BT tests water with rural ADSL project

dahamsta · 12-02-2003 11:04pm #1

The Register

BT is to confirm next month whether it will proceed with a scheme that could bring ADSL to areas currently deemed not commercially viable for investment in broadband.

Last autumn the telco began a trial of a community broadband project, which makes it financially possible to convert an exchange to ADSL with just 16 customers.

The initiative, known as ADSL Exchange Activate or Community Broadband, also uses "sponsors" such as development agencies and local authorities to help subsidise the cost of rolling out the ADSL service.

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SkepticOne · 13-02-2003 3:56am

I would be against any money going to Eircom in this manner in Ireland. They cannot be trusted.

dahamsta · 13-02-2003 8:56am

And BT can? I have no objection to /any/ scheme as long as there's oversight. Course, that's a term Irish politicians have difficulty understanding...

adam

bk · 13-02-2003 10:41am

See TheReg here it looks like BT have changed and are now aggressively pursuinf bb. Perhaps there is hope for Eircom after all if they follow BTs lead.

But I won't hold my breath (I'd probably go blue and fall over).

SkepticOne · 13-02-2003 10:52am

Originally posted by dahamsta
And BT can? I have no objection to /any/ scheme as long as there's oversight. Course, that's a term Irish politicians have difficulty understanding...

I would not trust either company tbh, but Eircom seem to go out of their way to pull a fast one. Look at the price of ADSL and the numbers failing the line test. I would be against subsidising the upgrading of exchanges at current prices. They have said they will be bringing out a lower priced ADSL service and rolling it out to a total of 1 million exchanges. Let them do that and if the service is not sh!te, then and only then, should the government consider giving any money to these people. Let Eircom prove they can be trusted first.

Another example is these wireless licences. Does anyone know where these services are available. Eircom signed on the dotted line saying they would be available yet make no effort to advertise their services.

dahamsta · 13-02-2003 12:36pm

Gods Mike, you don't think I trust Eircom, do you? I'm deeply offended!

Seriously, schemes like these and many more should be encouraged, as long as proper oversight and accountability is built into the agreement from day one. Obviously this is unworkable, because Eircom are too wise to sign up to something with proper oversight and accountability, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Seriously again, it would be good policy for the Goverment and Opposition to propose schemes like this, again and again. Eircom is unlikely to take them up, but it puts the Goverment and Opposition in a good position to paint the company as uncooperative.

adam

SkepticOne · 13-02-2003 12:42pm

Originally posted by dahamsta
Seriously again, it would be good policy for the Goverment and Opposition to propose schemes like this, again and again. Eircom is unlikely to take them up, but it puts the Goverment and Opposition in a good position to paint the company as uncooperative.

Alternatively, they should pump money into alternative to ADSL like possible broadband over powerlines, wireless etc.

Fear would then motivate Eircom to provide services that are vaguely competitive.

Also, I meant 1 million lines, not 1 million exchanges in my post above.

BT tests water with rural ADSL project

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