Orange re-bundles broadband

[DorsetBoy]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/16/orange_bundling/

Orange is to give up running its own broadband network, and will rebundle its service to leave BT Wholesale to compete with itself.

Orange will hand over its existing infrastructure to BT Wholesale, and will continue to operate as a bundled broadband provider in the same mould as Vodafone, Tesco and the dozen or so other ISPs that resell BT's connectivity.

For years the internet service providers fought with BT for access to the local exchanges so they could fit their own ADSL connections. Unlike the previous generation of modems, which could connect a customer directly from their home to the ISP's offices, ADSL can only connect the user to the local exchange, and as long as BT had the keys to that exchange no-one else could sell ADSL.

The process of permitting other ISPs into the exchange is known as "Local Loop Unbundling", and these days the keys to the exchanges are owned by BT OpenReach, and almost every exchange in the UK is now open to other ISPs. In fact many exchanges remain exclusive to BT Wholesale for economic reasons - only BT has the necessary scale.

Orange isn't the first company to decide that duplicating the kit isn't worthwhile. Most operators unbundle the more-popular exchanges then resell BT everywhere else......(more)

[Gary]

I never thought they did that well anyway 

[Rik]

They didn't.

[Gary]

So what happens to their LLU customers?

[adamr8965]

was never impressed by there bb packages, but there mobile contracts are very very good.

[Rik]

So what happens to their LLU customers?

I guess they become BT customers, indirectly, Gary.

[Gary]

I guess they become BT customers, indirectly, Gary.

Orange bit off more than they could chew, so that means all the nasty BT shaping and throttling will happen now to Orange, oh sorry it did already 

[Rik]

 

I've a friend with Orange, I'll be interested to see how he makes out.

[DorsetBoy]

My neighbour is on Orange 8mb (but not the LLU ) and he is a VERY heavy user, he often uses over 200 Gig a month,they have 3 machines on all day and download games,ripped DVD's and pirated software all the time, they never get any speed variations and have never been told they use to much,cost is only £10.00/month as an add on to a phone contract.

Despite the Indian call centre he thinks they are great.

[Rik]

Like so many, until things go wrong, he doesn't need any more.

[Technical Ben]

My neighbour is on Orange 8mb (but not the LLU ) and he is a VERY heavy user, he often uses over 200 Gig a month,they have 3 machines on all day and download games,ripped DVD's and pirated software all the time, they never get any speed variations and have never been told they use to much,cost is only £10.00/month as an add on to a phone contract.

Despite the Indian call centre he thinks they are great.

Wow. I wish I had known of the pricing and unlimited downloads before I went to O2. Not that I've got anything against IDNet. But I was too scared of Orange BB being a flop, and regretted going to O2.

[Rik]

Where's the Spanish Inquisition when you need them.

[adamr8965]

i thought idnetters was for people using idnet only, anyone that left idnet suddenly vanished from the radar shortly after?

[Rik]

No. We're obviously closely tied to IDNet, but we are independent of them. We never turn people away because they have left, or are not even customers. If we can help, whatever the issue, we will.

[adamr8965]

i was only winding you up rik,

[Rik]

I'm always deadpan.

[Simon]

i thought idnetters was for people using idnet only, anyone that left idnet suddenly vanished from the radar shortly after?

We have our contacts...  

[Rik]

[adamr8965]

yeah if riks late online in the morning we know why.

[Rik]

It will be because I am still snoring gently.

[adamr8965]

gently? i hear a distant rumble on the m1

[Rik]

That would be Sue.

[Simon]

[Rik]

Only if she reads this thread, or you tell her.

[Simon]

Just pop a cheque in the post, and you'll be fine.