Fibre to the Premises is very much the end game currently in Internet connectivity currently, and the UK has been slow of the mark in getting this to large numbers of homes. The situation is improving, but for example the Openreach FTTP project is still largely confined to a small number of exchange areas, and many other projects are just 50 to 100 properties. Independent Fibre Networks Limited with Fluidata as the wholesale network provider is set to improve the full fibre footprint in the UK with 20 new commercial and resident developments receiving fibre to the premises at construction.
The number of properties currently connected to the network or under construction in the 20 sites makes for a total of 50,000 buildings. Service options of 50 Mbps right up to 1 Gbps will be available, and there is a choice of some 40 retail providers who resell the Fluidata wholesale product.
"This is a big step forward and demonstrates that FTTH is a viable and sensible option for the long-term. It also shows that fibre can be commercially deployed on scale without government hand-outs, which compliments the work are doing in rural communities"
The attraction of fibre for new builds is that installation can be phased as part of the building construction reducing the cost, and it improves the saleability of both commercial and residential properties. For those moving in it also means no long wait to get connected, they can be up and running on the network in a couple of days.
We have asked for information on the areas where the service will be available, and will update this item once we get the information.
This will be a big wake-up call for the 2 largest ISPs.
They'll have to get into, not just fitting for, but fitting out and connecting for superfast.
Because it's a big selling point for any property!
Excellent. Way to go. Hope they also get the contracts for the superfast cities so they can do the job right and not try to patch up the old phone networks by using cabs. No public money should go to a telco using phone lines. End of.
BT should be putting in Fibre to all new developments but sadly it does not. The cost of putting the Fibre in during the development phase would be very low. Even if the Fibre could not be used it would make sense to put the fibre in back to the sreet cabinet.
As I said.. battery backup has been the sticking point. No such restriction with VM why haven't they been doing this for years?
For VM it's always been capital and venturing into the % coverage that results in SMP.
B4RN is doing battery backup on all installs. It isn't rocket science.
On these new builds will they be the sole fixed line telecomms provider i.e. no BT services or choice of supplier? If so, and the developments are of sufficient scale, I can see how the commercial ROI is easier to achieve.
If so it just supports my view that it's the result that matters i.e. type of service; and competition at the local level is almost an irrelevance. That's how cable was (successfully) rolled out commercially.
Minimum of 1 hour phone backup.
If i recall correctly, BT wanted OFCOM to decide whom was responsible for the battery once the unit was on-site. Cost and legal implications being huge.
Finally OFCOm decided that it was the property occupier who should ensure that the battery was in good condition. Presumably after a statutory 1 year warranty.
@andrew, yes and that is very recent, I'll refer to your own article http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4939-ofcom-publishes-battery-backup-guidelines-for-fttp.html which is what I'm talking about, previously it was 4hrs which was costly and meant an unsightly unit to cover that period hence why it wasn't done.
Actually I understand that FTTP is going into all large new housing developments, for example is already in place in the Olympic Village.
Hilarious that people still think that because fibre cable is cheaper than copper that its a cheaper option to deploy in New Build sites, theres a hell of a lot more to FTTH than just cable.
Also, FTTP is not going into "all" large New Build sites, only in areas where the exchange and access network supports. Otherwise new houses are tied into existing network capacity.
List of areas available elsewhere.