Virgin in talks with Power firms

[Nsewell]

bt have already developed special fiber optic cable and junction boxes for use on bt poles.They have trained some of their fiber enginers on how to use it and are already instaling it. Also bt have been sharing electric company poles for ages !

[bw41101]

Can't see any technical issues with incorporating a fibre optic system along an existing (pole mounted) infrastructure. Being fibre optic it would not be susceptible to any electro magnetic interference from adjacent systems (power or communication) neither would it induce any either. In fact within the United States and Canada this is the most common practice for cable installations and works very well.

Every credit to VM for pursuing such an initiative, I hope they're successful.

Si thee

[Escapee]

It does give me a little smile to think of all those overhead networks that ntl shut down because underground was the way to go. Many of those networks that they shut and paid contractors to remove the poles and wayleave agreements along with them are in areas that are still not cabled.

Then again, I guess the management have always known what they are doing

I also seem to recall that ntl had problems with the overhead systems they were building/upgrading in Ireland. I seem to recall some of the old employees who had worked on the overhead systems (Original Rediffusion) were asked if they were interested in going over to Ireland to work.

The reason was due to the problem finding people with the necessary skills to string fibre or coax between poles.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Escapee

Then again, I guess the management have always known what they are doing

You realise it's completely different management now to then

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

You realise it's completely different management now to then

I am well aware some of the 'decision' makers that were responsible for Network Architecture are still with the company doing the same job.

It may be getting on for 10 years since I left the mess behind, but some of the survivors are still surviving.

[tvtimes]

Originally Posted by Escapee

It does give me a little smile to think of all those overhead networks that ntl shut down because underground was the way to go.

The government wouldn't allow them to deploy over head at the time would they? The cable companies had no choice but to dig up the roads.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by tvtimes

The government wouldn't allow them to deploy over head at the time would they? The cable companies had no choice but to dig up the roads.

That is not strictly true if my memory serves me right. Although you are correct that the licensing for the new franchises were for underground systems. The old overhead systems (Some of these had underground Trunks) were under LDO licences.

When the governing body at the time took away the targets for the 'new' builds because operators were not meeting them, I believe they also deregulated and allowed any operator to provide services in any area. This left it open for the LDO overhead systems (Then owned by ntl) to upgrade these as they saw fit.

ntl chose to close the systems instead of utilising the underground ducts, poles and wayleaves to reach customers in new areas.

[weesteev]

Originally Posted by Escapee

That is not strictly true if my memory serves me right. Although you are correct that the licensing for the new franchises were for underground systems. The old overhead systems (Some of these had underground Trunks) were under LDO licences.

When the governing body at the time took away the targets for the 'new' builds because operators were not meeting them, I believe they also deregulated and allowed any operator to provide services in any area. This left it open for the LDO overhead systems (Then owned by ntl) to upgrade these as they saw fit.

ntl chose to close the systems instead of utilising the underground ducts, poles and wayleaves to reach customers in new areas.

As far as Im aware, there are regulatory issues regarding Aeriel deployment by placing new poles. Virgin have the option to piggy back on other providers poles but this requires an agreement with said provider to use their network. The problem with using BT's distribution network would potentially allow BT to use Virgins duct network (where available) so I belive Virgin were looking at alternative options (hence the powerline agreement). Cant wait to see this live, we have great potential to reach more areas by using the architecture so I hope its a success!

[TheNorm]

I realise the technology is a bit different, but I'm amazed at how fast these things are becoming:

... data capacity approaching 1000 megabits- per-second ...

http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-gig-index.htm

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by weesteev

As far as Im aware, there are regulatory issues regarding Aeriel deployment by placing new poles. Virgin have the option to piggy back on other providers poles but this requires an agreement with said provider to use their network. The problem with using BT's distribution network would potentially allow BT to use Virgins duct network (where available) so I belive Virgin were looking at alternative options (hence the powerline agreement). Cant wait to see this live, we have great potential to reach more areas by using the architecture so I hope its a success!

But if you read my post, the whole point I was making was that ntl acquired a large number of overhead cable TV systems when they paid over the odds to buy these off Metro Cable TV. These systems were shut down and contractors were employed to remove the poles, this happened after the industry was deregulated.

My whole point is that the company paid to remove overhead networks and wayleaves, now they are looking to pay BT to use their poles in these areas.

ntl (or should I say CableTel) purchased the company instead of bidding against them for a franchise. Instead of utilising any of it, they shut it down around 2001.