In Britain just now, the surfer’s goal is ADSL.
Britain lags far behind the rest of the World today in internet access.
While the rest of the World already has ADSL……..and is moving onto VSDL, BT is ever so slowly trying to persuade Britain to accept its version of ADSL.
ADSL: Asymmetric digital subscriber line ……. for those who like to know what these things mean.
ADSL is able to go at up to 40 times faster than a modem according to BT (2mb/s), but their version, which also uses the rate adaptive system ( means you can get it further away from the exchange but get a slower speed), is rated at 512kb/s.
Cable can go much faster……..
However, there are many variants, such as the VSDL mentioned above . VSDL can go between 6mb/s to 25mb/s (again from BT’s own figures).
There is also SDSL, which is Symmetric DSL. The difference here , is that ADSL means it downloads faster than it can upload……BT’s reckons on 512k download 256k upload. SDSL is the same both ways……..
Another curious fact…..BT has been playing with SDSL since December 2000.
I also read with interest that they only guarantee a speed of 64k……….
Now, however much you dislike the fact that 512k/s is not exactly top speed, that is what BT offers you. I believe that for businesses, they will, for a premium, give you faster access. However, this is about home access for the normal surfer.
Right, sounds good, doesn’t it? Surfing at 512k/s instead of using a normal modem which , on a good day, probably connects at 44k………
Ok, lets run with it.
BT has , laughingly shown, a map of Broadband Britain. Lets have a quick look at it……..oops, sorry, they don’t allow you to use it in an article………so here’s the url for it instead! http://www.btopenworld.com/broadband/ava61
Hmmmmmm………doesn’t exactly seem overpopulated in red dots, does it?
In fact, if you stay in Scotland, as I do, you might be very surprised if its actually on offer!!! So much for that.
Ok, I entered my phone number into their search………nope, no ADSL enabled exchange here, mate.
Fast track checker………lets have a go at that. It lets you know when your exchange will be upgraded.
Wait a cotton picking minute, there is no demand in your area for broadband?????
WTF do they mean by that. I ( and everyone else in my area that is a surfer wants it).
A quick call to BT complaints sorted that out.
"Why does your checker say this?"
"There isn’t enough calls going through the exchange to warrant upgrading it. "
"What do you mean?"
"Our computer monitors the usage on the exchange."
"Is that data or audio calls?"
"Don’t know."
"Have you done a survey of our area?"
"We do surveys all the time."
"Where are the results?"
"Don’t know."
"What is the sample range of the survey?"
"Don’t know."
"Is there a list of exchanges and when they will be upgraded?"
"Don’t know."
"How do I find out?"
"Don’t know."
"Can I see the results of the surveys?"
"No."
"Why don’t you enable all exchanges?"
"It would not be profitable."
"It won’t be profitable if no-one can use the service that makes the profit?"
"Don’t know."
"If you use the number of people applying, isn’t that a lost cause? Why would anyone apply for a service that doesn’t exist?"
"Don’t know."
.............Ah well, a bit pointless ranting at some poor operator who probably can’t get ADSL either………
Wait a minute, BT has done a high speed rollout of ADSL, enabling exchanges so fast, in fact, that over 66% of the population can get it.
Well, blow me down with a feather………
Lets play with figures as BT have done. There are over 6000 exchanges in Britain. To date, BT has enabled approx.. 1100 of them (from the BT website, circa May 2002)…….. isn’t that more like 18%??
Nope, BT strikes again……..the exchanges that have been enabled have the largest population densities……so they might be right. The fact that most of the people wanting ADSL are not in high population densities is beside the point.
Just for those that are a little slow………cable companies have tended to stick to high population densities as well………makes more sense financially to dig up a city with tower blocks than rural roads with 20 people in them……… If there's a cable company in your area, you probably don’t want the BT version………its more expensive, will never reach the speeds that cable can etc etc.
Also, even if your exchange has been upgraded, there are still many reasons why you can’t get it. As I said, BT uses a rate adaptive system, this allows them to increase the distance from the exchange that you can get ADSL. ADSL is distance dependant, approx.. 2.5 km is the distance, although the rate adaptive can boost this to 5.5km
So, BT is stretching the truth more than a little…..but then again, what company doesn’t?
Ok, what else is on offer?
Well, BT is currently trialling a satellite system ( as opposed to their normal sat. system). We’ll have to wait and see on this one……
Their results on this aren’t due for a few months yet, and so far, leaks aren’t exactly inspiring to say the least.
BT’s current satellite system for high speed access cost a monster £899 for installation and another huge gobbit of cash monthly to use.
The new trial system is reputed to be a lot cheaper………wonder why that is?
Oh, by the way, you can download on the trial system at upto 256k/s but need an ordinary phone to upload………so no sharing large files with the boys, eh?
Ok, that appears to be out the window at present………what else?
Well, there's always that BT stalwart …..Home Highway.
An ISDN connection This gives two 64k/s lines.
