Business

Broadband campaigner wants feedback from others

By Laura Herbert
January 30, 2013

A campaigner battling broadband misery in Finchampstead wants to hear from people in other parts of the borough struggling to get online.

Homes and businesses in Finchampstead began receiving high-speed fibre broadband in July last year as BT Open Reach began the roll-out of its BT Infinity service.

The long-awaited upgrade to the Eversley exchange meant more than 4,500 households and businesses could download a film, watch television catch up services and YouTube videos, while surfing the internet at the same time.

New broadband technology coming to Finchampstead

Michael Noak, a member of Wokingham Chamber of Commerce Council, said: “I know BT is working on more implementations in Wokingham and I hope these will go better.

“I would like to hear from people who live near Inchcape Ford in Finchampstead Road those in Hollybush Ride on the edge of Wokingham and Crowthorne.

“Wokingham deserves better broadband that it has.”

Broadband upgrade means family can finally watch YouTube

He added: “Home working does require good communication and broadband is a key component of this.”

In Finchampstead last year, BT installed 13 DSLAM (digital signal line access multiplexors) boxes to cover the village and provide fast broadband of 32Mbps to homes and businesses. Mr Noak said: “In late November and December I heard that people who were in reach of a DSLAM could not get an upgrade for some months.

“I discovered two DSLAMs in Kiln Ride/Nine Mile Ride and Barkham Ride/Caroline Place/St James Road were out of capacity.

“In other words, enough people had upgraded to use the initial available connections.

“It is surprising that BT ran out of capacity of the commissioned DSLAM within three months of their go-live date.”

A BT spokeswoman: “I can confirm we are expanding the capacity of our fibre broadband in the Eversley area.

“The service has been adopted well in the area as residents and businesses realise the potential of the service.”

To take part in Mr Noak’s survey visit www.noakconsulting.co.uk.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (1)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 1 of 1

I live in nine mile ride near calafornia cp and the speedsare aatrocious, 1.5mbps at best. I find it shocking that I have to pay the same rate as other customers receiving 32mbps.surley the best way fwd isto pay for the speed you receive, this is might get BT to improve its operations