This topic

Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 08:49:38 GMT

I'm currently on fibre 2 but my contract is ending soon so I contacted BT to see if I could get a new package.

They offered me fibre 100 which they say is full fibre rather than the fibre 2 I currently have which is not.

I then said that if it's full fibre could I get rid of my phone line as I don't use it, but they said I still needed the phone line for my broadband to work.

Going from fibre 2 to fibre 1 sounds like a downgrade but the agent on the phone said that it wasn't because fibre 1 was full fibre. Yet it still needs a phone line? Can anyone explain why I would still need a phone line for full fibre to work?

Re: Am I getting a better package?

pippincp — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 08:58:08 GMT

You aren't getting Fibre 1. Its Fibre 100 which will give you speeds of about 145/30. There is no need for a phone line.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:12:21 GMT

Thanks for the reply. As far as I know there are 4 broadband options with BT.

BT Fibre Essential, Fibre 1, Fibre 2 and Full Fibre (FTTP).

I've been told that I'm getting fibre 100 but that I still need my copper phone line. An engineer is coming next week to supply the service.

However, when I go onto the BT broadband checker and put my postcode in it says at the bottom:

FTTP is not available.

The exchange is not in a current fibre priority programme

WLR is currently available at the exchange

SOADSL is not restricted at the exchange

Does this mean they've given me incorrect information?

Re: Am I getting a better package?

imjolly — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:23:00 GMT

can you post the information from dslchecker please

you can stop being able to make or receive call on your home phone but you still need 'a line' whether that is copper or fibre to provide your broadband connection this is included in broadband only package price

Re: Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:36:26 GMT

Thanks for the reply. There's loads of info when I put my phone number in and do a search. Is there a particular section I need to post? Also, the page won't allow me to screenshot.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

NeilO — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:54:19 GMT

Hi, @Tantalum it sounds like you might be getting G.fast if FTTP is not available. Is that mentioned on the checker results?

G.fast uses FTTC technology and the existing copper line is still used to deliver the broadband.

Thanks

Neil

Re: Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:02:47 GMT

Thanks.

The only mention of G.Fast is at the top of the page under featured products:

VDSL Range A (Clean) help 80 72.4 20 19 66.9 Available - Available --
VDSL Range B (Impacted) help 80 69.8 20 19 62.5 Available - Available --
G.fast Range A (Clean) help 247.1 182.7 36.8 16.5 158.9 Available - Available --
G.fast Range B (Impacted) help 204.5 144 25.2 12.2 127.4 Available - Available --
Featured Products Downstream Line Rate(Mbps) Upstream Line Rate (Mbps)

Below that it mentions FTTP in this context but I'm still not sure what any of it means:

FTTP on Demand

330

Available

Re: Am I getting a better package?

licquorice — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:31:59 GMT

You will be getting G.Fast which still needs a copper line, but there is no need to have telephony. A small saving can be made by not having phone capability.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 11:00:20 GMT

Thanks. Do you know if G.Fast is as fast as full fibre?

If not, is it a temporary thing until full fibre is in my area?

Re: Am I getting a better package?

NigelB72 — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 11:09:22 GMT

@Tantalum it's not as fast as FTTP but is very nippy if you're close to the cab. We're on G-Fast and get a rock solid 130mbps. It's so good that even when full fibre becomes available for us, I won't change until I have to.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

pippincp — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 11:51:16 GMT

Sorry if it appears I mislead you but in your OP you stated they told you fibre 100 was full fibre, it appears now you are getting G.Fast which still requires the copper phone line without a call package if you don't need the phone.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 11:54:28 GMT

Oh no problem. They did tell me it was full fibre but then I asked if I could get rid of my phone line and they said no because I still needed it. I think I'm going to have to ask the openreach engineer when he comes next week what exactly is happening because the call centre staff seem unsure.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

licquorice — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:57:15 GMT

FTTP is not available to you, G.Fast is. Ergo your service will be G.Fast which is delivered by your copper line.

You can get rid of your phone SERVICE but not the physical line.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

NeilO — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 13:29:20 GMT

@Tantalum This is how Openreach describes G.FAst on their website.

what is GFast Fibre Broadband?

Just like Superfast, GFast Fibre broadband uses Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology. We turn Superfast into GFast by changing the frequencies of the connection, turbocharging your download speed to up to 330 Mbps.

We can only turbocharge the connection over a short distance, so we can usually only offer GFast broadband technology to homes and businesses that are close to their serving exchange.

Over 2.8m premises in the UK can get GFast Fibre broadband from service providers including BT, EE, Sky and Zen. At the moment, we don’t plan to build any new GFast capabilities, as we’re committed to rolling out our new Ultrafast Full Fibre network across the country.

Neil

Re: Am I getting a better package?

pippincp — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 17:22:12 GMT

@NeilO

That's a bit misleading from Openreach as distance from the exchange has no impact. It is still governed by distance from the cabinet.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:03:48 GMT

Does anyone know how close you need to be to the exchange to get G.Fast? I’m just over half a mile from mine.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

licquorice — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:18:24 GMT

Did you not read @pippincp post? Distance from the exchange is irrelevant, G.Fast comes from the cabinet not the exchange.

The details from the checker that you posted shows you must be almost next to the cabinet and are capable of getting in excess of 200Mbps.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

Tantalum — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:24:36 GMT

Ah yes I did miss that, thanks. If untrue Any ideas why openreach would make a false statement like that?

Re: Am I getting a better package?

licquorice — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:42:38 GMT

I suspect it's easier to say exchange than explain what a cabinet is.

Re: Am I getting a better package?

pippincp — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:48:47 GMT

Unless they now consider a cabinet to be a service exchange.