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Whoah- this is all getting a bit bitchy! Let's keep it cool.

As I'm one of the instigators of this discussion, please let me take the liberty outlining why this is still an issue, and what questions are still unanswered. Apologies for the lengthy post.

Mark W, I'm really glad you're on the forum providing some hard facts. However I do have to take you up on this comment (in a constructive rather than destructive way).

Originally posted by Mark W
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Probably because that conversation has been done to death?
I'm under the impression the general consensus is some areas of London donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t have bb, and donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t hold your breath getting it.
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I don't think the London broadband conversation has been done to death for reasons I'm about to explain.
My understanding of the London broadband issue is this:

(a) The Videotron network, as originally constructed, was of poor quality, and much of it is not in a fit state to support broadband. Additionally subsequent maintenance to it has been lacklustre.

(b) If upgraded, the network could carry broadband. However this is unlikely anytime soon as NTL has little money to upgrade the network.

If this was the end of the story then I'd accept that I would not get NTL broadband for a long time.

But...

(c) I have read a few times that there are plans to upgrade the London network to carry broadband, though this is always very vague.

(d) I received an email inviting me to be a member of a broadband trial in my area in November 2002. I was very busy at the time, so I never followed it up. However this does suggest that NTL were testing the resilience of their network, in my area at least (somewhere in Southwark), with a view to launching a full service.

(e) micaAB's post on the last page (post #41) suggests that NTL are launching broadband in London in places where people had given up on waiting. Indeed micaAB had given up on NTL, rang to cancel his service, and was then told that broadband had launched in the area!


The reason I'm hanging on for NTL broadband is that I think it'll be a more flexible service than ADSL (with the choice of different speeds up to 1MB). Plus I think that overall, with a phone line & pay television, NTL comes in cheaper than the BT/ Sky/ ADSL ISP combination.
(And I'm not keen on Murdoch/ BSkyB becoming the pay TV gatekeeper of the digital future, so wish to support competition).

I have access to fast net access elsewhere, otherwise I would have already exercised my consumer choice by switching to BT & ADSL.


Perhaps all NTL is doing is keeping up the facade that broadband is coming imminently to areas in London, in order to hold on to customers such as myself. (Then perhaps eventually once they have the resources NTL will upgrade the network for broadband.)

What I would like from an informed source is a straight answer on whether some areas in London will not be getting broadband for years because of the dodgy network.

Then we will know for sure, and can stop moaning here about the wait for NTL broadband.