Lets have a squint at that…………
Hmmm, I phoned their sales number. They insist it gives you 4 options…..two audio or two digital lines at any time.
Isn’t that two, then?
No, its 4.
But , I can only use 2 at one time?
Yes, but there’s 4.
It got better and better………..but why disturb you with my ranting at another poor BT sod.
Right, lets boil it down slightly. BT will change your line into a digital line and install another digital line for the princely sum of £74.99. They will also leave you a USB lead ( well, maybe). It says that they don’t provide a lead, but their engineer always leaves you the USB test lead. Why not just say they will leave a lead?????
Just a little quirk here again…… If you do decide to go ISDN, and then they upgrade your exchange……….you will have to pay to get your line changed back if you want ADSL. Also, they may charge you for the remaining duration of your contract for Home Highway……it’s a years minimum, so be very wary !!
Ok, not too bad so far…….
"If I decided to get this……I can surf at 128k?"
"Oh yes."
"Can I get the calls for free?"
"Erm………….yes. You can get a surftime package, but it only applies to one line……i.e. you can surf at 64k for free. "
"What about the other line? Isn’t ISDN about surfing at 128k?"
"No, its about giving you two lines capable of 64k each."
"So how do I get 128k?"
"You channel bond the call . You need an ISP that supports 128k."
"So you regard a 128k call as two separate calls?"
"Yes."
"Can I get a package that is all day?"
"No, we currently allow Surftime on Home Highway which is 6p.m. to 8a.m. every day and all weekend."
"But haven’t you just cut the hours to 12 that I can use the connection for?"
"Yes, but when we specify the times , this means the times that you can connect at and is not the duration."
"So, surftime means you could connect for 14 hours a day but can only use it for 12 hours duration?"
"Yes. Its to help relieve congestion and makes it fairer for everyone."
"How is it fairer to charge for a service that you can’t use for the times you specify?"
"Don’t know."
Back to that old chestnut again……………
Ah, they really hang those operators out for everyone to have a kick at…..
"Isn’t there a couple of ISP’s that allow you to call in at 128k but don’t charge for two calls?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me who they are, then?"
"No, we’re not allowed to mention any other companies."
"What do I pay for Home highway?"
"Its very cheap…….we’ve cut the price to £26 a month."
"But that’s only a few pounds less than ADSL?"
"Yes, but you don’t get two lines with ADSL."
"But you don’t need two lines with ADSL, you can surf and still use the phone with ADSL."
"Yes."
.....................There you have it………..an afternoon of BT operator baiting.
So, lets recap on my options.
I can’t get ADSL.
There isn’t a cat in Hells chance of a cable company coming my way.
BT shows absolutely no interest in enabling the exchange I use.
I can get ISDN………..and pay through the nose for it.
I can get a satellite system…….and pay even more heavily for it,
or I can move to an area that does get ADSL.
Big choice, eh?
Broadband Britain is a myth!!!!!!
Broadband Britain is creating one of the biggest social and economic divides ever!!!!
The next big thing according to all those in the know , will be the growth of tele working (working from home) . how do you do that from a 56k modem???
Since practically all little villages in my neck of the woods are employment black spots……..how do we provide work for them without major travel?
So………lets keep them as employment blackspots, then………
Now why the Hell do I still use BT?
Simple answer……..there's no alternative in my area……………..however, having said that………..
I’ve just changed my ISP !!!!
Why pay £14.99 for Surftime……then £5.99 to use Btopenworld when I can use another ISP for nowt and get 24/7 access for £12.99.
The Surftime option does include your line rental, but even so……its still cost effective for me to move on.
It may not make BT change its mind about providing a service to my area that it is providing in the rest of the country…………but, God, the satisfaction of telling them to shove it!!!!!
Stuff BT………..as far as I’m concerned, BT should have been sold but the network should NOT have been included. I also see that a number of MP’s are querying this as well……….
Lets hope that BT get the result that’s required because as one of their execs already said……”it could be more than 20 years before some parts get ADSL”.
I have absolutely no intention of helping to support a Company that has no interest in me or my area !!!!!
I can see BT’s point about profits……as anyone who works nowadays knows, the world as we know it, is run by bean counters. If they can’t see an immediate (or very short) return on their money……….it don’t happen.
For BT to upgrade every exchange would cost a fortune. However, without upgrading every exchange, they won’t be able to milk everyone that wants to use ADSL. Note, I didn’t say broadband, because , as you can see from the figures I spouted above, ADSL (the BT variant) isn’t close to real broadband speeds.
And, of course, if BT had started a lot earlier (like Europe did), we would nearly all have ADSL by now.
So, all and all, I’m pretty pissed at BT !!!!
I always thought that with a name like British Telecom, they would provide their services to ALL Britain, not just the parts they thought would generate the quickest profit.
Next time you read about Broadband Britain………remember to look at the facts……not just what BT is praising themselves for, because as far as I can see………they’ve absolutely nothing to be praised for!!!!!!!!
