Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

If it takes that long to cable a area no wonder it so expensive :D

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Where are you?
Im still getting no joy from VM regarding timescales.
Cheers

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I wonder if Cable will expand into Bangor Co.Down?

VM claimed there would be an announcement towards the end of 2009 about the expansion of the network.

If this isn't towards the end of the year, we must be damned close to it.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

well just rang vm up to see whats avalible and i can get there 50 meg service now im in the le31qp area

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Where they say it is too expensive to upgrade Westminster and Milton Keynes and any other analogue franchise, I'm sure the goverment ran a scheme offering Digital TV broadcasters money for converting users to Digital, so maybe if this is still ongoing, maybe Virgin Media should consider using the money to pay for the upgrade???

And maybe it's time for the goverment to intervene on the issue of Digital TV in Westminster. The amount of people I know that have so many issues getting decent TV reception, even Sky, most buildings aren't permitted or equipped with satellite TV nor terrestrial TV basics.

The Analogue Cable service in the area is crap, even if you don't want to pay for it, its stillm poor, bad picture plus a load of scrambled channels. What was Westminster Council thinking when they had this rubbish installed and handed over control to BT!

And if BT don't want Virgin Media to offer Digital TV over the network, then why don't BT take it back! They are gonna leave residents with a lot of hassle! BT can do it since they no longer have shares in BskyB. It would be better than that BT Vision or Tiscali rubbish thats on offer.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Sorry mate, imho there is no mission of that happening.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

How come mate?

It's a fairly big town and I was told by a local (i only recently moved their) that the main cable trunk was laid into Bangor years ago, but never expanded into streets to make it available.

But I don't know if that is true or not, it was just one of my neighbours saying so.

The ADSL is terrible, I was with VM when living in Belfast and the cable broadband was brilliant (in comparison).

Aww well, Looks like I'll have to rely on BT upgrading their services.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

The trunking is laid down to there, but I personally don't see them spending the money to cable all of Bangor. I am from Belfast and know what size it is.

I think the expansion is more areas that are currently beside on-net areas, like new developements.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Ahh so it's more like filling in blank spaces rather than expanding it's network in the purest sense?

Incidently I don't care about cabling all of Bangor, my house would do :D

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I'm sure VM would cable every house in the UK if it was commercially viable, but in some areas they'd never recoup the cost of laying the cables. They are still paying for the cables laid down in the 90's.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

and probally willbe for the next 25 years unless someone buys them out and pays off the debt and allow virign to start ot make profits which they would if they never had the debt (i know they make profits now but small comapred to wha they make if they never had debts~)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Aye, that's what you get for becoming a Bangorian! ;)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Contractors here again over the last few days pulling 20+year old cables from the ducts from the cabs to the houses.

Looks like we might have some good news in the new year (fingers crossed!)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

That's it, your on my hit list.

You can call me anything you want, but a Bangorian:mad:

:D

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

There are a number of steps of reducing costs.

Sharing ducts with BT,Electricity companies or even sewers and underground waterways.
Cabling areas without Telephone infrustructures
Overhead Cabling

Another way is to get assistance from local authorities, as the digital switchover is coming,local authorities want people to have access to a decent range of resources, therefore it could work out like a part privatised scheme.

Other ways is to charge approximately £100 per customer per new installation, but this is not very attractive, otherways is making people sign up for contracts lasting a lot longer than 12,18 or 24 months, why not 36 or 72 months, that way churning is low and even when customers are halfway through there contracts, there is always new customers joining,so there is always money coming in.

There is an independent Cable company called Smallworld Media which operates in the North West of England and parts of Scotland and it covers approximately 48,000 potential homes, it does not currently offer On Demand but does offer cheaper Cable Broadband than Virgin Media, maybe its worth Virgin Media acquiring that to cover that big black spot.

Other areas to look at are:

City of London

Barbican (Sandwiched in between Islington and City of London)

City of Westminster (Particularly the North of the Borough and around Mayfair and Pimlico.

Aberdeen

Inverness????

Clacton-On-Sea/Harwich

Margate???

South West of England

Kingston-upon-Hull???

Then there are Digital blackspots in cities such as:

Southampton
Slough
Leicester
Bolton
Some parts of Hammersmith&Fulham

I have not included Westminster and Milton Keynes because they are completely Analogue.

It is possible for Westminster and Milton Keynes to be upgraded as back in 1993, BT sold all of its cable operations except Westminster and Milton Keynes. Barbican I think became Telewest/Cable London. BT intended on keeping those to areas to trial out new products and services such as Video on Demand,HD and other Digital TV services. Because a small part of Westminster wasn't cabled and because they then bought shares in BskyB, they had to get rid of it and as usual NTL took over it in 2000, then from 2002,everything came to a standstill and channels started disappearing bit by bit, There is a need for these two franchises but is proving very expensive for Virgin Media to upgrade, BT is the main cause and Westminster City Council is another. BT charges heavily for the use of the cable network. NTL rolled out broadband to some parts of Westminster in 2003, whatever has become of this, I'm not sure.