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Options for over 330Mbps with Openreach ECI kit

James_H

Member
I am on a development built between 2012-2014, on an old FTTP enabled new homes Openreach list, and where Openreach FTTP was rolled out between 2013 and 2015, well before other streets (outside of the development) nearby in Epsom, Surrey.

We have ECI ONTs and while the BT Wholesale checker shows 1000Mb availability, ISPs such a BT would not sell any higher than 330Mb. This development seems to be the older FTTP with ECI kit further upstream. Posts on ISPReview and elsewhere seem to imply 330 is the limit with no plans to change that, since doing anything is likely to mean simultaneously swapping out all ECI kit in homes and the exchange. Very few seem to have posted online about getting around that.

However, about 18 months ago, Sky were advertising 500 and 900 packages for my address. I took out the former, which has a 400Mbps minimum speed guarantee. There were no issues from sign up or go live, other than the digital phone service requiring swapping out for a different ECI ONT to function.

I'm fairly sure I am getting more than the ECI 330 limit would imply. I must be on an Openreach 550/75 profile. Upload from speed testers is always consistently above 70Mbps. Speed testers for downloads vary. This may well be the devices at my end but I certainly do often get well over 330, but only 500+ on a good day. Early on I queried with Sky, who have been insistent I am getting the full speed.

My Sky is now up for renewal. As always with an ISP renewal is pricey, or they will let me pay more for 900.

As has always been the case, BT will offer a max of 330, but only direct; some discount links only have a lower speed. EE and Vodafone only offer maximum of 100 and 200 respectively, I gather because their next highest tier of 500 is above the limit.

However, Plusnet, Onestream, Zen, Shell Energy, as well as Sky, will all offer a 500 or 900 package. Maybe others too. Sky have the most generous speed guarantees. I'm tempted to give Plusnet a try, or haggle with Sky first.

I don't really have a question as such, I'm just posting my experience that 330 might not be the limit, though I don't know the reason why it varies by ISP. Perhaps there is some different equipment at the exchange. Plusnet seems an oddity since it is different from BT and EE.

500+ down is nice but not essential for me. The 70+ upload is very helpful for working from home when saving larger files through the work VPN. If the monthly price allowing for offers is only a little more, I'm willing to experiment to how much we really can get through an ECI ONT.
 
hello,
I left BT after being stuck on 300mbps for years. They asked for £55 for renewal and won't give me any lower, so I left and moved my SIMs too.
Plusnet gave me 500 for £32, perfect, but had to manually edit the speed to 330 on the line as I would get no Internet at all.

When BT logged a request with Openreach to change me to a new ont and headend, Openreach refused.
Apparently the way to do it is to fully disconnect, wait a few weeks and then ask any supplier to connect you. Openreach should in theory move you to a newer line.

Now the funny thing is that one BT engineer fully tested my line and said your speeds are:
300mbps
1200mbps
1800mbps

so yes I can get faster net, but will have to pay for 900Mbps and convince them to manually move me on 1200 or 1800.

madness 😅😅
 
I'm curious about this full test the BT engineer did. Was this remotely done by BT technical support?

I'm also bemused by this stuff about being moved to a new OLT. That isn't a thing. Openreach do it as part of upgrading their network: they can't move one customer because an order is placed. It's everyone on the PON, there is no mechanism for an ISP to ask a customer be moved.
 
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FYI folks with an ECI ONT, your ONT will connect fine to other OLTs. Openreach just need to pay for it and I think have on the Nokia and Adtran OLTs.

Moving you across takes seconds and won't cause any more of an outage than a software upgrade on an existing OLT.

Could get 550/75 out of ECI as long as usage is low, gigabit is out of the question.
 
Are OR going to leave these old ECI setups in place? it seems odd its still not something thats being changed over given the market direction.
 
Plusnet gave me 500 for £32, perfect, but had to manually edit the speed to 330 on the line as I would get no Internet at all.
What does "manually edit the speed to 330 on the line" mean? What exactly did you edit and where?
 
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