Britain's slow broadband

[Pete]

I read in yesterdays paper that Britain is losing out to other countries implementing high-speed broadband. Whilst our competitors are getting fibre optic cables installed up to the doorstep, we are lucky if we live near a "green cabinet" - and even the we use copper wire for the last leg to actual houses.

There ain't no green cabinets near our house - and my O2 connection goes so slow sometimes I can't even watch YouTube vids without 'em stopping and starting.

Despite the UK generating more money online than any other G20 nation, lack of investment leaves downloads 16th slowest in Europe.

"The internet is a bigger part of the British economy than education, healthcare or construction, yet the powers that be just don't invest enough money in high speed broadband connection."

"Britain is being frozen out of the next industrial revolution," Peter Cochrane, a former BT chief technology officer, has warned. "In terms of broadband, the UK is at the back of the pack. We're beaten by almost every other European country and Asia leaves us for dust."

So, once again, we're crap at something else… 

Read it and weep... http://bit.ly/KzAX1Z

[Big Dave]

I read that too, it really boils my pee - my BT connection is slow and flakey, I think I've spoken to all the staff in their call centre... When I asked them last week about switching to BT Infinity they did a line check and told me I couldn't have it "because not enough people in my area have asked for it..." So I have to hope that there are sufficient BT customers in my street and that enough f them want Infinity before I can get a reasonable broadband speed - how crap an idea is that? They should be upgrading all the cabinets to fibre, then offering to add fibre to each house as it's asked for. If fibre is known to be nearby, people will want to upgrade - grrrrrrr!

[k4blades]

What they said.

General attitude with big business in this country, hoard all the money to hive off to the board and share holders, sending it abroad to foreign owners, then moan because the Govt isn't doing enough to help them. And because our Govts or weak and scared of these businesses, they let them get away with it.
These businesses could do so much to help this country by taking on these infrastructure  projects and creating jobs but instead its left to Govt who have no money, or the smaller businesses who have to struggle to expand and grow.

[Scimitar]

I read that too, it really boils my pee - my BT connection is slow and flakey, I think I've spoken to all the staff in their call centre... When I asked them last week about switching to BT Infinity they did a line check and told me I couldn't have it "because not enough people in my area have asked for it..." So I have to hope that there are sufficient BT customers in my street and that enough f them want Infinity before I can get a reasonable broadband speed - how crap an idea is that? They should be upgrading all the cabinets to fibre, then offering to add fibre to each house as it's asked for. If fibre is known to be nearby, people will want to upgrade - grrrrrrr!

BT and Orange keep phoning us to "upgrade" but you have to pay more for only a possible faster broadband speed. Is it that if enough people want to upgrade, and are already paying for it, then they might consider fibre optic to your doorstep?
I think since the development of Mobile internet services (lets face it, most folks have an internet based phone -unlike me) the need for fibre optic broadband services is dwindling even before it could be delivered.
Technology is outsripping the necessity to deliver fibre optic perhaps.
I could be talking out of my arse again, but its just a thought.

[simondjuk]

Im with Orange at the moment and have signed up to a new 12 month contract.  This package costs me about £3 a month more than I was paying and I got a new Router.  Since plugging it in, my speed has doubled from 8mb to about 17mb plus im on truly unlimited downloads.

[Alsatian]

BT and Orange keep phoning us to "upgrade" ..............

I was just 'browsing' web pages re Orange Broadband - eg prices/tech spec/reviews/cost etc - and within a couple of hours I got a call from Orange regarding my 'browsing habits' and asking if they could be of assistance!!  ???

Hope they never start doing this on porn sites!! 

Anyone on Orange Broadband agree with the bad reviews regarding poor tech support and connectivity problems?

[k4blades]

If you're viewing porn sites and you get a call asking if you need assistance, I'd start worrying.

[Scimitar]

I was just 'browsing' web pages re Orange Broadband - eg prices/tech spec/reviews/cost etc - and within a couple of hours I got a call from Orange regarding my 'browsing habits' and asking if they could be of assistance!!  ???

Hope they never start doing this on porn sites!! 

Anyone on Orange Broadband agree with the bad reviews regarding poor tech support and connectivity problems?

Some years ago we told them we were leaving for another provider. They chucked in a new modem, free internet for 3 months, then half price for 6 months, a skype phone(which never arrived), etc.
Needless to stay I'm still with them plotting my next possible "exit" to see what they can throw at me for free.
Anyone remember "Wanadoo" internet? Orange took them over yonks ago, but my e-mail address still has "wanadoo" in it, so they can't say I am not a loyal customer.

[Alsatian]

If you're viewing porn sites and you get a call asking if you need assistance, I'd start worrying.

As opposed to "can I give you a hand"? 

[chesterfieldchris]

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