Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

After complaining to Telewest about the new pricing structure I got this reply.

Thank you for your e-mail dated 20 December 2006.

I apologise for any inconvenience and confusion caused. Telewest Broadband aims for the highest standards of customer satisfaction and is disappointed when these are not met.

Our own packages and prices are under constant review to ensure we remain competitive. There are also a number of points to consider in any comparison of Telewest Broadband services, to those of our competitors.

It is important to consider ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) providers limitations due to their reliance upon traditional copper cable technology. Providers with the exemption of Blueyonder can only offer speeds of 'upto' 2MB etc, as signals travelling through copper cables degrade over distance, so your actual download speed is decreased as distance from the local exchange is increased. In addition this also results in an ADSL speed being more severely affected by net traffic at busy times, which will also slow the speed of your connection. Where as I do agree the offer along with other promotions from other providers do seem to provide a cheaper solution, their technology limitations will invariable result in an inferior service.

As Blueyonder operates on a superior Fibre Optic network we have the ability to be able to guarantee our customers their connection speeds and due to the nature of Fibre Optic technology we are virtually unaffected by net traffic within our own network.

Looking to the future our technology will enable us to increase our bandwidth speeds virtually without limit and are currently testing new Broadband connection speeds far in excess of the current market. Whereas our ADSL competitors are now reaching the end of copper cable based speed.

It is because of our investment in technologically advanced networks and infrastructure that our prices may be slightly higher than those of other providers. However, our customers reap the benefits of this investment in the quality of service we can provide.

Does this smack of MONOPOLY and is it time for other broadband suppliers to be allowed to use the cable networks in the same way they use the old BT system. Any thoughts.;)

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

The cable companies funded and built their networks themselves. Why on God's green earth should they be forced to open this network up to competitors?

The BT network on the other hand was largely built using taxpayers' money and then handed to private investors on a plate. One of the caveats to that back in the eighties was that eventually it would have to be opened up to competition.

Put it another way....if you saved up for years to buy a car, would you think it fair if the government ruled that three days a week you had to let your neighbour use it for free?

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

Well its not a monopoly if you consider it in terms of the services they provide.

Their main competitor for Phone and Broadband is BT. The fact that, as they rightly say BTs network is inherently inferior because of the copper last mile, isnt really NTL:Telewest's problem.

They also have several competitors for TV services including Sky, Freeview, and BT Vision

Whether the competition commission in their infinite wisdom see it the same way is another matter:rolleyes:

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

Why the hell should they have to. It's was privately funded from day one and should stay that way. If you want no investment, Inferior technology and a seriously bad attitude to customers go to BT otherwise stick with the best and long may it stay that way. :)

Want to know why there is going to be no upgrade to the last mile on BT.

LLU that's why.

BT will not upgrade the last mile so that some upstart company that has paid nothing in can come along and demand to use it and complain like made if there is any problems on it but pay nothing in to help fix it..

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

I presume that Sky should also not have a monopoly over their satellite TV systems, also privately funded.

The difference with the BT network is that it was publicly funded before the "privatisation" of Thatcher's government.

Ultimately thouhg we do have a choice, the choice may be between fundamentally different technologies, but it is a choice all the same that would not have been there had the private cable and TV networks not been built.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

Cable has no monopoly, its the only provider with a modern local loop but that doesnt make it a monopoly infact they have strict competition.

Phone - BT is a competitor in every area cable covers.
TV - SKY is a competitor and due to its financial strength and ownership of premium channels has an advantage.
Broadband - ADSL providers are all competitors.

BT on the other hand has a monopoly advantage because in almost all non cabled areas it has what you call a local loop monopoly, this local loop was publicly funded and hasnt had any major investment since BT was privatised. Even LLU lines all pay a portion of income to BT plc.

Sky has a monopoly in some areas where no cable and freeview coverage but this will diminish over time when BT vision becomes more common and freeview coverage increases.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

In my opinion I doubt Sky are really concerned about BT Vision. Its only freeview with extras.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

A monopoly has three characteristics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly

As has been stated, there are several substitutes available, therefore this is not a monopoly.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

I would agree with those who say that Virgin (as it is now called) don't have a Monopoly in the wider sense but for those that require a fast upload / download greater than BT is willing to provide do face no other alternative.

£35 for 10mb is far too much.

Does anyone have any prices for other countries?

I appreciate your opinions.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

Require for what? Medical reasons?

Surely the 10 meg service is aimed at gamers and those who download large files...

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

I agree. :D

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

In 5 to 10 years time when 100 meg will be the norm you will realise what a dumb point you have made.

