New BT Modem Requirements

[Tacitus]

Anybody seen this?

http://www.cerberusnetworks.co.uk/index.php/support-pages/guides-a-manuals/fttc-installation-q4-2015

It looks as though BT will be using something called "OAM Loopback" to perform diagnostics on FTTC services and identify the modem connected at the customer's premises.  This means they are set to require end users to have an approved modem - the current list is at the bottom of the page.

So far this consists of just 4 manufacturers varying from seriously expensive (Cisco), to cheap tat (Huawei).  Significantly most have Broadcom chips of one sort or another, so it's possible those using Broadcom based kit will have little to fear. However it does mean that users of other chips - for example Draytek who use Lantiq pretty much exclusively - may be left holding an unusable device.  Well, theoretically..........      Quite possibly a firmware update will fix those which are 'non-approved'.

Don't know if iDNet support read this forum, but I'd be interested to hear what they know about this and how it might affect their existing customers.

[Lance]

Very interesting. I would be surprised if BT really can start dictating what equipment consumers use.

[Tacitus]

Very interesting. I would be surprised if BT really can start dictating what equipment consumers use.

Their network their rules.    Interestingly at the end of the list of 'approved' modems, they say it's the combination of modem and firmware that's approved.  Are they seriously suggesting that every manufacturer must gain approval his modified firmware?  Given some of the open source firmware that's around, good luck with that.

[Steve]

It's not a matter of dictating is it, is it not a matter of a supported configuration, the list I assume will grow as March comes round. I'd use what you want , if you want support have the cheap tat sitting in a cupboard for emergency use. Mind you that cheap tat Huawei I use is coming up for 4 years old and it's proved to be flawless ( that comment will be the death knell surely)

[Tacitus]

It's not a matter of dictating is it, is it not a matter of a supported configuration, the list I assume will grow as March comes round. I'd use what you want , if you want support have the cheap tat sitting in a cupboard for emergency use. Mind you that cheap tat Huawei I use is coming up for 4 years old and it's proved to be flawless ( that comment will be the death knell surely)

TBH Steve, I imagine it's pretty much what has been going on with ADSL kit for some time, so the practical implications will be zero for most people. 

When I say something works fine for me, that's usually the signal for it to fail, so you're not alone 

[mervl]

Very interesting. I would be surprised if BT really can start dictating what equipment consumers use.

I would think they can do anything as long as the Regulator doesn't intervene - and I'm not aware the Regulator specifies the hardware or firmware that OpenReach must use. Remember that the End User has no contract with OpenReach. BT wants to reduce costs, hardly surprising considering the Regulator's constant pressure on their margins, supported by the big boys of the ISP industry. As usual the consumer interest is ignored, except when they can turn it to profit. Us little people are expected to do only as we are told.

Possibly the only thing that can stop them is the EU's single market legislation, which may prohibit them from discriminating against companies in the EU at least except for essential technical requirements just on objective criteria, not making it up to suit yourself. Perhaps the EU has its use after all, which I why i suspect we all hate it. BT have a habit of forgetting about the law when it suits them.

[nowster]

BT have a habit of forgetting about the law when it suits them.

One might say they have Phorm in that regard...

[Simon]

 

[Steve]

I suppose if we wish to choose an alternative to a suggested configuration , the BT list should give us an idea of the chipsets to go for.

[Gary]

Odd they provide Lantiq chipsets in ECI modems and yet don't support that chipset...