BT to scrap fixed-rate ADSL?

AvengerUK · Jun 05, 2007, 15:14:59

o'dear...

I sure hope fixed rate remains, or thats proberbly the end of DSL for me!

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While were on the subject of Freeview/Freesat etcetc, anyone when Channel 4 is coming to Freesat?

Inactive · Jun 05, 2007, 15:19:18

Quote from: AvengerUK on Jun 05, 2007, 15:14:59

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While were on the subject of Freeview/Freesat etcetc, anyone when Channel 4 is coming to Freesat?

Channel 4 is available on " Freesat " , you just need a Freesat Card to watch it, or an ex - subscription card will also work.

DorsetBoy · Jun 05, 2007, 16:53:36

And what happens to the ISP's that do not supply broadband max?

There are plenty around that only offer fixed rate.

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 17:06:32

I've since seen a discussion of this piece on TB. Essentially, BT will be offering fixed-rate profiles on the Max service. Whether that provides exactly the same service I don't know.

cavillas · Jun 05, 2007, 17:52:51

I thought the Government at the time of allowing Cable operators and LLU's should have made it compulsory for those companies to have hooked up at least 95% of households. Then there would have been a much better opportunity for freedom of choice and competition, something that seems to have been forgotten when it was first started. Again the Government looking at the short term benefits and not the long term needs for our nation.

DorsetBoy · Jun 05, 2007, 17:59:07

Quote from: cavillas on Jun 05, 2007, 17:52:51
I thought the Government at the time of allowing Cable operators and LLU's should have made it compulsory for those companies to have hooked up at least 95% of households. Then there would have been a much better opportunity for freedom of choice and competition, something that seems to have been forgotten when it was first started. Again the Government looking at the short term benefits and not the long term needs for our nation.

Definition of a politician........someone that looks for the shortest route to the highest possible gain..........for themselves and over the longest period possible.

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 18:04:03

Amen brother.

RobMc · Jun 05, 2007, 18:17:55

Damned if they do damned if they don't. The government doesn't have a lot to say as it's all down to big businesses. Now if the government had control over the Communication system as it used to then it would be another matter. If the government get involved now they would be told to get lost by the big businesses, If they don't get involved then they are letting down the electorate.

No company would accept a obligation that required them to cover a percentage of the households, it would be financially crippling. The cable companies don't even seem to want to extend their coverage even where they already have a presence. My parents used to have NTL cable, they moved a couple of hundred yards to a new home and NTL won't connect them there as the cables don't go down that particular road, so what chance they would ever make cable available to villages or even larger towns. Every time that [censored] Virgin Cable advert comes on telly I just want to scream (cherry picking beeps).

Rob

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 18:22:51

I know what you mean about cherry picking, Rob.

How would you attempt to solve this issue? It seems to me that, unless Govt does get involved, we will be struggling to improve speeds forever. There's insufficient incentive for BT to make the investment in fibre to the home, and NTL have long demonstrated they are not interested in a universal service.

I can only see us moving forward if the Govt were to give BT a grant to install fibre, but with a USO attached, or the infrastructure were to be brought back under Govt control, with BT becoming a service provider on that network.

MoHux · Jun 05, 2007, 18:42:33

Unfortunately I forget (

) where I saw it ..... but I read the other day, that a new company is being set up, to provide Broadband via the National Grid!!

I think it has been trialled before, but this appeared to plan to be on a much larger scale.

Now that's food for thought

.

Don't sell ALL your BT shares yet though.

DorsetBoy · Jun 05, 2007, 19:00:07

Yes you are right Mo,I saw something about that a while back.

Now that would be an interesting CS call,noisy line sir,is your phone cable near a power line?

RobMc · Jun 05, 2007, 19:20:33

Quote from: Rik on Jun 05, 2007, 18:22:51
How would you attempt to solve this issue?

I don't have an answer. The government (of the time, we know who they were) decided that Britain's infrastructure was best in the hands of private business. So we lost control of telecoms, railway, gas and electricity generation etc. etc. All for a quick buck to pay for tax cuts. Now THAT was looking in the short term. I don't see how the government could subsidise a near-monopoly private business to the sum that would be required to replace the comms infrastructure for most of the uk. It would be a brave/foolhardy government that would spend tax-payers money in such a way. The answer? Privatization of BT? No. It was sold and regrettably will stay sold, not even the most left-wing elements of what remains of the Labour party would think they would have any success with such a idea. So what is the solution. I think it will be this... "This is as good as it gets live with it." I don't like that solution but don't see any other outcome. When all is said and done the British public as a whole don't like the government spending it's money.

Rob.

Inactive · Jun 05, 2007, 23:37:30

Quote from: RobMc on Jun 05, 2007, 19:20:33
. I think it will be this... "This is as good as it gets live with it." I don't like that solution but don't see any other outcome.

Rob.

I agree Rob, perhaps if we stopped strutting the globe pretending to be a dominant World Leader, and started investing in our very own infrastructure that is on the verge of meltdown, things may just change.

But it aint gonna happen.