Here is a report to prove the point. It is a little out of date but I don't belive the UK has caught up. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/pubs/ot...adband-markets

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

I think there is plenty of competition in the market and things are generally looking pretty good for the consumer.

There are still some areas of concern within telecoms (eg 0870 numbers) but as a general market forces are working well and producing high quality products at affordable prices.

I like my ntl service (TV, phone and broadband) and always have, and with my TV drive coming on Feb 24th it's going to get even better.

I've also got a BT line and I have the pick of a variety of decent call providers for that, all of which give me a great deal. My line rental is with BT - they have just lowered the cost of it. My calls are with Pipex - they have just lowered the cost of it.

No complaints here - I do very well out of a very competitive market and wouldn't want it any other way.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

This is interesting, but the following is more relevant: BSG Green Paper on 'Predicting UK Future Residential Bandwidth Requirements' http://www.broadbanduk.org/reports/B...ortfor_BSG.pdf

The main "drain" on bandwidth requirements are TV and video downloads - and P2P, of course. A minority of users "require" high bandwidths.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

Thank you for that. Very interesting.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

There are the LLU providers that do upto 24meg.

---------- Post added at 17:35 ---------- Previous post was at 17:32 ----------
So when can i have access to your car, Tv,Cooker,house and anything else you privately funded ?.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

SPOT ON

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

if ntl were made to open their network, then sky* would have to as well which as others have said were both privately funded and so shouldn't be

* by sky, channels are not included, i'm talking about the ability to use sky's satellites so send data

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

And their broadband network (previously known as EasyNet).

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

You can - Sky don;t work the satellite they just rent space on it. If you want to start a channel then ring Astra and talk to them. I can even add your channel to my Sky box if you like. :)

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:54 ----------

What the one that runs over BT cables - Ntl over Sky over BT! :disturbd:

Between the three have we any chance of a connection provided like that ever working? :rofl:

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

There is nothing to stop BT replacing their network with fibre optic cables, apart from the obvious cost implications. In South Wales the BT network is being totally overhauled in order to enable delivery of the speeds this letter talks about. It requires massive investment, planning and mounds of red tape.

The letter is very one sided, you don't have fibre optic to house, so this presents a big issue to the claims they make.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

"...Providers with the exemption of Blueyonder can only offer speeds of 'upto' 2MB etc,..."

"...As Blueyonder operates on a superior Fibre Optic network we have the ability to be able to guarantee our customers their connection speeds and due to the nature of Fibre Optic technology we are virtually unaffected by net traffic within our own network..."

Eh!...I assume from the above comments that Telewest customers always get full speed 24/7. If Telewest can do it, then why cant ntl give their customers a "guaranteed" connection speed instead of "up to"?

...or, as I suspect, is the above reply a tad inaccurate.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

You are one of those fooled by the PR surrounding BTs 21CN, its all core network stuff and the local loop will remain the same with the same limitations, sure adsl2+ will be rolled out but the max speeds on that are 24 mbit (realistically 16mbit, BE got done by the ASA yesterday) and most with longer lines will get the same performance they get now pre 21CN.

A few associated with BT have said local loop investment will follow but this is just speculation at this time and even if true its still years away for many people with some areas not getting 21CN until 2011.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

One thing to note. According to BT themselves, 21CN is only replacing the networks that link the exchanges. They will *not* be replacing the lines to the users. So, 21CN will have the same pros and cons that ADSL has.

In essence, the user may see little or no benefit from 21CN. Admittedly, we may see an increase of premium services, such as BT's movies service.

However, the complexity (and therefore costs) involved in BT's own systems will be massively reduced. Whether they pass those savings on to the customer or not is another matter.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

Telewest speeds are as they say on the TIN. No complaints there.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

That is not how i see it ? and how other's without rose tinted glasses see it.

Re: Cable Broadband Monopoly
 

A bit low today

Date Downstream Upstream Connection
01/02/07 18:35 3250.55 Kbps 357.08 Kbps My Home Blueyonder 4m
29/01/07 01:25 3839.45 Kbps 361.24 Kbps My Home Blueyonder 4m
19/01/07 23:40 3818.61 Kbps 360.24 Kbps My Home Blueyonder 4m
15/01/07 20:44 3807.48 Kbps 361.29 Kbps My Home Blueyonder 4m
31/12/06 21:49 3837.31 Kbps 361.10 Kbps My Home Blueyonder 4m
31/12/06 18:56 3837.55 Kbps 361.05 Kbps My Home Blueyonder 4m