Most of you will be aware that WSCC plan to start releasing the first details of the intended areas of 'spend' by BT in early spring. The roll-out is likely to be completed by 2017.
When I attended my last meeting at County on 'the plan', there was still no indication of how areas would be assessed for spend. I had pressed for 'the slowest first' but this was not liked. Although the money being spent is yours and mine, contributed through national and local taxes, I personally believe that BT will 'persuade' WSCC to 'cherry pick' those areas where the greatest take-up is likely to be - as they are doing elsewhere.
Take up of what, I hear you cry? If you have been paying attention, you will have noticed a gradual 'slide' in expectation from HMG from 'Super-fast broadband at 24mb+ to all' to the current DCMS (paraphrased) statement that "about 15mb for most at peak time will do as long as it feels like 15mb". What can the county realistically expect? Around 10% (hopefully less) will be given "at least 2mb" by means unknown - it could be through a big satellite dish on your house or a wireless connection. Those who are in a fibre area will either get that, or if 'connected', between 5mb and 78mb (depending on how far they are from a fibre cabinet, what the quality of their telephone cabling is and how many connections are placed in each cabinet.
Many of you will know I tried to get a real 'super-fast' (wireless) network in place last year - it could have been in operation by Christmas. The actual interest level in super-fast broadband displayed by the area - around 5% - both in terms of talking up such a service or indeed in registering in that BT scam "The Race to Infinity" (if you can remember that) ruled out such a network. As I said above, I suspect the allocation of spend under the BDUK scheme will be significantly influenced by BT's assessment of commercial return. Because of this I do not hold out a lot of hope for this exchange area - I hope I am wrong, since having abandoned the 'go-it-alone' wireless route BT are now the only option we have and I believe if BT look at the 5% provisional take-up here they will walk away and go somewhere else. As I say, I hope I am wrong.
As you now know, our exchange (West C, Thakeham and Nutbourne) has been placed in phase 1 of the WSCC roll-out and work is well under way, so we are 'lucky', and our money is being spent on us! As of May 2014, all cabinets are physically in place. Tie-lines between PCP and Fibre Cabinets are being blown though. Left to do are running fibre to each cabinet - a bigger task for some cabinets than others - fitting the minimum number of VDSL cards in the cabinets, enabling the actual exchange for fibre and lastly connecting those customers who want HSB. The time for all this will probably vary per cabinet and customer, as will achievable speeds. After this, any further expansion of service above the 20-25% minimum is subject to BT's budget. Again, time unknown.
For these reasons it now becomes ESSENTIAL that you establish your current performance to see if BT 'think' you are already at 2mb+ or not - for obvious reasons, because if they 'think' you are and we do not get widespread super-fast broadband from the scheme, you will be deemed to be 'adequate' for the 2mb band.
I have serious concerns which I have taken up with BT, OfCom and BDUK, over the BT speed assessments on which I assume this judgement will be made. So far no resolution - and we are talking MONTHS! I will demonstrate with one of our villagers who lives on Harbolets Road. This is the result of the BT speed check for that line (of which more later)
You will note that BT think this line might be able to receive up to 3.5mb. (The West Chiltington exchange is 'WBC ADSL2+' enabled). Until I challenged this analysis a couple of years ago by emailing the CEO of BT to complain, BT reckoned this line could receive "up to 4.5mb". You will note it has now 'dropped' to 3.5 as a result of my challenge. The question no-one seems willing to answer in BDUK is whether this line will be assessed by BT as being sub or over the 2mb point, with significant implications for the customer, since all this customer has ever received over the telephone line is 'dial-up' at around 30kb!! In fact a BT engineer who we called out for a laugh to assess the actual potential said "You must be joking, love, you will not even smell broadband out here". For those with a technical understanding of the issue, the line is 5km from the cabinet which is 4km from the exchange.
So, to you and your line. You should visit the BT Wholesale 'speed check' site at BT Wholesale and conduct your own test. It is best to enter your address for an accurate assessment. You also need to find out the speed at which your router is 'syncing' with the exchange broadband (more later). It is important to stress that this speed will NOT be the same as the speed you get at your computer - that will be less, and may be significantly less if, for example, you have internal house wiring issues or an 'old' computer. However, this 'sync' speed is important as it is incontrovertible evidence of what you are capable of getting out of BT right now. Note I say 'BT' because no matter who you are paying for your fixed-line broadband, it is essentially BT 'supplied' broadband you are getting. The BT Wholesale check is of interest too, especially where you may or may not fall into the '2mb+' box.
Sync speed
All routers have a control panel you can access through your browser. This will show the speed at which your line is 'synced' with the exchange. This is the absolute MAXIMUM speed you will be able to get at your computer. I cannot possibly help 2050 subscribers find this information on any one of 100 or more different routers. So, do a bit of Googling on your router, find that elusive 11 year-old nephew who is computer literate, or 'phone a friend'. If, after all that, you are still stuck, I will see if I have time to help, but no promises. The last problem in this area that I see is that there does not appear to be any idea in HMG as to how the post-roll-out speeds will be assessed. How on earth County will be able to assess whether the £6million+ has given 'value for money' I know not.