Virgin Media expansion and Analogue services

[BenMcr]

They've already done Bolton - they started releasing some addresses last week. They are doing a staged rollout to manage the high demand

[Ignitionnet]

Looks as though LE3 is a work in progress now - I noted someone on the newsgroups saying that had received a leaflet informing of an up to 4 hour outage. Only times I know of when these are put through doors is for major hardware upgrades. Only time major hardware upgrades are done in analogue areas is a digital overbuild

---------- Post added at 12:14 ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 ----------

Originally Posted by BenMcr

They've already done Bolton - they started releasing some addresses last week. They are doing a staged rollout to manage the high demand

Didn't realise there were so many areas that couldn't get a satellite dish installed

On a more serious note be interesting to see if that demand does actually materialise or if everyone has buggered off to Sky now having gotten tired of waiting. More likely it's people with analogue already upgrading rather than new customers causing high demand, plus they will likely be wanting to switch the analogue headend off ASAP so perhaps even compulsorily upgrading customers as areas are enabled.

[Pyrotequila]

hiya, any word on expansion of the network in Sheffield?
I live literally less than half a mile from the end of the current coverage in every direction, it makes me a sad panda not having cable

[WillPS]

I don't think VM are reaching outside their existing areas now (this is what costs the most money, and sent the dozens of regional cable companies under in the 90s).

They are consolidating on their existing network, ensuring that all new developments on the inside are cabled where possible and upgrading the remaining analogue areas to digital, again where possible.

Pretty much it's the case that if your area has the ducting in place, you're in with a shot. If not, then you're not a priority.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by WillPS

I don't think VM are reaching outside their existing areas now (this is what costs the most money, and sent the dozens of regional cable companies under in the 90s).

Exactly what dozens of cable companies went under in the 90's?????

None. They, and their debt, were all acquired by ntl & Telewest and are now VM.

A few comms companies went under but nearly all were resurrected, or bought out.

[BenMcr]

And ntl filed for Chapter 11

Telewest did a debt swap which left it in the ownership of the banks

The reason for both companies having to do this was the cost building the networks and buying the smaller rivals

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

And ntl filed for Chapter 11

Telewest did a debt swap which left it in the ownership of the banks

The reason for both companies having to do this was the cost building the networks and buying the smaller rivals

Yes, I remember it well. They still didn't go under though.

[BenMcr]

I suppose it all depends what you class as 'going under'


The only reason ntl/telwest persuade the creditors to let them go on was due the physical assets they had. If they had been another company they may not have been so lucky

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

I suppose it all depends what you class as 'going under'


The only reason ntl/telwest persuade the creditors to let them go on was due the physical assets they had. If they had been another company they may not have been so lucky

Going under I class as going out of business and the workforce of that company being laid off, and the administrators styripping the company and trying to recoup some money for the creditors.

For example Rover, now that went under.

Granted the only thing that saved ntl was that they could enter into chapter 11, which protects a company from insolvency.

I worked for ntl through that time.

All of the cable companies in the 90's still exist and never went under.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Pierre

All of the cable companies in the 90's still exist and never went under.

Even if they didn't go under as you class it - none of the cable companies in the 90's exist as they got bought out and rebranded

Apart from C&W who still exist but not for residential cable services

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Even if they didn't go under as you class it - none of the cable companies in the 90's exist as they got bought out and rebranded

Apart from C&W who still exist but not for residential cable services

Yes, I know.

But, for example, you can still receive cable services in all the franchise areas that existed in the 90's


you can no longer buy brand new rover cars.

C&W is a different entity to CWC.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by Pierre

All of the cable companies in the 90's still exist and never went under.

Apart from Aberdeen/Atlantic Cable

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18812230.html

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Apart from Aberdeen/Atlantic Cable

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18812230.html

I stand corrected.

I forgot about Atlantic.

They had the Aberdeen Franchise and they also had a national telecoms carrier fibre network.

Their national fibre network lives on, under the brand Gamma Telecom. But yes the cable side did die and no longer exists

[techguy]

Atlantic's network is still in the ground.. (or on the poles!) but nothing is being sent down it. Like dark fibre! BT obliterated most of the connection plates in the home .. over the years when customers moved lines/added lines/had engineers over for faults.. so that network is now probably totally useless - otherwise someone would have bought it!

At least in Milton Keynes and Westminster .. there is a current and captive market using a cable service. But both these franchises were laid by "BT Cable", so why is it only Westminster is able to offer cable broadband and not Milton Keynes? Anyone with real knowledge on the matter care to comment?

Both are also owned by BT Global and leased to VM.. and I can't see any differences to the catv infrastructure... except broadband (added by NTL I think)
....or is there?

[jb66]

So what box do analogue folk have? An old Jerrold?