ADSL2+/21CN update

Yesterday we moved a lot of lines over to the new 21CN platform. The process was interesting. BT still have issues with orders not closing off properly and so these lines are on ADSL1 with faster uplink for now, and will change to ADSL2+ some time in the next few days.

For the most part the upgrade was as expected with only a couple of minutes disconnection, but a small number of lines have issues which are being resolved as quickly as possible. Also a small number did not upgrade until today but have gone through without problems.

There was an unrelated incident within BT affecting some lines (not just ours) just as they happened to be upgraded yesterday afternoon, which caused some confusion. BT have fixed this.

We are doing the final batch next Tuesday. Well, final for now. We'll do a batch each month now.

However, yesterday, BT also announced news on the IPStream connect product which has come as a surprise. As I have mentioned before, IPStream connect is the product that allows us to finally turn off our existing expensive and limited capacity "BT Central" links.

Like many small ISPs we were led to believe that IPStream connect was like "throwing a switch" to just connect all of the existing lines to the new network. It was launched 31st July! We expected that to be the date it would all happen.

Then we were told "launch" meant order on 3 months lead time. But OK, so November time for change over.

Then we were told "end of the year", so December time. However we confirmed they meant "financial year", so that meant March.

Yesterday we were told probably August 2009 if we are lucky. A big delay!

This has to be one of the worse communicated product launches I have ever seen from BT and we know many small ISPs that spent a lot time and money ordering new 21CN links (as we have) specifically to allow them to turn off the old "BT Central" links.

It means we are running two networks for nearly a year, at extra cost not reduced cost.
We are now upgrading previously temporary network links and changing plans as a result of this news.

However, we are continuing to regrade people as their exchange is upgraded and the target is around 40% of population by March. As such we do not expect growth in use on the existing "BT centrals" to exceed capacity. We could order new capacity on the old links, and BT have even made a nice special offer for that. but they are insisting on 3 month lead times even where existing fibre is in the ground (as we have), so by the time it arrives we will not need it!

Not good news. It is fair to say we are "disappointed" by this, and feel "misled" by BT. We can't say BT have broken any commitments as BT never formally committed to any of those dates.