BT FTTC (Infinity) To Double Speed In 2012

[Ignitionnet]

Just a quick snippet from BT's results:

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/story/201...c-service.html

The BT Group has today released its latest financial results to 31st March 2011 (Q1), which reveal that the operator plans to double the speed of its superfast FTTC broadband service to 80Mbps in 2012 and should reach 100Mbps in the future.

BT informs us that the new FTTC speeds will be achieved by increasing the VDSL spectrum allocation within the Access Network Frequency Plan (ANFP) from 7MHz to 17MHz. This does not require new hardware (extra cost) and is not dependent on ‘vectoring’, which some of the newer DSL technologies are.

We've also been told that FTTC upload speeds could be boosted up to 20Mbps, although an official figure has yet to be decided.

The noteworthy thing about this is that once BT have permission to do this from Ofcom they have to do nothing apart from pretty much flick a switch to change the VDSL profile.

80Mbit downstream, 20Mbit upstream is probably close enough to VM's 100Mbit down, 10Mbit up to make them feel somewhat threatened in the speed stakes and BT will be up to >100Mbit downstream, 20Mbit upstream with their FTTC with firmware upgrades.

Interesting time ahead, and if you doubt the impact of BT's Infinity / FTTC already just look at the price of 50Mbit.

[craigj2k12]

good speeds, particularly upload.

should give VM a run for their money as the bt FTTC is cheaper than VM and has lower ping/jitter etc, not to mention a proper p2p management policy that doesnt kill gaming

[MadGamer]

So will this come at an extra charge to the customer, or will it be a free upgrade

[nick2xuk]

Originally Posted by MadGamer

So will this come at an extra charge to the customer, or will it be a free upgrade

Why would it be a free upgrade?

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by MadGamer

So will this come at an extra charge to the customer, or will it be a free upgrade

I have absolutely no idea. It was BT Openreach who announced the increase, how much they charge ISPs for it and how much those ISPs then charge you is a different matter.

I struggle to imagine it being a free upgrade though especially given that BT Retail charged no more for Infinity than the standard deals.

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

Just a quick snippet from BT's results:

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/story/201...c-service.html





The noteworthy thing about this is that once BT have permission to do this from Ofcom they have to do nothing apart from pretty much flick a switch to change the VDSL profile.

80Mbit downstream, 20Mbit upstream is probably close enough to VM's 100Mbit down, 10Mbit up to make them feel somewhat threatened in the speed stakes and BT will be up to >100Mbit downstream, 20Mbit upstream with their FTTC with firmware upgrades.

Interesting time ahead, and if you doubt the impact of BT's Infinity / FTTC already just look at the price of 50Mbit.

I know its having an impact but bear in mind in various areas still the competition to VM is just crappy adsl. What switches can BT flick to make adsl faster?

[ErnieBean]

That is very fast, but they need to compete with VM's TV channels

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

I know its having an impact but bear in mind in various areas still the competition to VM is just crappy adsl. What switches can BT flick to make adsl faster?

Some exchanges still need to be 21CN Enabled to get up to 24Mbps

[Ignitionnet]

Doesn't have a massive impact on areas a long way from the exchange, which is probably what Chrys was referring to.

ADSL2+ from BT is worth avoiding if good LLU options are available.

[Welshchris]

i did read somewhere a few weeks ago BT were looking to increase the 40mb to 60mb and also release a 110mb service to beat Virgin on speed.

[Ignitionnet]

110Mb = FTTP. Very, very low availability. The 40Mb was originally mooted to be increased to 60Mb however they've had an extra 10MHz of bandwidth opened up to them as of next year and using that will help a great deal.

[Jameseh]

VM's 200MB is being tested now though isn't it?

[deathtrap3000]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

110Mb = FTTP. Very, very low availability. The 40Mb was originally mooted to be increased to 60Mb however they've had an extra 10MHz of bandwidth opened up to them as of next year and using that will help a great deal.

Some of the roads near me have been marked with fttp on the pavements. Im assuming they are going to be putting fibre in the ducting there.

[jrhnewark]

As far as I can tell, FTTC and VM infrastructures are very, very different. FTTC at 40Mb/s seems more attractive to me than VM's (somewhat "you might, if you're very lucky, at some point at 3am, get full speed to the 'net") 100Mb/s.

[Chrysalis]

From what I am reading 80mbit FTTC will be a luck of the draw service as well tho, 40mbit seemed to be a good strike as the vast majority of people get that speed but 80mbit looks like it may be back to adsl style line lottery.