Superfast Broadband - will it be, though?

I live in Doncaster, and currently note that trenches are being dug in the streets by Thales for the Digital Region network in Yorkshire.
I had assumed that the new fibre optics cable would utilise the existing ducting provided to many homes for this new cable, and since my street is not equipped with this ducting, despite being relatively new (built 1995), I contacted Digital Direct by email, asking if I would be able to receive this new technology.

Here is part of what they said:-

�Digital Region will provide ducting/fibre to the telephone cabinet at the end of each street - our initial contract provides for cover to 97% of the residential, SME and public sector sites in South Yorkshire. Each location (such as your house) where they want to connect to the Digital Region network will need to have a BT telephone connection (copper wire) from there premise to the closest street telephone cabinet.

The majority of premises will have this BT connection already, but where not, BT are obliged through regulation to provide one, although they may pass on a cost to do this.

You can then connect in the same way as today, via any service provider such as BT, Sky, Carphone Warehouse.

Every end user will then need a new piece of equipment to take advantage of the additional capabilities that Digital Region will provide, although this will come almost certainly via the service provider.

So in summary, you need two things -

1. The BT connection that if you haven't got already, they are obliged to provide 2. The equipment to connect through to your service provider�


So, it seems that all homes will receive the new signal via old fashioned copper wire. I�m far from an expert in these matters, but surely this is the weak link in the system?

This raises the question, in my mind at least, as to whether I�ll be able to receive the full benefits of this exciting development ie what actual speed will the broadband I subscribe to achieve compared to that advertised, and will those ISP�s utilising it be able to supply everything that current cable operators can? The advertising (see www.uknof.org.uk/uknof13/Morris-DigitalRegion.pdf) suggests the answer is �Yes, it can�, but I just wonder���

It is called FTTC and should give speeds of 25Mbps to 60Mbps, and BT is rolling this out to 40% of the country, and Digital Region is doing South Yorks on its own.

NOTE: No providers have been announced on the network, so the comment of using any provider is open to question at this time. A lot depends on the price they charge if about the same as BT, then providers will opt for BT as the same system across the UK, if a lot cheaper then some may elect to use it, BT Total may not for political reasons.

FTTC is an improvement, but is a stepping stone towards FTTH in many peoples view. They seem to be doing fibre for businesses i.e. where they can charge enough to make money

Thanks for that - however, I'm not familiar with the terms FTTC and FTTH. What does this mean?

Will the BT system be any different from the Digital Region system?

Fibre to the Cabinet and Fibre to the Home

but is a stepping stone towards FTTH in many peoples view

hard to see why

more like putting stepping stones across a river rather than a bridge.

Both are using VDSL2 so should provide similar speeds, costs and QoS as in amount of capacity available at peak times will be the clincher and until both networks are built no-one will have an answer.

Street has been dug up in the last few days outside my house in Doncaster. A big hole has been left next to the BT cabinet. Progress is finally being made. Just need the fibre to be actually connected to a new cabinet and some providers to signup, then off we go.

Edited by wb9999a (Thu 03-Sep-09 09:57:08)

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

amount of capacity available at peak times will be the clincher

If the same charging model is used as is currently the case with IPstream it seems unlikely to me that there will be any benefit from a high speed last mile apart from willy waving rights.

Hi wb9999a

Just wondered where abouts in Doncaster you are as I am interested in this and live in Doncaster also ?

Not seen any work near where I live yet....... (

I live in Doncaster too, just wondered where abouts you are where the work is happening ?