UPDATE BT Replace Faulty PSU on Some FTTC Broadband Modems

An apparently small number of Openreach’s VDSL (FTTC) “fibre broadband” modem users are being sent replacement white power adaptors (HW-120100B12W) after a “manufacturing fault” allegedly meant that a component inside the old black PSU adapter plug (FM120007-UK) might “fail and break the casing“.

One of ISPreview.co.uk’s readers, a BT customer called Peter, sent us some information and pictures of the new kit, which came as a replacement for the old black adapter on their existing Huawei EchoLife HG612 VDSL modem. It is not currently known whether those with ECI modems are also impacted. The issue does not appear to impact those with ECI modems.

The new kit was accompanied by instructions and a letter, which headlined in red as an “Important Safety Notice“. The letter said BT had, “been made aware of a manufacturing fault in a handful of power-adaptors for Openreach modems … It’s possible that a component inside the plug might fail and break the casing. It’s a small risk. But to be on the safe side we’re asking all our customers with black power-adaptor plugs to swap them over.” The letter included free postage for returning the old adapter.

The statement suggests that only a “handful of power-adapters” are impacted, although this implies a figure of five or less which seems improbable given the production scale of such hardware. We have already requested a clarification from Openreach, which was sent yesterday evening, but we have yet to receive a reply.

A Copy of BTs Letter

These days many of the larger broadband ISPs prefer to bundle their own VDSL integrated routers, although during the first few years of FTTC’s deployment many consumers received Openreach’s modem instead and continue to use them. It’s worth noting that Openreach intends to reduce support for their VDSL modems after January 2017 (here).

UPDATE 10:17am

Feedback from Aquiss suggests that the replacement PSUs began to ship around October 2014.

UPDATE 18th Feb 2015

Openreach are sadly refusing to comment on the replacement work and won’t clarify any of the other questions we raised.