@ npr if you're reading - which I think you do. I've been tied up mad busy the past few days and hence not going over to t'other place to respond. I went tonight to see what was happening with the speeds and just read today's events. Unfortunately both threads are now locked so I cant respond.. but you may be interested in this because you asked.
BT Retail users are on their own BT Wholesale/21CN core network (WBC). I can't recall users on their forums reporting issues like this and at the same time, the Plusnet/BT Retail networks can't be compared as they really are separate.
Plusnet use a network shared with other service providers that use BT Wholesale and the same service (WBMC Shared).
The issue with the variable throughput that has been noted on here and can be solved (albeit sometimes temporarily) by gateway hopping, appears to be exclusive to Plusnet. Given the size of Plusnet and the number of customers they have, I imagine parts of the WBMC Shared network have been specifically designed and built solely for Plusnet. There are also the host links (these connect Plusnet's network to that of the BT Wholesale WBMC shared network) which Plusnet buy for their own use from BT Wholesale.
So you're saying BT broadband uses a different backhaul to the one BTW provide for Plusnets. Shocked Shocked
I was hoping I could avoid moving to BT internet or sky, is there any other choices which escapes this issue?
BTr most certainly does
not use WBC - it uses WBMC.
I'm also pretty certain that other ISPs would be extremely unhappy if there was any inkling of the WBMC network being designed for or built for Plusnet.
Cue OFCOM and unfair advantage. This is aside from the fact that the way shared WBMC is built then all ISPs using that platform have equivalence. BTw do have to plan though for capacity on their MSILs and I suppose there could be an issue if there is a sudden surge of Plusnet customers say migrating from ISPs which arent shared WMBC. I mentioned
months ago that if PN were insisting that it wasnt their host links, then by process of elimination it was most likely the shared MSILs.
If you are wanting to stay away from the BT core, then your alternatives are WBC providers such as Enta/Daisy resellers who I believe use Murphx for their core routing. Theres also AAISP who offer some accounts using TTB routing.
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WBC is when the ISP offloads at the
Interconnects and their EU traffic never enters the BTw core network previously known as Colossus. WBC the 21CN equivalent of the old DataStream.
Dedicated WBMC is when the ISP is responsible for purchasing its own bandwidth at the MSILs but still use the BT wholesale core network for backbone transit. The fact that you can see the core nodes on a BTr tracert is proof that they use WBMC.
afaik BTr is the only ISP that uses dedicated WBMC. I cant think of any who were big enough to make it economical - Plusnet maybe but they are already too heavily invested in their host links and Junipers to ditch shared WBMC. Perhaps in future if they do a complete overhaul of the network and ditch the current invested equipment running into £millions. Dedicated WBMC was introduced to replace the old 'RIN' network. The whole idea of WBMC was to ensure equivalence, yet allow some flexibility.
Shared WBMC is when the ISP leaves the control of MSILs bandwidth up to BTwholesale. Its precisely that - shared so if there were issues then it should affect all customers equally. The design of WBMC means that the routing is from the particular exchange so it doesnt make any difference which ISP uses it. Shared WBMC is the 21CN equivalent of IPStream. Things only get different depending on where the ISP chooses to have their host link(s). I saw a video not very long ago presented by RevK saying that there were issues in the BTw network causing congestion. Its a recent video - ie weeks not months ago.