Broadband Related > Telephony Wiring + Equipment

Purchasing a copper upgrade

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Weaver:
What if BT had a chargeable service where they would survey your copper line and perform various physical upgrades such as replacing joints and even replacing lengths of copper with thicker copper ? They would need to quote you for the survey and then quote you for the individual possible  upgrade alterations? I presume some of these changes would cost an absolute fortune? I do not know if anyone would pay for such. If you were struggling or needing some more speed and had either deep pockets or an easy problem, then I suppose that might be a case where this could make sense, not sure?

chenks:
there would be zero interest (on both sides) in this IMO.

Weaver:
@chenks - I hear you. There have been a lot of struggling pining kitizens over the years, but maybe kitizens are very much not the norm and also ordinary folks do not want to ever put their hands in their pockets.

re0:
It's not as simple as just replacing "your" copper line. You have to take into account that a typical cable (called a multi-core copper cable) actually carries many individual pairs. So it's not a matter of just replacing one. Perhaps you might get lucky in the future if a fault is found and they have to replace it as no spare pairs available - though they will probably replace it with the standard gauge.

Replacing D-side (from the distribution point) would be much more possible since, in most circumstances, it only has two pairs (and most premises are actually only using one pair). Though the typical distance which it has to cover would not have much scope for benefit unless it was actually faulty. Besides, I don't think Openreach will want to touch it unless there is a fault.

If there was a service for replacing cabling, it would be expensive - people with FTTPoD availability would probably just get better value by going through with a group project with their neighbours and utilise government subsidies for discounts. Though if you could somehow pay for a thicker gauge it would benefit places which have aluminium in the network more than those who have standard-gauge copper.

I have a somewhat good connection so perhaps I do not qualify to speak on behalf of those who are receiving a mere few hundred kilobits. But if I went back to ADSLx, I wouldn't opt for it since I know I would have to reach into my pocket for thousands of pounds. Also, we should be looking towards full fibre and not holding on to xDSL technologies - though maintaining existing infrastructure is fine as long as it is necessity.

Edit: Added missing word (oops!)

Weaver:
Yes, I had thought about the multi-pair cables. For that part of it to work it might be necessary to get a whole load of neighbours together to all ask for this review. And we know how impractical it often is to get neighbours to collaborate.

The joint review but might have more of a chance of working out. There it is I assume where a lot of faults are found, and that keeps customers happy and reduces repair costs anyway. Since I am expecting all of this to be chargeable, then it is something that BT should want to do, since I intend that BT will make a modest profit from doing each job.

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