tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post2503013722443216981..comments2024-03-28T09:19:27.451+00:00Comments on RevK<sup>®</sup>'s ramblings: ConfusopolyRevKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12369263214193333422noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-79593293110315995382013-11-07T16:20:05.235+00:002013-11-07T16:20:05.235+00:00Note that Zen are in the process of switching from...Note that Zen are in the process of switching from BT Wholesale backhaul to their own backhaul provision. In theory, this will let them provide the same quality of service for less money, but in practice it depends on the details of their backhaul network and on the demand being placed on the network by users.<br /><br />The advantage of BT Wholesale backhaul is that it's easy to ramp up capacity if you get your planning wrong; the disadvantage is that it's expensive and you can't see where the hot spots that will congest with traffic growth are - you rely on BT getting that right.<br /><br />The advantage of your own backhaul, as Zen are doing, is that it's cheaper and you can see your hot spots and plan around them. The disadvantage is that getting more backhaul on line to fix problems can be a slow process - whereas BT Wholesale will fix hot spots without your involvement, and will bring more capacity online to you in a matter of days, your independent backhaul can take months to upgrade a link capacity.<br /><br />So, if Zen have done their calculations properly (including correctly predicting the change in demand that will happen as a result of their new pricing), they're in a good place to keep offering high quality service for affordable prices. If they've miscalculated at any point, they're going to be in a position where they can afford to fix things, but not in a timely fashion.<br /><br />What's more, if they do have such a problem, it's almost certain to be localised - so Zen may be perfect for me, in Oxford, and completely unusable at AAISP HQ in Bracknell. Given Zen's current reputation for high quality service, it's going to be difficult to get help diagnosing the fault until Zen acknowledge it - and they have an incentive to not do so, as such an acknowledgement will be an admission that the guys responsible for the latest round of expansion fouled up.<br /><br />The other potential problem for Zen is that they'll be locked into buying the backhaul they've paid for for some time; as long as they can get income to stay high enough to cover the backhaul they've contracted into, plus any extra they need, they're OK. If they do this big spend on the assumption of income growth, then it never materialises, they're in trouble.<br /><br />The final worry, which hits everyone who runs a backhaul network, is whether they've done their sums just before a step change in usage; if, for example, the new games consoles massively increase people's ideas of "reasonable" usage (as video on demand did a while back), Zen's perfectly good calculations may be ruined by their assumptions being broken.<br /><br />You should appreciate that I'm writing about the worst cases here - I'm actually confident that Zen have got it right, and the only end user impact will be same high quality service for less money than before, but it's worth understanding the risks Zen are taking to get there.Simon Farnsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15190608047563530091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-20180913300510923182013-11-07T10:58:38.056+00:002013-11-07T10:58:38.056+00:00Office I'm in at the moment, we've got nea...Office I'm in at the moment, we've got nearly 20 web devs running off two ADSL lines. The BT exchange is on the opposite side of the road to us. It's silly that people further away can get better speeds!<br /><br />Shame for the "exchange lines", BT don't offer FTTP...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13423746165677757496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-65983275863271021492013-11-07T08:47:03.401+00:002013-11-07T08:47:03.401+00:00I blogged about the FTTC upgrade costs which make ...I blogged about the FTTC upgrade costs which make it a tricky decision whether to upgrade or not ... http://natalian.org/archives/2013/09/28/Superfast_Cornwall/Kai Hendryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04499708907733777119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-63607989113116301662013-11-06T10:54:17.958+00:002013-11-06T10:54:17.958+00:00Some companies do gamble on long terms, and even h...Some companies do gamble on long terms, and even have long terms in their contracts, and so do a free or cheap install on that basis.RevKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369263214193333422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-81616287175335873352013-11-06T10:42:52.505+00:002013-11-06T10:42:52.505+00:00So, if it's so complicated, then how come the ...So, if it's so complicated, then how come the likes of ZEN can offer a simple 'reasonable' deal.Without phone, they offer free setup and a shade over £30 per month. Are they assuming their service is so good they will get 2+years out of a customer so make more profit down the road ? They are by no means the cheapest either but were voted second best in the thinkbroadband polls behind some local ISP ;)Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530302900004281997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-65011738627474123142013-11-06T10:19:37.094+00:002013-11-06T10:19:37.094+00:00whoops, typo,
There is an FTTC cab just down the ...whoops, typo,<br /><br />There is an FTTC cab just down the road, but our lines are straight to the exchange. **<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-49716415495858596732013-11-06T09:24:12.513+00:002013-11-06T09:24:12.513+00:00What we really need is an easy way to get off our ...What we really need is an easy way to get off our straight-to-exchange lines<br /><br />There is an FTTC cab just down the road, but our lines are straight to cabinet.<br /><br />We will never, ever get FTTC on these lines and so we're stuck with a 4Mbps line to run an IT company of 10 when the houses down the road get 60Mbps FTTCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-30475451790855826402013-11-05T18:43:02.711+00:002013-11-05T18:43:02.711+00:00Well, yes, indeed.Well, yes, indeed.RevKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369263214193333422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3993498847203183398.post-52597923262841617982013-11-05T18:41:09.856+00:002013-11-05T18:41:09.856+00:00What about telling them or is it Openreach to get ...What about telling them or is it Openreach to get the finger out installing it then? My Exchange (01631) RFS just put back ANOTHER three months ......obanclipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08898598047093022942noreply@blogger.com