Re: How can I find my cabinet number and when it w...

Question

Hi,
I've been told by BT help chat that my address can get BT Faster Broadband but not Infinity. I'm connected to the Trowbridge SSTRO exchange which is apparently "FTTC available in some areas")  Presumably that's to do with the distance of my house from either the exchange (2.2km) or the street cabinet (not sure which cabinet I'm connected to or where it is). If I've understood correctly, Faster Broadband uses the same fibre infrastructure as Infinity but because the speed can't be guaranteed as above 15Mb/s it can't be sold as Infinity. I am currently a Sky Talk subscriber so many of the BT utilities come back with an "number not recognised" error when I enter the phone number. So I guess I have 2 questions:
o If I take up Faster Broadband, how can I find out what speed I can actually expect?   
o How can I find out how long it will be before I can get the full Infinity service?
I might add that a friend of mine in Trowbridge (1.1km from SSTRO) has full Infinity.
Thanks for any help, Midsomerjambo

Answer 1

Hi midsomerjambo,
BT Infinity and BT Faster Unlimited  Broadband is just BT Retail's brandname for their fibre broadband service.
The reason why BT Retail say you can't get FTTC BT Infinity is because the FTTC estimation is below 15mbps.
However you should be able to get BT Faster Unlimited Broadband (FTTC) which is the same as BT Infinity FTTC but for those who have been estimated 15mbps or less on FTTC
BT Retail set a minimum speed required in order to get BT Infinity which is an FTTC estimation of 15mbps or above, if you have been estimated less than 15mbps for FTTC then you won't be able to get BT Infinity but may be given the choice of BT Faster Unlimited Broadband which still uses the same FTTC Openreach infrastructure and equipment .
What does it say for your landline number when you go to http://dslchecker.bt.com/adsl , If you don't have a BT Wholesale compatible number then you can check by your address by going to http://dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.AddressOutput (won't be as accurate as the landline number checker, but will give you an idea of the estimation speed)
FTTC fibre broadband uses VDSL or VDSL2 signals that travel from the FTTC cabinet to your property via the existing copper (sometimes aluminium) line. The further away you are from your FTTC cabinet the slower the fibre FTTC broadband will be.
However VDSL/2 signals used for FTTC broadband connection degrade far quicker in terms of distance than conventional ADSL broadband signal do.
Generally speaking if your landline is over 1500 meters in length from the FTTC cabinet to your property then you may not be able to get BT Infinity as you may not be able to achieve over 15mbps from an FTTC service, though may be offered BT Retail's sub 15mbps FTTC service called BT Faster Unlimited Broadband.
Here is a graph that shows the ADSL(G.DMT,ADSL2 and ADSL2+) and VDSL/2 (FTTC) signal with distance. Please be aware that all ADSL connections are depend on distance from local exchange, where as FTTC (VDSL/2) connections are depend on distance from your FTTC (DSLAM) cabinet. Though all connection types are also depend on line quality.
This graph is also just a general estimation of what the speed could be achieved and not the actual speed you will receive. Also your line maybe longer than you would think as it may not go the direct way to either the cabinet or exchange.
As to your other question How can I find out how long it will be before I can get the full Infinity service?
The Openreach Superfast Fibre Broadband Scheme is being rolled out, done and managed by Openreach for ALL ISPs/CPs so BT Retail (a communication provider/ISP whom operates this forum) does not have much input or say whether Openreach will improve the FTTC fibre infrastructre in your area.
Unless Openreach (who owns and maintain the fibre broadband infrastructure in your exchange area) either installs a new PCP and Dslam cabinet nearer to your property, or you order FTTPoD (Fibre to the Premisies On Demand) [not currently being supported by any ISP] which may cost you thousands, then I'm afraid it may be several years or so until the FTTC fibre infrastructure is improved by Openreach.
Hope that helps,
Cheers
jac_95 | BT.com Help Site | BT Service Status
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