British Telecom do Good Thing- Shock, Horror, Riots ensue

[richardm]

Well, not quite panic in the streets, but This sounds very encouraging:

BT is planning to rebuild its phone network in the UK in a radical move that will cost billions.

It could change the way people use their phones and allow most people with a BT phone line to plug into broadband using computers, mobiles or other devices.

It could also mean that mobiles and fixed lines become interchangeable, with the same number and bill.

BT plans to convert the majority of its customers to the new network by 2009.

Not quite as brilliant as it seems at first sight, since BT has no plans to convert everyone to fibre optic, which will give the real whizz-bang broadband services down your ordinary phone line, but given that 99.6% of the population will be within reach of normal broadband by 1995, I'm still quite enthused by the potential benefits. Plus, they said a year or two back that they had no plans to update the network to bring broadband to remote areas, and they're certainly doing that now regardless. Good on 'em. Nice to see a privatised company that doesn't just burn most of its money and give the rest to shareholders.

 

[Agammamon]

Obviously the BT execs have been kidnapped by aliens and replaced with clones. This sounds suspiciously like customer service - coming from a company reknowned for hating its customers.

 

[Zombified]

Here is how you figure out what's really going to happen whenever a telecom has big plans.

1. Strike off all the really neat sounding benefits

2. Halve the remaining benefits

3. Triple the investment

4. Double the time estimate, minimum

5. Double your phone bill

6. Expect worse-than-typical phone service until 2 years after all work is completed.

If the government gets involved, repeat steps 2-5.

I don't know anything about BT, but telecoms the world over are pretty much the same bunch of clowns.

 

[The Don]

Yes, it will be SO super when your domestic phone calls cost as much as your mobile (cellular) calls. I hear the BT guy interviewed on the radio a couple of weeks ago when they first announced the home/mobile interchangeability part. He was VERY evasive when the interviewer started to talk about call costs and reverted to a "competitive overall package" standpoint which probably means that if you currently have the most expensive broadband (DSL) conection and a mobile plan which has unlimited free minutes (and is hence VERY expensive) then you may save a few bob.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with companies turning a profit and fleecing a customer, so long as the don't make it look like they're doing us a favour.

 

[Matabiri]

given that 99.6% of the population will be within reach of normal broadband by 1995, I'm still quite enthused by the potential benefits.

When are you living? 1995 was 9 years ago...

 

[Hamish]

Re: Re: British Telecom do Good Thing- Shock, Horror, Riots ensue

When are you living? 1995 was 9 years ago...

Obviously without broadband, posts take longer to submit....

 

[richardm]

Re: Re: British Telecom do Good Thing- Shock, Horror, Riots ensue

When are you living? 1995 was 9 years ago...

Errr, wait a minute - am I in the wrong decade again?

Must get that bloody machine fixed.

 

[Benguin]

Is anyone other than BT and NTL doing broadband? I've heard of Telewest but they don't seem to be around here.

Seems to me the competition illusion of privatisation in this industry never materialised!