What is a 'looped line'

When we moved into this house, we took out a contract with BT for broadband. When we started to have difficulties setting it up, they then withdrew from the contract. I was told by a local BT engineer that there was a 'looped line' between us and the exchange and that it would be too expensive to bring in a specialist team to remove this.

I didn't question this further at the time but now I'm wondering what exactly is a 'looped line'. It affects quite a wide district, covering at least three villages.

Would anyone be able to enlighten me? Thanks

Doesn't mean anything to me

Maybe this Local loop

Local loop simply refers to the phone wiring that is standard for all phone lines connected to the exchange.

Most common reason for saying no to broadband would be a DAC (line sharing device), or presence of TPON in the area

Going back many years and scratching my head! Something about party lines and looping comes to mind but cannot say exactly.

Zarjaz is needed for this one.

If this issue really is affecting three villages, I'm guessing that it's going to be something like loading pots on the E-side, fitted back in the day to extend the reach of dial tone, but also cost saving as the conductors used were thin. This is seen round my way affecting the village of Ewelme in Oxfordshire.

I might politely suggest that you had misheard, a loop on a line will usually give no dialling tone as a fault. So maybe it's something else. Where are you, geographically speaking ?

Thanks, all, for your replies. I might be 'mis-remembering' the term.

I'm on the Western Isles and the exchange in question is Gravir. Those villages further on from the exchange do not have this problem, just the three or so villages before the exchange (following the road). I can't think why that would be, unless the line is run from across the loch rather than taking the same route as the main road.

I'll see if anyone local can shed some light.

Regards