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[Weaver]

NSBFD Broadford Isle of Skye: some lucky close locals should be getting FTTC this year. As for all the rest of us, who need a step-change improvement most, we are just not part of any plan. Q: What do we do now?

A: 1. Wait ten years and see if anything happens by 2026. Then continue waiting.

A: 2. Going from 2.5 Mbps now to >330 Mbps would be nice. We just need to find someone to pay for it.

[burakkucat]

• Would all the inhabitants of Heasta be willing to contribute to a locally funded FTTC service?
• Would those inhabitants of Heasta -- physically able -- be willing to perform all the required civil engineering works (to BT standard) to facilitate the above?
• Would the landowner -- between Broadford and Heasta -- be willing to grant a wayleave, where required, for the above?

Assuming yes to all of the above, then a decision would be required as to where a new PCP and its fibre twin cabinet should be placed. I would suggest at the roadside, just beyond the entrance to Torr Gorm, thus minimising the extent of the civil engineering works.

[Weaver]

Understood. There are many unknowns in there, and new houses are going up all the time. There are more than a dozen properties now. That only adds to the uncertainty.

[tickmike]

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2016/03/scotlands-highlands-council-moves-tackle-broadband-notspots.html

[Weaver]

We would need a semi-B4RN, in that case, using copper unless BT could be persuaded to finish the job off properly and get rid of the remaining ~ 500 - 1000 m from an FTTC cab to the unluckiest householder. I suppose there's nothing stopping you from going the whole hog (FTTP) later is there? Apart from doubling up of installation effort, first fibre-copper interfacing, then FTTP all the way.

I had never given any thought to the possibility of a community backed FTTx cab. I had though about FTTRN and so on. I wonder if in a few years time this might be a way of getting the stupid USO done, whatever if anything it turns out to mean in 2020.

If BT were to site a cab in the township, would someone need to donate some electricity to them?

[renluop]

Understood. There are many unknowns in there, and new houses are going up all the time. There are more than a dozen properties now. That only adds to the uncertainty.

Could you rustle up an new estate of 251 properties?

[Weaver]

 

[aesmith]

Is wireless distribution a possibility?   We worked on one community scheme in Aberdeenshire which used a long-haul wireless link to a farm overlooking the community, then wireless distribution with point-to-multipoint wireless going to the individual subscribers.   

[Weaver]

(There is already a wireless scheme (supposedly) in "operation". No choice of ISP because it isn't wholesaled, throughput very slow and unknown, and reliability currently running at 0 % for weeks now, so I am told, because of storm damage going unfixed. And guess what, we get half a dozen storms a year. Who knew.)

[Weaver]

What we need is a politician or whoever doles out money to bring us fibre and lots of it, so we can have FTTP and 330 Mbps, like English people. (Weaver is English, I should point out, an incomer.)

Anyway, this is to complement the ponies.  Mind you, few people are achieving the 2 Mbps USC whatever that was meant to mean, so perhaps a pony voucher isn't necessary.

[Weaver]

Can BT effectively be blocked by a landowner who monopolises physical access? A single landlord 'owns' everything for miles around in all directions.

[Weaver]

Has the government said anything about a roadmap for the future? i.e. replacing having no plan with having some plan.

[HPsauce]

Can BT effectively be blocked by a landowner who monopolises physical access? A single landlord 'owns' everything for miles around in all directions.

No. Usually they would expect to negotiate a wayleave agreement but if things get difficult their FAQ's on the subject say:

Openreach does have certain statutory powers under The Code to be able to install our apparatus without the need for a signed wayleave agreement. However, we would only consider using these powers under exceptional circumstances and if we are left with no other alternative.

Unless that's a devolved power to Scotland (which I doubt) and you have different local rules.

so we can have FTTP and 330 Mbps, like English people.

Now you are having a laugh.  I don't know anyone who has that option, though no doubt it exists somewhere. I don't even have FTTC available and I live in a supposed fibre-enabled area.

[Weaver]

@HPSauce - no offence meant of course, yes I am indeed having a laugh. I did however definitely hear of some people in Englandshire who enjoyed 330 Mbps FTTP. And good for them.

[HPsauce]

Ah but they don't have the privilege of living in a hidden corner of Skye.