[Pierre]

Originally Posted by MrIca

I don't know how you can claim this though. I live in an urban area but I only see Virgin Media jointbox covers in about 60% of that area (I am including their core network and you're right I've seen Nynex ducting on main roads in areas they don't serve with the cable network.

Unless you know the routes the core network takes then stumbling upon the chambers is unlikely.

Same can be said for Vodafone, I only see their jointbox covers and ducting in about half of the areas I work in (the jointbox covers are labelled Cable and Wireless, Norweb Comms, Scottish Telecom, Mercury-the list goes on but I know it is all Voda's now).

Same as above, Vodafone and it predecessors, don't have access networks so they don't have chambers on every corner everywhere. Just on their Core routes. Also in the case of C&W you missed off Energis, which like Norweb has the vast majority of its fibre overhead on its electricity pylon network.

Also everybody, except BT, already share their infrastructure. VM has fibre in Vodafone ducts, Level 3 ducts etc and vice- versa and have done for decades, they also lease dark fibres to each other on a commercial basis.

They MUST be using BT fibre in these areas unless Voda and VM have invisible ducting! For example, somewhere like North Wales-you only see BT ducting, it doesn't matter where you go.

I didn't say they didn't but it's a lot less than you might think, and it's not BTs core network they would use if at all possible but fibre tails in their access ducts.

Many remote masts are connected by micro wave links and not cables.

Other examples I can give are Cumbria for example, there's mobile masts fed in remote parts of Cumbria where the fibre is run along the west coast mainline, then a dig of a couple km to the mast.

Fed completely independent of BT. You only would see a few VM chambers, if they weren't grown over.

Other instances similar instances are masts fed from core fibre run along canal towpaths.

There are loads of solutions to feed masts without having to go to BT, and if you had a wide knowledge of the sector you would know that without going to the default " it must be BT " stance.

As for them having a larger core network than BT's. Are you actually having a laugh? I can only assume you work in an office somewhere and have never been out in the field.

You assume wrong, I've built and maintained VM's ( and forebears) networks for nigh on 20 years. I have intimate knowledge of its and other carriers fibre footprint.