Posted: 01st Apr, 2003 By: MarkJ
ADSLGuide reports that BTWholesale has found several exchanges to be '
unviable' for broadband ADSL. This despite the fact that they've already met the required (200 pre-registrants) trigger level:
North Berwick(341), Stocksfield(302), Thurso(279), Balcombe(275), Kibworth(268), Limpley Stoke(255), Burley In Wharfdale(245), Bidford On Avon(244), Rowhedge(237), Shiphay Collaton(236), Kinver(235), Calder Valley(221), Freeland(209), Arborfield Cross(207), Preston(205) and Rowlands Castle(200)Unviable means that it would still be too expensive to upgrade the exchange. The exact situation remains unclear, however there's still hope:
This means that if BTs standard calculations for the exchange produce a trigger level that would require all the existing Internet users to register for ADSL, then BT Wholesale view it as being pointless to give that trigger out.
What hope do these exchanges have? Well BT has reviewed exchanges that are unviable, witness Chafford that hit its trigger the day it finally got one. How can an unviable exchange suddenly become viable? Well the costs can change over time, e.g. a supplier reduces the cost of a component used in the upgrade process.