BT monopoly

[bravheart]

I thought all the phone/broadband exchanges were supposed to be open to all companies to provide phone/broadband in a competitive market, it appears not.
After new poles appeared on the roadside with funny green boxes on them, was told fibre bb was now available in the village and my neighbour got signed up with 50+ bb straight away.
Trying to change a phone contract atm. and many companies keen to sign me up but when they get down to the line check get told fibre not available to them even though its on a pole outside the door.
Anyone else found this and can BT still run a monopoly exchange?

 

[SilliamWhale]

It could be because Openreach have not finished the job. Rural internet provision is a low priority

 

[Boysground]

I am looking at broadband contracts at the moment as mine is about to expire. According to the BT website I am unable to get fibre, it is what they are supplying to me at the moment I know somebody else in the village has been told they cant have fibre but the rest of us are on it, not sure why that is.

Bg

 

[bravheart]

Neighbours been up and running with it for a few months now through BT so would think openreach should be finished their bit, and according to BT it is available from them, just don't like their small print so looking elsewhere but all coming back saying not available so seems we're back in a monopoly situation.


Btw. are openreach and BT still one organisation?

 

[Notquiteretired]

Thought this was a xmas present board game thread...

 

[Cowabunga]

Neighbours been up and running with it for a few months now through BT so would think openreach should be finished their bit, and according to BT it is available from them, just don't like their small print so looking elsewhere but all coming back saying not available so seems we're back in a monopoly situation.


Btw. are openreach and BT still one organisation?

No they are not. For years now OR and BT have been separate to all intents and purposes. They have recently been instructed to be even further apart as a condition of their continued existence. They are now to split into two entirely different and separate companies. There are or were complications to doing so and you can bet your bottom dollar that one of the biggest is that hoary old chestnut that plagues so many former state owned enterprise, that of pensions for thousands of former employees.

 

[bravheart]

No they are not. For years now OR and BT have been separate to all intents and purposes. They have recently been instructed to be even further apart as a condition of their continued existence. They are now to split into two entirely different and separate companies. There are or were complications to doing so and you can bet your bottom dollar that one of the biggest is that hoary old chestnut that plagues so many former state owned enterprise, that of pensions for thousands of former employees.

So its a duopoly then, OR install's a fibre line that only BT can access!!


Someone's palms getting greased here.

 

[Cowabunga]

So its a duopoly then, OR install's a fibre line that only BT can access!!


Someone's palms getting greased here.

More than likely yet another cock-up by BT whose left hand is notoriously ignorant of its right. Or do you believe, from your historic experience with the company, that they are that clever?

 

[bravheart]

More than likely yet another cock-up by BT whose left hand is notoriously ignorant of its right. Or do you believe, from your historic experience with the company, that they are that clever?

Not historical but yes if the small print on their contract is anything to go by they're like the rest of the big guys, f#@£*ng devious

 

[Hesston4860s]

It may be because the other companies you are trying haven’t installed there kit in the exchange yet. I’m on Fibre with BT and could of gone with 2 others at the time as they’ve got the kit in the exchange.

Have a look here to see who’s available at your exchange
https://availability.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

 

[bravheart]

It may be because the other companies you are trying haven’t installed there kit in the exchange yet. I’m on Fibre with BT and could of gone with 2 others at the time as they’ve got the kit in the exchange.

Have a look here to see who’s available at your exchange
https://availability.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

This could be the problem or the answer not sure, but BT seems to be the only one with ticks in the boxes with talktalk listed for one option.
with only 1800 residential customers and 154 others is any other company likely to add their equipment to the exchange?

 

[PREES]

I have been trying to get fibre BB for about 2 years but the expected availability date kept on moving forward until August this year when the Welsh Government's website and BT's showed it was available. I immediately ordered but when nothing seemed to be happening I chased it up and was told they had failed to proceed as fibre was not available at my address. Looked at the website and it had gone back to unavailable until December but I knew the little green box had been commissioned as I had spoken to the engineer and my neighbour 100 m on a different postcode who used the same telegraph pole was showing as fibre BB available! In my frustration I booked using my house name and my neighbours address and postcode and it all went through with first stage of installation completed today! Result but madness!

 

[davidroberts30]

What ever happens do not sign with talk talk

 

[bravheart]

Followed an openreach van yesterday and had " part of the BT group of companies" written on the back so they still appear to be linked at the hip.

BB seems to be getting slower here, is it possible they(BT group of companies) are slowing the signal down slightly to make fibre seem more appealing.

 

[Lincsman]

There are other systems which mean you can cut any wire/cable connected to your house, and usually works out cheaper.

 

[eyezwideopen]

It never fails to surprise me that people think BT have a monopoly THEY DONT.
l live in Hull who have their own telphone exchange and we were unable to get our telephone or internet from anyone but them.
That all stopped once wireless bradband came about. I have used this technology for around 8 years now , I am not tied to a contract and I also dont have a phone line to use it. It is ideal for remote places that find it hard to get internet and a lot cheaper than BT or KCOM mime in 50 Meg £29.99. So dont think you dont have a choice you DO, google Wireless broadband for suppliers in your area. (I am an IT Engineer for Network Rail 23 years)

 

[bravheart]

Yes, thanks @eyezwideopen beginning to realise there's other bb options out there, even in the sticks, it's just the fibre line that bt openreach appear to be monopolising!