Sale of O2/BE Broadband & Supporting Network Assets to Sky

[davej99]

I may be mistaken, but I understand that the network assets of Telephonica wholesale are being sold to Sky along with the retail O2/BE Broadband business. It seems the Telephonica wholesale business is to be retained by Telephonica but will be delivered over the infrastructure it has sold to Sky, who will own and operate it.

I believe IDNET uses the Telephonica wholesale network, as well as BT, and that some customers are connected via BE/O2 LLU equipment. If this is the case it seems existing IDNET LLU customers would be serviced by a Sky owned LLU network, resold to Telephonica wholesale, resold to IDNET.

In exchanges where there is Sky and O2/BE LLU equipment, both to be owned and operated by Sky, one might speculate that the resources could be combined in due course.

One might also speculate that in exchanges where there is Sky LLU equipment, but no O2/BE LLU, it may be possible for IDNET customers to be connected using the combined Sky/O2/BE network, rather than over BT. It may be some customers will benefit from an LLU connection, where non exists at present.

I would certainly like to know if this is a possibility, and if it is, whether customers will have a choice of Sky or BT network. In any event some clarification of the impact on IDNET retail customers would be welcome.

[Simon_idnet]

That's a lot of speculation! All we know at present is that the current status quo is to be maintained. It will certainly be interesting to find out what the future holds

[Simon]

Thanks Simon. 

[Steve]

There's a very similar statement on AAISP

[andrue]

That's a lot of speculation! All we know at present is that the current status quo is to be maintained. It will certainly be interesting to find out what the future holds

As an ex-member my forum account is still active. There are no official comments about wholesale access and in fact none about anyone's access. It's mostly user speculation and people saying that they hate Mr Murdoch because he's a nasty man and they are leaving immediately before he gets the chance to brainwash them 

[Steve]

http://status.aa.net.uk/apost.cgi?incident=1745

[mervl]

It's marvellous how many customers think the job of a business is to subsidise them.

[davej99]

That's a lot of speculation! All we know at present is that the current status quo is to be maintained. It will certainly be interesting to find out what the future holds

I would not say a lot of speculation. It is not speculation that Sky are buying (subject to approval) the O2/BE retail broadband business and the O2/BE network assets, including exchange equipment currently used by customers of O2/BE, IDNET, AAISP and others. Sky will own and operate the network and provide services to O2 Wholesale who will provide others as at present.

The only real speculation on my part is about wholesale access to Sky LLU equipment. My broadband service is provided by BTW/IDNET and it is exemplary. But there is Sky LLU at my exchange and I would not wish to be moved over to it without my consent. I seek assurances that would not happen.

[davej99]

It's mostly user speculation and people saying ... they are leaving immediately ....

An O2/BE customer might move to another ISP who uses O2 Wholesale and still retain the same physical LLU connection.

[sparky]

My broadband service is provided by BTW/IDNET and it is exemplary. But there is Sky LLU at my exchange and I would not wish to be moved over to it without my consent.

Same here and I concur.