Cable network expansions
 

In areas covered by a Cable firm, why is it that they won't expand down to new streets and new developments???

I mean to build a cable network covering 150,000 homes, it costs around £48 to £60 Million, so this could be enough to patch up areas like Aberdeen and clacton.

Even if they do expand, they could save money by NOT expanding the phone service and just use either a Voip service or CPS over a BT line.

In fact I have often wondered if it would help if Virgin Media,Smallworld Media and BT merged altogether. And get rid of Cable phone.

That way, the Cable TV network would provide:

Fibre optic Cable broadband up to 20/50MB at the moment
Cable TV and Video on Demand

BT phone lines would be used for:

Basic Voice calls
Payphone use
Dial up internet

BT could then be called 'BT Media'.

Outside Cable areas/areas which cannot be cabled, BT can continue to offer BT Vision/BT Digital.

With regards to Cable in westminster and milton keynes, it would make it easier to upgrade and invest under one owner,right now its a shambols and its facing closure.

Its either that or Cable and Wireless.

That would enable stronger competition against Sky.


Back to reality.......

For westminster, I think the best thing to do is to rebuild the network again, however, rather than digging up, use the sewers! Just like H20 planned to do.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

I've often asked why they've not cabled down to Lowestoft, when Great Yarmouth 10 miles up the road has it. Expense is one reason, demand another. There's no competition among cable providers now Virgin Media or ntl:telewest has the monopoly. But among ADSL providers, there's plenty of opposition. It's why cable's losing the fight to ADSL, with regard to internet. Sure, they provide cracking download speeds, but to throttle the upload so much to allow provision for STM and other services provided on the same line cripples the service.

Let's face it. Cable's a dying breed. The sooner it dies, the sooner we can move on to ADSL/SDSL upgrades.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

Actually, it's the opposite - ADSL is the dying breed. As a technology, it is at its maximum peak and there is nowhere to upgrade, while cable is just starting to develop, DOCSIS 3 is just starting to be implemented. Speeds of 50-100 Mbit/s is a reality with cable, ADSL can only dream for it.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

Cable's a dying breed in the hands of Virgin Media. 'nuff said. ;) If there was competition, there would be a better service.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

Explain that supposition?

Re: Cable network expansions
 

Competition breeds better services. A crude and (probably wholly) inaccurate timeline: In the beginning of the telecoms world, it was BT, then others wanted a piece of the pie. Now we have healthy competition in the telecoms and DSL market, and ADSL2+ is being rolled out by all the major and several smaller ISPs. In the beginning of the cable market, each area was locally provided, then those were taken over by regional companies, then national companies, then one provider.

Compare it to the satellite TV market. British Satellite Broadcasting was taken over by Sky not long (3 years I think) after launch, making it BSkyB. Their only competitor is Freesat, but it's taken 15 years for something to be launched that's a viable competitor, because Sky keep buying out their competition.

I should have said Cable broadband's a dying breed in the hands of Virgin media. High download speeds are one thing to be shouting about, but when other ISPs using ADSL can trounce you in every other aspect of your service, you're doing something fundamentally wrong.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

All Virgin Media need to do is offer Voip offering unlimited calls to landlines for £2 per month and hey presto! Bye bye BT!

Re: Cable network expansions
 

There's never been competition in the British cable industry, there has always been a single operator in each area. You had no choice over which franchise operator you took your services from. From my POV things have improved dramatically since the re-branding - particularly the on demand television services which have really taken off.

ADSL is different; you can choose from any ISP you like.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

After having a good chat with a Sky engineer the other day, who told me he thinks Virgin will win over the competition with mainly the On Demand and broadband. I think he is right.... Though people did give us funny looks whilst both our vans was parked next to each other and we was having a good natter ! LOL

Re: Cable network expansions
 

Why no expansion ?

1. Cost. The amount that it would cost v the profit it would return is less than zero
2. Merge BT and Virgin - not a chance. The Monopolies commission wouldn't allow it
3. VOIP on Virgin Media - this supposes that people have broadband and a computer or some sort of VOIP device available. Nor everyone who has phone and/or TV has broadband.
4. CableTel v ntl: v Virgin Media - IMHO Virgin Media are doing a better job of rolling out new stuff and better services than ntl: did. There is a BIG credit squeeze right now so that will slow down, but 20mb broadband, TVOD, V+ are all steps in the right direction. When HDTV actually takes off (as opposed to the small amount of users right now) then they also have the ability to load their OD with HD content.

Will they win over Sky ? No. Will Sky win over Virgin Media ? No. There is a place for both. Personally I like to be able to watch TV when it's raining so I will stick with VM.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

I've never understood this misconception that Sky suddenly stops working when it rains. I've NEVER experienced this, even during Snow and with Hale the size of marbles! Yes it may cause problems for some people but is not always the case.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

Virgin Media are going to start building again, and they going to start exactly where suggested on infilling areas within existing franchises and new developments.

From next year VM will be expanding by 50,000 homes per year every year.

Re: Cable network expansions
 

i hope its true

Re: Cable network expansions
 

It is true, trust me

Re: Cable network expansions
 

i would only move to a cabled area

adsl really is not fun.