Verizon in Bracknell?

Off on a morning run today and spotted a Verizon Manhole cover about 50m from the big BT Bracknell exchange...

I didn't think Verizon had a UK presence?

Lots of old footway boxes bearing logos of now defunct services if you start to look for them.

Verzion have office's about 12 milles from BT Bracknell exchange (THBK) in Reading
https://www.verizon.com/about/careers/locations/read...


Google Maps BT Bracknell exchange-Verzion Offices

Reminds me of this video The hitchhikers guide to ducts and poles, networks and 30 years of acquisitions made a few years ago.

In reply to a post by Whitehall11:

I didn't think Verizon had a UK presence?

Verizon Mobile is not in the UK, but the fixed line business of Verizon is global and offers leaded lines / circuits to business. They consist of Bell Atlantic, GTE, MCI, and other former companies.

Yep, I know that very well …. worked there a few times.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Yep, I know that very well …. worked there a few times.

Right - Pure curiosity, what is the difference between the two buildings that are bridged by the cool foot bridge?

There are Verizon manhole covers near where I live too, and it is on a COLT long haul route according to their fibre map - I think they must work together closely.

Bracknell doesn't seem to be very accurately recorded on that map though, showing only straight lines.

In reply to a post by Whitehall11:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Yep, I know that very well …. worked there a few times.

Right - Pure curiosity, what is the difference between the two buildings that are bridged by the cool foot bridge?

I suspect, because they could …. last visit I was fixing two lift lines

In reply to a post by candlerb:

There are Verizon manhole covers near where I live too, and it is on a COLT long haul route according to their fibre map - I think they must work together closely.

Bracknell doesn't seem to be very accurately recorded on that map though, showing only straight lines.

Perhaps COLT lease (sub)duct or dark fibre from Verizon?

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

In reply to a post by candlerb:

There are Verizon manhole covers near where I live too, and it is on a COLT long haul route according to their fibre map - I think they must work together closely.

Bracknell doesn't seem to be very accurately recorded on that map though, showing only straight lines.

Perhaps COLT lease (sub)duct or dark fibre from Verizon?

There's a large Verizon manhole cover at the junction of The Strand and Aldwych in Central London. Verizon have offices in a building in Holborn, though there's nothing 'exchange/switch' like in there

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Lots of old footway boxes bearing logos of now defunct services if you start to look for them.

I had a meeting today in the City Road/ Shoreditch area of central London. I was walking along Paul Street, and looked down and found the following footway boxes as marked:

- BT
- Colt
- eunetworks
- Fibrespan (with a Virgin Media toby box to one side!)
- Mercury
- PO
- GEO
- Vorboss (looked very fresh and new, with pretty purple logo plate)
- Zayo
- 186K Limited

I thought it had to be a record for a roughly 50 to 100 metre stretch of 'back' street...the area seems err quite well served!! (admittedly the old BT Telephone House is at one end and the financial centre, Broadgate etc is at the other end). Obviously a "rich seam" of chamber lids 😎😂

Edited by Pheasant (Tue 10-Aug-21 17:35:58)

PO is BT … just older



And, if I’m being pedantic …. a rich seam

But, it does kinda bear out what I was saying. There used to be, and expect still is, a lot of 186k footway boxes around central Reading

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

PO is BT … just older



And, if I’m being pedantic …. a rich seam

But, it does kinda bear out what I was saying. There used to be, and expect still is, a lot of 186k footway boxes around central Reading

Yes PO and BT are the same, just snap shots in the chronology of our incumbent. As you know there are further examples, but that was what was marked on that particular street, nothing older than PO.

Thanks for the typo pickup too, oops!

Lids prior to PO would be marked GPO.

I’d say we ought to get out more ….

but then look what’s happened when you did get out ! 😀

Yeh fair do. I played in the telecoms industry for long enough in my career. Old habits die hard. 😎

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Paul Street

Is the BT building still there? back in the day they use to run training course there, It use to be on the corner of Leonard St and Paul Street

In reply to a post by dect:

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Paul Street

Is the BT building still there? back in the day they use to run training course there, It use to be on the corner of Leonard St and Paul Street

Sure is. It's office space now. The whole area has changed a lot in the last 5 years or so

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Sure is. It's office space now. The whole area has changed a lot in the last 5 years or so

Thanks, probably around 1995 I was last round that area.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Lids prior to PO would be marked GPO.

And before GPO it would been NTC. Before that would of been UTC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Telephone_Com...

The oldest lids in my street in London are "Post Office Telegraphs" then it reverts to "Post Office Telephones" a few chambers away