Cable Forum - [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

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Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

You can't really count wholesale ADSL lines as equal to BT Openworld/BT Yahoo!/BT whatever customers. On a wholesale line BT provide the connection from the customer's house to the ISP's network. They do not provide access to the internet itself, they do not provide email/newsgroup/content etc, they do not provide technical support, they do not advertise.

Basically what they do provide is pretty similar to what they provided for dialup - and you wouldn't say everyone who dials up over a bt line gets their internet from BT.

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

ntl:Telewest do, in fact, do wholesale broadband - but it is only AOL who have taken them up on the offer, as other ISPs (quite rightly) think they can achieve better coverage by simply using BT Wholesale's DataStream or IPStream products without having to invest in lots of extra things!

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Well, it looks like one of the first casualties of the merger is those that are working for Telewest in Export House in Woking town centre.

From Digital Spy - http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds30250.html

Quote:

Telewest's headquarters at Export House in Woking are to close by the end of 2006.

"NTL and Telewest recently announced the completion of their merger agreement, creating the UK's largest provider of residential broadband and triple play services," reads a statement from the company. "We can confirm that we have selected ntl's existing site in Hook, Hampshire, as the enlarged company's head office. This means, regrettably, that we are proposing to close the Export House office in Woking by the end of 2006.

"Hook has been selected on the basis that it is a purpose built facility with existing capacity to accommodate future growth of the new business. We are working with all staff to ensure a smooth transition to the new office.

"Employees at Telewest have enjoyed working in Woking and we would like to thank the local community for their support."

The company moved into the 239ft high building on Causey Way in 2000 and still maintains a facility at the nearby Genesis Business Park.

750 jobs will be affected by the move but a Telewest spokesperson told Digital Spy this afternoon that "there are no plans to make any redundancies as a result of the closure of Export House," adding that the move "is part of a wider integration process which is creating a unified cable company and powerful force in the fast-changing UK telecommunications industry."

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntl customer

Well, it looks like one of the first casualties of the merger is those that are working for Telewest in Export House in Woking town centre.

That seems like a deliberately provocative way of putting it...

Very few (if any) staff will be made redundant as a direct result of closing Export House. I'm sure some people will choose not to make the move to Hook, and there might be some facilities layoffs (cleaners, buildings maintenence, etc.) , but saying "those that are working for Telewest in Export House" are casualties of the merger is not correct!

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Seems telewest staff are now handling some ntl customers, my sister rang up regarding her house move and had a telewest call centre.

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

how do you know it was a telewest call centre?

I find it hard to believe that they have trained staff in new products, systems and diagnostic tools in a week...

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

From what I've read from the official sites, both companies are being separate. A structure is in place to merge them but that will take months if not years to complete.

Since "Day One" I'm not aware of ntl taking any telewest calls and vice versa, at least this is the case in the Faults Management Centre and Customer Services.

Hope that helps :)

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Does ntl have a call centre in the newcastle area?

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Yes, in Teesside (Stockton) - they do provisioning/despatch, retentions and I think housemoves (not sure on the last one though).

If the customer in question was moving to a Telewest area, it's quite possible the ntl Moves & Transfers team put her through to Telewest sales as they have speed dials now.

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Teesside don't handle house moves but do also have 2nd line faults.

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

nah staying in leics, ironically I told her cancel and rejoin rather then move then get new customer offer.

so it may well have been a ntl call centre then, she told me it was first time they had that call centre (accent) and thought was telewest cause of merger so I assumed was also since telewest have call centres in north I think.

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Anyone remember Cable & Wireless? It has been years since NTL took over and until recently (or maybe still is), customers that were with Cable & Wireless were always known as ex Cable & Wireless - not NTL customers. So presumably the same will apply to Telewest customers.

Just a thought! ;)

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

There are still technical differences in the networks, the TV software looked totally different until last year and the channel numbering is still different.

Integration with Telewest should be easier though, because the Telewest network is similar to ntl's Bromley network.

Re: [Merged] So here it is, Merry Merger!

Quote:

Originally Posted by M. Brown

Yep, they still are known as ex-cwc in engineering circles ;)