We are compiling a list of “frequently asked questions” in order to expand the “FAQ” page (see link under Categories on the right) to guide local residents and businesses through the forthcoming “superfast broadband” upgrade. Please send all your questions and suggestions by using the contact form (click here). Please also use this to register to receive email updates on the upgrade and other relevant news, if you have not already registered on this site.
At a recent meeting with a BT/Openreach representative, the attending members of the Ewhurst & Surrey Hills Broadband (ESHB) committee were advised of the following.
* The new cabinet is beside cabinet 19 in Cranleigh Road near Gransden Close. Apparently there are Planning Regulation issues for works on cabinets 18 (Plough Lane) and 20 (Bulls Head) and this is currently delaying the upgrades. BT Openreach need to install new cabinets near the existing cabinets 18, 20 and 6 (Barhatch Lane/Bookhurst Road) but, as of 15th January, there is no physical evidence of these works other than a new shell installed on cabinet 20.
** It is unclear why connection speeds should improve at this time, but please advise us of any improvements via our Contact Form and we will send these reports to Mike.
Please note that it is up to the end user to source a “superfast broadband” service, and to pay for the upgraded service. This site will provide more information to assist with the former in due course.
There is a national government initiative to improve Broadband speeds across the UK. This was launched and backed by the culture minister – Jeremy Hunt MP.
This initiative has been taken up by SCC and does not directly involve any other elected body except that their constructive backing is assumed.
ESHB group was formed in 2010 prior to this national initiative and remains a local action group within Ewhurst.
There is however no contractual association for BT’s Faster Broadband solution between any individual in Ewhurst or any nominated representative, and BT themselves. Thus nobody has direct influence over BT operations and lack of maintenance and repair to any current or proposed broadband infrastructure.
As part of their national superfast broadband roll-out BT have announced a “Ready For Service” date of end of March 2012 for their offerings. This should not be taken as definitive; often such dates slip and are always subject to “unforeseen circumstances”.
The ESHB group have noted that the requirement which satisfied the approved SEEDA Grant application called for capacities of 500 services per cabinet and some pilot fibre direct to homes, all had to be completed by summer 2011. Clearly a capacity of only 100 services per cabinet (to be confirmed) and as observed with the cables currently installed, falls far short of this requirement. Many connections will continue with unreliability and performance problems especially for the longer troublesome lines until replaced with screened cables or preferably fibre cables directly connected to each property.
BT’s seemingly preferred deployment option has made it more complicated to achieve a proper future-proofed solution for Ewhurst and its environs. This remains a significant area of concern. Without resolution, it also constitutes ongoing risks to enterprises involving grant applications and other means of public funding.
If you change your service provider (e.g. to benefit from a FTTC product) then you may have to change your email address. Read the rest of this entry »
From Walter: Many will be all too well aware of the loss of mains power during the recent storms. The picture below shows the automatic texts I receive on my iPhone from one of the better Service Providers for a broadband line that I monitor. I use it and my list of Ewhurst residents’ computers that I monitor to deduce whether there is a major problem or just one modem has been disconnected (either by BT Openreach or the end user).
You will see in this case that the unfortunates were without power for just over 24 hours. It was for this reason that we specified at least a 24 hour battery power backup in our Vtesse Networks FTTC solution. We have asked for the backup duration of BT’s urban FTTC design but have yet to be informed.
Surrey County Council have finally provided a formal response to our enquiries on the status of our grant.
Following BT Openreach’s inclusion of the Cranleigh exchange (which serves Ewhurst), in their national fibre upgrade programme, the £180,000 of funding being referred to was withheld, as EU State Aid regulations do not allow public funding to be spent in areas that are included in BT Openreach’s fibre upgrade areas.
SEEDA has now been abolished and officers have spoken to colleagues in DEFRA who were previously involved with Ewhurst’s bid at SEEDA. The funding stream that is being referred to is no longer in place and the £180,000 cannot be accessed. Read the rest of this entry »
The first new cabinet has been installed by BT Openreach at the top of Cranleigh Road (cabinet 19). Once connected to power and to the new fibre link from Cranleigh Exchange (target date March 2012), this will enable phone lines from this cabinet access to the BT Infinity service, and equivalent services from other suppliers. The exact positions for new cabinets at The Bulls Head (cabinet 20) and Plough Lane (cabinet 18) are subject to Waverley planning conditions, so these will be somewhat delayed.
Your opportunity to buy shares in this innovative community project and help bring fibre to the rural home. Details here and further commentary here.
Read how the Capel exchange upgrade to FTTP and FTTC is progressing. Some of the comments are particularly interesting.
Our spies report that FTTC installation work is gaining momentum in Cranleigh and Ewhurst. A convoy of BT Openreach lorries was spotted slowly travelling towards Ewhurst, all towing rolls of cable or ducting. There were engineers with rolls of cable stationed above manholes in Cranleigh. One of the guys working outside the Arts Centre confirmed they were starting to lay or “blow” the fibre. Although at the time he seemed more concerned by the “minging” black sludge he was looking at down the manhole, saying he had lost the van keys! Contractors were also seen replacing cabinets at the roundabout of Summerlands and by the roundabout at the cricket pitch. In Ewhurst, we’ve heard that BT have requested permission for works in Cranleigh Road, which probably means some more temporary traffic lights will appear soon.