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BT tests demand for fibre broadband

By Barry Collins

Posted on 4 Oct 2010 at 07:40

BT is conducting a nationwide survey to find out where demand for high-speed fibre broadband is at its highest.

In an echo of its original ADSL rollout, BT will ask members of the public to express their interest in fibre broadband services. Unlike the ADSL scheme, however, there are no guarantees that an exchange will be upgraded to fibre when it reaches a certain trigger level.

Fibre broadband

Click here to find out when it's coming to your area

BT has promised to upgrade the five exchanges that show the most interest in fibre by early 2012, but that's a small drop in the ocean given there are almost 5,600 telephone exchanges in the UK.

Nevertheless, BT says the survey results "could see commercially viable exchanges brought forward to the front of the queue or non-viable exchanges added to the deployment plans".

Broadband customers are being asked to express their interest in fibre at the Race To Infinity website, although the website wasn't working properly in the Google Chrome browser when we tested it this morning.

The survey will run until the end of the year, when the five winning exchanges will be announced.

BT claims four million premises will be within reach of a fibre broadband connection by the end of this year, with plans to reach two thirds of the country by 2015.

Just last week, BT announced a plan to deploy fibre broadband across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, following a £53.5m grant from the EU.

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User comments

Website

Well, at least they've put together a fairly slick website for all of this. I can see that no-one at all is interested in fibre where my parents live, for example (Infinity is already rolling out near me so that wouldn't be a fair test).

By ChrisJoeWood on 4 Oct 2010

Stupid question - what does "on the roll out plan" actually mean? Does that imply a date has been arranged? If so, where is this info?

By bubbles16 on 4 Oct 2010

Done

I'm 7th
- out of over 32k users on my exchange

By greemble on 4 Oct 2010

Rollout plan

If your exchange is on the roll-out plan, then yes, there is a date set for fibre

By greemble on 4 Oct 2010

Well according to the website it's great news because Infinity is already coming to my area. I'm really confused because this report says that people are voting for the first 5 top places. How come it's already coming to my area then?

By TimoGunt on 4 Oct 2010

Total number or %age

I wonder if they will count up by percentage or total numbers.Less than 100 on my exchange
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/SWRSO

By ianjenk247 on 4 Oct 2010

really should have read more before commenting. It seems I can get Infinity this December and it's a 24Mb line which is somewhat short of the 40Mb they are stating

By TimoGunt on 4 Oct 2010

"Sorry, but your exchange is not eligible to WIN The Race to Infinity as it has less than 1000 premises."

I shall continue to nurture my blistering 512 kbps and continue to be ignored by BT.

It's annoying that the Infinity ad shows a great shower of meteor-style fibre optic streams over the country. What it should show are bits of cities getting a light shower whilst most of us rural, backward types stay dry and safe, basking under dark skies as we clutch our spears.

Call me cynical if you will.

By Mr_Flynn on 4 Oct 2010

Country bumpkins ...

Stop moaning! I live within a mile of the City of London and my exchange is not on the list. By odd coincidence, I too am #7 on the voting list. I wonder could BT possibly have seeded 6 votes to make it less discouraging?

By JohnAHind on 4 Oct 2010

"Sorry, but your exchange is not eligible to WIN The Race to Infinity as it has less than 1000 premises."
"But if more that 75% o residents sign up we will work with community to develop a soloution"

1st registration

By ianjenk247 on 4 Oct 2010

#7 also

Number 7 also for my exchange...

By jehu01 on 4 Oct 2010

Fancy hand washing city types

I'll bet you're not on 512 kbps JohnAHind, now are you? Plus, you'll notice I stipulated bits of cities getting a light shower.

Frankly, I'd welcome even half-decent ADSL where I live. I'll keep moaning though, thank you. It's one of the few pleasures in life I have left (plus stalking city types whilst they're on holiday, playing the banjo, marrying my sister and so on).

By Mr_Flynn on 4 Oct 2010

voted but not sure it is any point

my exchange also has 7 votes. wonder if the other 6 on all exchanges are the engineers who want the work upgrading them :S

0.09% of the overall UK total is sure to get Rhos-On-Sea upgraded next lol

By mr_chips on 4 Oct 2010

@Timo Gunt - probably find one of the BT shareholders lives near you then ;)

By mr_chips on 4 Oct 2010

One vote!

Just to dispel the 7 votes conspiracy theory, my exchange in Lincolnshire only has one vote - me! Somehow, I can't see my exchange winning this competition :(

By pbryanw on 4 Oct 2010

Why The Survey?

BT have known that the ‘Fibre’ replacement of copper cable was essential for decades. Apparently, during the Thatcher years of Government and immediately following the privatisation of BT, the mandarins at BT approached ‘The Iron Lady’ dobbed their caps and asked for money “…to cable up the whole country”. I am led to understand that Mrs T, correctly replied “You’re a private company now…”. (After all, the whole point of privatisation was to reduce the burden on the taxpayer, increase competition and improve quality wasn’t it!). Sorry couldn’t wait anymore (decades that is) changed over to Virgin Media a few years back and haven’t regretted it.

By 738205 on 4 Oct 2010

Configured D/speed?

Why is it my "safe and stable" download speed is always reconfigured LOWER all the time. For most of September it was 2.5Mbs, last week it was 2.0 and now it's 1.5!

And we pay for 'upto' 8Mbs.

I want to know what is Actually happening at these exchanges. I want a precise technical explanation for what BT's own online speed test tells me is happening and I want to know why it is happening.

And I want it as soon as the missus has finished watching 'enders!

By fingerbob69 on 4 Oct 2010

@Mr_Flynn

Wasn't it recently proven that the traditional country technology of carrier pigeons was superior to broadband in any case? Or did I miss the point?
Maybe you ought to consider a move to Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly - I certainly am! Fast broadband and few people - what could be better?

By JohnAHind on 5 Oct 2010