Re: Huge network investment
 

Do you actually think Mockridge doesn't understand the difference between a twisted pair and coax?

In point of fact, that paragraph doesn't even quote his direct words, it's a paraphrase, summarised by the hack who wrote the article.

Re: Huge network investment
 

I'm sure he does , I merely quoted it because the same line is used on the website and on much of the advertising I've seen.

Even people in the industry have questioned the way its advertised.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...bre-optic.html

Re: Huge network investment
 

That's because while Mockridge understands the difference, the average punter doesn't. 'copper' and 'fibre' have been acceptable shorthand for the difference between UK cable networks and BT's last mile for decades. It may be hopelessly inaccurate but neither Ofcom nor the ASA have ever raised any objection.

Re: Huge network investment
 

That may be changing, similar to when VM were told they couldn't advertise their broadband as unlimited. Where they could change the traffic management slightly to get around the issue before, they won't be able to do the same when it comes to the point that fibre means fibre to the property. It will be interesting when only BT and a few independent can advertise their fibre products.

Re: Huge network investment
 

If I remember rightly only a few years ago Sky and BT tried to stop VM advertising their cable BB product as fibre optic, but failed. Now Sky have no problem calling the same sort of hybrid product while piggybacking on BT's network as fibre optic! The other FTTC providers too.

Are these still accurate or relevant?

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2014/06/12.jpg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2014/06/13.jpg

Re: Huge network investment
 

Are you suggesting that VM may call their hybrid network fibre but Sky and BT may not? The others followed VM's lead.

The images are wrong from the start as it says cable is a superior technology. DOCSIS has a lot of limitations and VM's network is more susceptible to things like congestion at local nodes compared to Openreach based fibre which has so many Gigabit links or something from the cabinet. Then there is upload speeds where VM is far inferior. The only thing they have is top download speed over FTTC really.

Re: Huge network investment
 

VM's organisation is still chaotic.

I cancelled my account 10 months ago due to emigrating to the States.

Today I get this e-mail:
:rolleyes:

Re: Huge network investment
 

Err... it's a phishing attempt

http://netreport.virginmedia.com/netreport/

Re: Huge network investment
 

In my recent experience it's worse than ever. I've spoken to 4 people recently about kahuna upgrades. All 4 people either didn't know what they were doing or lied. My bill has changed daily for about a week. I eventually gave up calling and wrote a letter, the person who called me to resolve the issue was rude, didn't understand the problem and came up with some convoluted billing change that I didn't understand or trust but I'd lost the will to live at this point.

Re: Huge network investment
 

That was one of the things that I found shocking while with Virgin. Never ever had a company lie to me in the way Virgin Media media did and so many times. Pretty much every department too, from the the day I signed up. Sales told me I would get something as part of the deal which I never got and when chased I was told they wouldn't tell me that as they can't offer it. When I told them to check the call they said they wouldn't have recordings of it, which is either another lie or why sales feel they can get away with lieing to gain customers. Then support lied to me many times about many things. Even one of the so called CEO department reps blatantly lied to me. Even when leaving the retentions woman lied to me. Another lie she told me was just down to not having the knowledge but when I explained that VM is fibre to the cabinet and copper to the house she insisted I was wrong and she knew better. We know VM carry this lie through most departments tough.

I highly recommend you record any calls you make with Virgin. I wish I had!

Re: Huge network investment
 

Wonder how much of a bonus he got for that?

---------- Post added at 01:51 ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 ----------

Probably not, the same way the BT CEO probably doesnt

Re: Huge network investment
 

Err no, I cant see how I suggested that. Simply pointing out the hypocrisy of said ISPs.

The images are no completely wrong. For example the distance point is a good point as VM more often than not deliver advertised speeds, while on FTTC there are always massive variations. As for congestion, it does point out that fibre deep access can be split as demand rise, which I assume as a simpleton is when they split the node. The reports of network congestion are nowhere as common as they were some years ago, even at greater speeds and no STM on downloading.

The bandwidth point is another good point of how cable can deliver HD, VOD, BB and more without affecting your internet speed. As for upload speeds, if VM return to their 10:1 ratio then their top upload speed would only be 4Mb lower than FTTC. There's also DOCSIS 3.1 around the corner with promises of greater upload speeds.

Re: Huge network investment
 

Cable networks are superior to FTTC-based VDSL 2 networks. Had Openreach prised open their vice-like buttocks and invested seriously rather than spending the bare minimum they would be competitive, as it is they will perhaps hit 100Mb if you live very close to the cabinet but no more for years.

VM laugh at the speeds Openreach offer everywhere besides 62,000 premises in Cornwall, where they received subsidies, and another 30-40,000 premises elsewhere in the rest of the country, some of that subsidised, right now.

There is no real drive for VM to do a massive network investment. The competition, broadband speeds wise, is a joke and relies on add-ons and pricing to compete, not network.

Re: Huge network investment
 

Yes, I checked the headers:

Clever one though, looked very authentic.

Re: Huge network investment
 

VM only competes in half the country so I can see a need for it to invest in this respect.