I want to switch from BT as contacting them is a pain! Looks like Sky is just as bad!?

[DaveDD]

I'm not a Sky customer, never been with them ever.  I've been with BT for years but they've recently provided rubbish service (over an hour on a phone just to cancel a second SIM on my account).

I found an offer for "NOW Superfast" on comparethemarket.com.  When I click to access the deal though, it changs the offer to only full-fibre offers.  I want the hybrid offer I clicked!

Astonishingly, I can't find any way to get Sky to contact me about deals they can offer; I'm certainly not calling you at my expese!

I can only assume Sky are not interested in gaining new customers, what a joke.  I'll look elsewhere.

[TimmyBGood]

@DaveDD 

New orders for part-fibre (optical to copper) circuits using ADSL, G.fast and FTTC are no longer available to properties within reach of Openreach FTTP infrastructure: this includes  when switching ISP.

At such addresses even Superfast speed bands are delivered over a full fibre connection, which will be provisioned as part of the switch.

[DaveDD]

Well I'm not interesting in having an engineer in my house installing a new socket.

I have fibre to cabinet then standard copper to my property which works perfectly well for me thanks.

[TimmyBGood]

@DaveDD 

That's currently your choice: eventually there won't be any option to remain on copper.  It does mean you won't be able to switch ISP or benefit from the lower pricing of optical broadband products.

[TimmyBGood]

@DaveDD 

I'd also observe that BT currently is moving its domestic customers to its EE-branded service and that might well involve a non-negotiable full fibre installation.

[DaveDD]

Ok, thanks.  I've just looked up some more information.  I hadn't realised everyone was being forced to switch to FTTP.  I live in a leasehold flat so heaven knows how possible \ practicle it is to run fibre into my property.  I assume that would mean digging up the communal garden to run new cables!

I guess I'll have to begin the process of battling with BT to see what's possible.

[TimmyBGood]

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@DaveDD wrote:

  I hadn't realised everyone was being forced to switch to FTTP. 

Copper phone pairs is a Victorian technology*: it's really long past time they were retired.

I live in a leasehold flat so heaven knows how possible \ practicle it is to run fibre into my property.  I assume that would mean digging up the communal garden to run new cables!

Thats something all property owners are going to have to deal with, whether they like it or not.  The current Openreach target is to have FTTP within reach of all commercially viable addresses by the end of 2026.

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* Alexander Graham Bell patented copper twisted pairs in 1881

[DaveDD]

Copper phone pairs are Victorian/Edwardian technology: it's really long past time they were retired.

I can appreciate that viewpoint.  Personally I don't think newer always means better.  Sure, fibre of course gives faster speeds, but my current setup is more than enough for now and probably a good few years to come.

Given the choice between a 1970's car and a modern electric vehicle... if a fault develops I can fix the former myself, the later requires super expensive computers and infrastructure to diagnose and repair.  Some call that advancement 😉

[TimmyBGood]

@DaveDD 

Copper strung from poles or buried underground is hugely more susceptible to general ageing, joint failure, galvanic corrosion, water-related electrical faults and weather damage, while being limited to low bandwidth over any significant distance: about a kilometer from the local cabinet is the realistic limit for FTTC in modern usage.

Almost as if it was never intended to carry data, really ; )

[DaveDD]

In which case I'd say it's done remarkably well to provide what it has 🙂

I'm still getting 60+ down and 15 up which is more than enough for my needs.

I remember getting our first dial-up connection on a modem when I was a kid.  It was then upgraded to ADSL which was cutting edge at the time.  That property is in a village 4 miles from the exchange and my Dad who still lives there, has only just got FTTP this year!  Prior to that he was lucky to get 3MB down - now that's like stepping out of the dark ages!

[TimmyBGood]

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@DaveDD wrote:

In which case I'd say it's done remarkably well to provide what it has

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Absolutely: FTTC is a marvel, given Messers Edison and Bell would recognise the copper pair it arrives on.

Unfortunately the average 56Mbs available over FTTC (from the maximum 80Mbs but reduced by distance from the cabinet, as below) isn't now 'enough' for a household with more than a couple of UHD video streaming client devices in use simultaneously.