Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

UK's Openreach admits 50k premises on 'gigabit-capable' FTTP network can't get gigabit speeds

330Mbps will have to do. Boohoo

Openreach has admitted that 50,000 premises covered by its fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network can only get speeds of up to 330Mbps rather than the much-touted 1Gbps.

As of the last quarter, some 1.5 million homes are covered by the BT broadband division's FTTP network. The problem has come to light as more folk sign up to the service.

Fibre broadband

BT to up targets for FTTP rollout 'if the right conditions are met'

READ MORE

It's a legacy issue – kit from manufacturer ECI, which BT invested in 10 years ago, is slowing parts of the network down.

ISP Review first broke news of the issue and appears to have been on the money when it correctly estimated the number of premises affected.

Andrew Ferguson of ThinkBroadband said the hardware has not proved capable. "The problem is with the ECI head-ends, where all the traffic comes together [in the exchange]."

He said Openreach is using Huawei head-ends for the rest of its network, which supports 10Gbps links. However, the ECI gear does not.

The speed issue is affecting premises across the country, including in Leeds, Exeter and in and around London.

One customer, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Reg: "They continue to build ECI-constrained stuff.

"The property we're buying, to be completed early next year, will be constrained to 330."

He added: "It's a tad embarrassing doing 330Mbps over ultrafast, uber, super-duper FTTP when the competition are selling 350 and 500Mbps over a hybrid network.

"Going from faster cable to slower FTTP will be odd."

An Openreach spokesman said: "Only a tiny proportion of our FTTP footprint, covering less than 50,000 premises, is limited to 330Mbps download speeds – and we're constantly working on ways to upgrade and extend our network.

"We're investing billions of pounds into FTTP ahead of widespread consumer demand, and all of our current and future build is capable of offering gigabit speeds."

Openreach has plans to deploy full-fibre to 4 million homes by 2021, with BT making noises about 15 million by around 2025. However, Ofcom has criticised this figure as "not a firm commitment".

Snail on a leaf... looking surprised (yes, that's possible). Photo by SHUTTERSTOCK

March 2020: When you lucky, lucky Brits will have a legal right to a minimum of... 10Mbps

READ MORE

The regulator is keen to see Britain's pitiful fibre network improve from its current penetration of just 7 per cent of premises. ®

 

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like