Re: Tech semantics
We agree on one thing, if you want ubiquitous 4G/5G data speeds everywhere, you have to have a way of getting all that data to/from all parts of the UK, including the remotest locations, where there often isn't a power Grid Network to power G.fast type 'active devices' rollout v passive fibre optic. It's a level of backhaul infrastructure that doesn't currently exist.
Where we don't agree is Openreach FTTP rollout, it would make BT/EE 4G Mobile current data speeds obsolete overnight. Why would you use circa 4G 10Mbps-25Mbps, when you have true fibre and real 1Gbps in every property/office around you, in terms of a fixed lan connection.On the plus side, it would take a lot of mobile traffic away from congested per MB priced Mobile Networks, back to the fixed network but alternatively, it might actually increase mobile usage, because people sync data across various devices (dropbox / cloud services etc).
Even with 5G, 50Mbps is a more realistic real world target that it will achieve, not theoretical Gigabit speeds over mobile in terms of average throughput, where over optimistic headlines are helping no one.
Cheap Dark fibre/fibre optic backhaul becomes King and why it makes far more sense to build out the Openreach area with pure fibre optic FTTP, rather than continuing BT's lucrative Fault Finding/Copper maintenance merry-go-round. It's always going to be an abundance of Fibre Optic in the ground that lowers prices/increases choice, in the long term. You build the equivalent of Motorway, it will fill up with cars. You leave the narrow BT toll bridge in place, in terms of that copper bridge betwen BT and property..you get the point.
The Openreach network has to be upgraded from Copper at some point (Maybe it doesn't in BT's eyes, but from those outside it does, we need a Motorway not a toll bridge), start now, slowly, where end of life cabling needs updating/new builds.
Fundamentally Data connectivity is all about getting Fibre in the ground to the most outlying areas of the UK, the more fibre in the ground, as bi-product of connecting/upgrading the local loop helps those fibres carry other backhaul data cheaply to/from future/new 4G/5G femtocells/4G/5Gmasts right into the heart of all {remote/urban} Openreach (local loop) areas.
To the argument that upgrading the Openreach network to FTTP is a waste/not necessary/that these fibre can only carry domestic traffic, is missing the origins of Virgin Media as a domestic cable TV company, developing into a Fibre/Coxial Broadband Company and now uses this previously 'domestic' cable backhaul to carry commercial backhaul contracts too, as their network grew.
Any other rollout (of more copper) favours Entrenched BT, i.e. Pointless G.fast, leaving BT to run the gouged obfuscated 'upto' pricing on legacy copper carcass {effectively a toll} bridge between you and your property. G.fast is obsolete before its even out of trial.
G.fast rollout pretty much restricts you to take one product at a time, from one company (which favours BT/BT Wholesale) without multiple £18.99 Line rentals/line rental install (subject to local capacity).
True FTTP {with redundant fibre} rollout allows multiple companies to compete on your doorstep bypassing BT, by having true multiple Fibre wholesale products. BT lose control of the loop.
Having redundant Fibres isn't expensive in itself, and BT are failing to calculate the true cost of FTTC infill cabinets to extend/speed up the network 'upto' Ultrafast ubiquitous-ness.
G.fast costs rise exponentially the more you try to get blanket coverage with this distant dependant technology. You need upto 25 actively powered G.fast nodes in a 2Km2 area to get blanket coverage.
It over complicates the network in terms of fault finding, to a point it would have been easier to just pull out the copper, replace it with a passive fibre optic network, than continuing with the merry-go-round of time spent diagnosing faults with 'upto' G.fast.
Even with a single optic fibre to the premises its possible to provide Fibre Channel IP tunneling, so that multuple services can be offered per fibre. But reduntant fibres though, allow this without the need to have one company control the local loop, once installed.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
