It probably goes directly to Hexham. When they designed the FTTC network, and subsequently the FTTP network they didn�t take the fibres into the local exchanges at all. They could have done that and piggybacked from there to the handover exchange as you may do if you were running a fibre from a mobile mast to the nearest Metro Node.

But it just made more sense as they�re putting entirely new cables in to bypass those small exchanges entirely.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Hexham most likely handover exchange

That's what I was assuming. It makes sense to me although that is no predictor of what's actually the case!

It will be going to a large exchange. It 100% won�t be going to your small exchange. That�s not how they designed the network.

Similar exchange design here in Cornwall took me ages to spot it but when I drove past one day and noticed the green cabinets I put them together, and the area this exchange is in feeds back to another large exchange for FTTP and FTTC as I remember them shoving fibre down the ducts along the roads (which took several weeks) and they started in the main exchange area then ended up there and so on.

Rurual Exch

As far as I am aware the local fibre bypasses the local exchange and goes direct to the head end for network optimization so in time the small exchanges with PSTN and ADSL only can be phased out, not yet for some time but sure im of the option it will happen.

wonder what speed BB the white cottage gets?

24Mbps ADSL2+ on an EO line ?

In reply to a post by thomaswarne01:

Similar exchange design here in Cornwall took me ages to spot it but when I drove past one day and noticed the green cabinets I put them together, and the area this exchange is in feeds back to another large exchange for FTTP and FTTC as I remember them shoving fibre down the ducts along the roads (which took several weeks) and they started in the main exchange area then ended up there and so on.

Rurual Exch

As far as I am aware the local fibre bypasses the local exchange and goes direct to the head end for network optimization so in time the small exchanges with PSTN and ADSL only can be phased out, not yet for some time but sure im of the option it will happen.

Yes. This was policy, and there aren�t any exceptions that I�m aware. So that BT (who own the physical network and occupy the buildings) has the option of vacating the buildings in future.

I live in a town of 15,000 people or so, with its own exchange but even that is bypassed and will close eventually. There are 4 handover exchanges covering my borough but there are 11 exchanges.

Hi Icaras

Would this theory work when trying to figure out your local fibre handover exchange.

1) Locate a new build estate within your local area served by FTTP only (no copper)
2) Use BT broadband and availability checker to identify a property from above new build estate.
3) Compare exchange with your local exchange, if different this could possibly be your handover exchange.


PS: I believe if properties are served by copper and FTTP the copper exchange will be displayed on the BT broadband and availability checker rather than the fibre handover exchange

Edited by deleted (Tue 26-Nov-19 09:42:29)

If the checkers are showing the correct information of course. Have seen a good number of quirks over the years

That is a large one ... one we use at times: https://goo.gl/maps/nAJKweLibsR2br4W9

And the road is busy when the shot was taken, Royal Mail, car going the other way and Google Mapping car , often I can drive the 17 miles and maybe se one or two cars going the other way.