefore not always your nearest exchange.

It's actually around 10% of exchanges, including mine.

The email I had from Cerberus with the final quote mentioned it thus:

"I have checked the original order placed in March. This shows that you are connected to an Ofcom market A exchange. This means that the service rental is subject to a surcharge. Ofcom has released their draft consultation on markets and this states that the number of market A exchanges will reduce from arounf 9.7% of exchanges to around 0.7% of exchanges. The result will be that, should you go ahead with this order, that the rental price charged will be the market B pricing � i.e. not subject to the additional surcharge. The final statement will be released within 3 weeks, after which a date will be announced for implementing these changes."

However, they immediately contradicted themselves by charging me a Market A surcharge on the "prepay the first quarter" invoice. I'm assuming that's because, as yet, the exchange is still Market A. I'd hope for a refund if it changes before my connection goes live!

In reply to a post by Sammm_:

Why do many people actually go through the FTTPoD install cost when you have FTTC ? Surely that couple grand is not worth it when you could get FTTC speeds with no install cost.

In my case, because I can afford it and I want a faster connection than the 76/20 line I have at the moment. I also want to future-proof my connection, with the aim of upgrading to 1000/220 in due course.

Edited by deleted (Sun 15-Jul-18 10:15:15)

The question is, are Cerberus being charged extra by BT Wholesale for certain FTTP/FTTPoD lines? If not, then it seems like a unfair surcharge and one that Ofcom may take an interest in.

Edited by deleted (Sun 15-Jul-18 11:44:03)