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21CN: the 21st century nightmare?

Posted on 16 Jun 2008 at 16:56

But while ISPs such as Entanet and, naturally, BT Retail are preparing to upgrade customers to 21CN as soon as it becomes available, most of the larger ISPs are prepared to play the waiting game. Unlike the launch of ADSL Max two years ago, most of the bigger ISPs have established LLU networks that already offer ADSL2+ services - they simply don't need BT in the lucrative metropolitan areas. "BT's rollout for the first year or two covers exchanges where ourselves, O2 and Orange already have equipment," said Morse, who said his ISP may use the 21CN network "once it reaches a reasonable size" for areas that its own LLU lines can't reach.

"Everyone jumped on ADSL Max straight away but there was still relatively little LLU back then," adds Crawford. "There's much less incentive to pay BT Wholesale for its network now. Only those who don't have an LLU network will use this immediately."

And even though BT stands to make substantial savings from this new network, they are unlikely to be passed on to customers. "BT's doing this to save money. [But] there's no great saving to pass on yet," said Blessing.

So we're paying the same for a new network that won't offer substantial speed increases for many, and may even cost more when you take into account the extra charges for assured bandwidth. Once again, the only guaranteed winner in Britain's broadband lottery is BT.

Author: Barry Collins