Dublin - Virgin Media letter about fibre rollout

mrcheez

I was under the impression that all fibre rollouts were being handled by Eir, but I got a letter in the post from Virgin Media saying that _they_ will be upgrading the cabling in our estate as part of the fibre-upgrade.

Is that just Virgin Media claiming they are responsible for the upgrade (and so try to get customers early) or are some of the upgrades being done by Virgin Media?

degsie

I'd imagine this is just fibre to the distribution cabinets. Coax still to homes.

mrcheez

degsie wrote: »

I'd imagine this is just fibre to the distribution cabinets. Coax still to homes.

The letter mentioned that cables from the cabinets to the homes would be upgraded, so is Virgin probably handling this part?

ED E

Its the HFC network, fibre as close as a box on a neighbors wall. As COAX is way better than POTS it will allow you up to 360Mb now and much more next year.

Most likely your area is still on 30Mb legacy kit right now. Or TV only.

EDIT:

mrcheez wrote: »

The letter mentioned that cables from the cabinets to the homes would be upgraded, so is Virgin probably handling this part?

Thats interesting. It could be poor cabling or they might be trialing GPON/FTTH? Can you post a copy of the letter?

mrcheez

Our area is ADSL-only at the moment. I get 2MB on a good day.

So it must be that Virgin Media are taking the task of upgrading the wiring from the cabinets to all the houses. Interesting.

mrcheez

ED E wrote: »

Thats interesting. It could be poor cabling or they might be trialing GPON/FTTH? Can you post a copy of the letter?

Don't have the letter on me at the moment unfortunately. Yep I'd say the cabling is a tad dated. Even the ADSL would drop for no apparent reason.

loyatemu

mrcheez wrote: »

Don't have the letter on me at the moment unfortunately. Yep I'd say the cabling is a tad dated. Even the ADSL would drop for no apparent reason.

Its a completely separate network to the phone network, so nothing to do with ADSL.

mrcheez

loyatemu wrote: »

Its a completely separate network to the phone network, so nothing to do with ADSL.

So would they need to dig up the road to plant the new cabling? There's no cable in our estate.

Or would cables be run across the eaves? All houses are terraced.

ED E

mrcheez wrote: »

Or would cables be run across the eaves? All houses are terraced.

Thats common with UPC/Virgin. Sometimes they'll run them on garden walls instead where appropriate.

Fingers crossed next door doesnt object.

mrcheez

ED E wrote: »

Fingers crossed next door doesnt object.

That's quite possible ... a lot of grumpy elderly folk on the road :rolleyes:

If it came to it, would they dig up the road? I wouldn't have a problem with it, but I do know there is a huge demand for broadband amongst the younger residents (myself included as I struggle working from home on the 2MB connection)

ED E

Historically no. One grumpy neighbor delayed us by at least 5yrs if not more. Pretty sure BK has a similar story.

loyatemu

if they've said they're "upgrading" the cabling that would imply there is cable there already.

They're doing this in Greystones at the moment - there's an old analogue cable system in the town that dates from the 1970s. Most people use Sky but the old cables are still on every house so Virgin have been going around replacing the cables, installing cabinets and manholes. They've done some road works for the manholes but they haven't had to dig up the streets so I assume the old system already has underground ducts that they're reusing for the new fibre....

mrcheez

loyatemu wrote: »

if they've said they're "upgrading" the cabling that would imply there is cable there already.

I think they mentioned running cables across the houses... I'll have to dig out the letter this weekend to confirm.

I'm 100% sure there is no cabling in the estate.

mrcheez

So seeing as Virgin Media are putting the cabling outside our houses, I'm assuming this doesn't mean I'm restricted to using their service initially and can just as well go for any other provider?

The letter says "We will be in your neighbourhood to upgrade you to our fibre power network... Virgin Media cable crews will only need access to the outside of your home, where they will install the new cable"

It sounds like it's locked down to their network.. but perhaps they just want to emphasise that THEY are doing the work so I owe it to them to use them?


.

ED E

Virgin are not part of the USO, do not have SMP and operate their HFC network for them.

Eir: Anyone
SIRO: Vodafone + Anyone who later wants to join
Virgin: Virgin

They'll lay COAX cables that only they get to use.

5starpool

I live in D15 and we can't get virgin broadband here, but recently they did some work just outside my apartment building. Interesting to see if they are going to offer services here where there was none before. I can get nearly the full 100mb on fibre anyhow so it doesn't matter particularly, but interesting nonetheless.

mrcheez

ED E wrote: »

Virgin are not part of the USO, do not have SMP and operate their HFC network for them.

*blink* I've no idea what any of those acronyms stand for

ED E wrote: »

They'll lay COAX cables that only they get to use.

This part I understand. Ah well, lack of competition isn't too much of a worry I guess as they seem competitively-priced

degsie

ED E wrote: »

Virgin are not part of the USO, do not have SMP and operate their HFC network for them.
.

I'll give it a go...

USO = UNIFIED SOCIAL ORDER
SMP = SIGNALING METHPHYSICAL PROTOSOL
HFC = HIGH FALLUTIN' CABLE

Did I win?

ED E

Universal Service Obligation
Significant Market Power
Hybrid Fiber Coaxial

Close enough I guess

jca

degsie wrote: »

I'll give it a go...

USO = UNIFIED SOCIAL ORDER
SMP = SIGNALING METHPHYSICAL PROTOSOL
HFC = HIGH FALLUTIN' CABLE

Did I win?

High fallutin' cable... ha ha I'm cracking up here, so wrong,yet so right...brilliant.