Progress with BT
About 300 telephone numbers have been registered with BT broadband (although
their website currently shows only 257).
Despite attempts to get BT to give Balcombe a trigger level, we still
do not know if and when we will get one or what it will be.
BT have assured us that every part of the UK will eventually get broadband;
however, they will not say when or which kind.
Types of broadband
There are four ways broadband can be delivered to the consumer: cable,
ADSL, wireless and satellite.
Cable is good but we don't have it in the village.
ADSL is offered by BT and involves converting the telephone exchange.
The further you are from the telephone exchange, the poorer the service.
We don't know when or if we will get this.
Satellite is available to individuals but is relatively expensive, requires
a satellite dish and has a signal delay of several seconds (which restricts
its use).
Wireless is a good alternative to ADSL. It is just as fast, there are
no signal delays or distance limitations and it is easy to install.
What is wireless broadband?
Wireless broadband in Balcombe would be a network of 4 or 5 small aerials
fitted to rooftops spread throughout the village. Each customer has a
small radio receiver fitted to their house.
Who offers wireless broadband?
Several companies are introducing an alternative to BT broadband across
the UK. In our area, these are Invisible Networks and LTT.
Invisible Networks has installed wireless in the Cambridge area
and comes highly recommended by ICT Strategies (consultants in government
projects). They require £25 000 to £30 000 for the installation;
part of this may come from a government grant (we would need to bid for
this in two months time), the rest from 60+ customers, e.g. a grant of
£15 000 plus £200 from each customer (£49 if we get
a grant of £30 000). The consumer equipment can be used with other
wireless systems. Their basic package costs £30 pcm and the minimum
contract period is 3 months, although the more annual subscriptions the
better. They will be able to complete the installation 3 months after
sufficient firm orders are received.
LTT has installed wireless in Spain and Sweden, with work underway
in Belgium and the Netherlands. It has its own fibre network across Europe
and manufactures its own equipment, unlike most ISPs. Their aim is to
fill the gaps in BT coverage as soon as possible. They have plans to offer
wireless to Crawley and Haywards Heath, which makes us en route. They
require a minimum of 50 people to sign up before installation. Consumer
equipment costs £195 but there are plans to arrange the lease of
equipment (this equipment can only be used with LTT). Their basic package
costs £20 pcm and the minimum contract period is 1 month. They can
install wireless within 2 months of receiving sufficient orders.
As a comparison, BT broadband costs £50 to install (current special
offer), £30 pcm and a one year contract.
Decision time
At present, we have three options.
1. Wait for BT. We don't know how long this will be or what kind of broadband
we will get.
2. Compete for a government grant in two months time, sign up for Invisible
Networks and get broadband within 6 months.
3. Sign up for LTT and get broadband within two months.
With options 2 and 3, it would be possible to switch to BT; however, both
companies aim to offer a service comparable to BT.
Register your intention to sign up for broadband
If you wish to sign up for broadband click here
and complete the online form.
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