In reply to a post by trumpet272:

I come from the point of view that basic Broadband should be a right, not a privilege in 2015. I'm 50 mins from Central London and my business is not e-commerce or anything so dependent, but suffers like any business would if I can't use email.

Unfortunately your view doesn't match current reality - at present there is no right to broadband - the only thing you have to be provided is a 28.8Kbps analogue connection. Believing anything else is just kidding yourself I'm afraid.

Saying that, leased lines are available nearly everywhere, as I said above - you just need enough cash to be able to fund them.

You seem to have ignored two questions above, which could lead to a reasonable solution.

I come from the point of view that basic Broadband should be a right, not a privilege in 2015

And who do you suggest should pay for this? Yourself or someone else?

Not sure where I said I expected someone else to pay? I'd be delighted to pay.

Perhaps I should have said "I come from the point of view that a BASIC Broadband should, in 2015, be made available to everyone in the UK who wishes to pay for it"

I thought this was the view of most people these days but perhaps not.

Anyway, Leased line seems a viable option now - awaiting quotes,

Thanks

Not sure where I said I expected someone else to pay?

You didn't hence my question.

I'd be delighted to pay.

That puts you into a small select group as many posting here appear to expect to contribute little or nothing towards the costs of providing fast broadband. I wish you all the best with your plans to get a leased line. In our case a group of us on EO lines in Lambeth have agreed to pay BT over £15K plus VAT to provide FTTC to our homes. This works out at around £250 a property which is no doubt much less than you will be asked to pay.

Well a ballpark quote just in - of c. £800 per month over a 3 year contract for 10mbps. So it's a lot!

Did say it wasn't cheap, although even so I think that is a little pricey - I would expect the install costs to have been pretty high as well (or have they flattened the install over the contract which might explain high monthly costs)?

That 10 Mbps should be symmetric and not slow down at peak times and should also carry other service guarantees too.

Guaranteed bandwidth is not cheap, the consumer FTTC variants will not get close to that guarantee, in the Openreach segment they may be higher, but you are probably getting a budget of 200 Kbps to 1 Mbps at peak times and ISP relying on not everyone streaming at the same time.

Agreed but I would have expected more around the £400 per month as a starting point for 10Mbps symmetric? Been a while since I have been involved in leased line purchases.

EDIT: Quick google shows a Virgin Internet lease line from £325 per month. Costs could be due to OP's location though.

Edited by ian72 (Thu 04-Dec-14 09:42:22)