I blogged the story of my company's order of a leased line to provide a 10 mbps broadband link. We contracted in May, and were told 75 days would be the time it would take to complete. That was 110 days ago.
Not only has there been no progress. BT are unwilling to provide any information as to when they will be starting work on the job. Or even if they will be starting work on the job.
There was a report in the local newspaper the Shropshire Star, which focused on the cost of the contract which seemed somewhat high at £57,000, and failed to mention the real story o the total failure of BT to either complete, or even communicate,.
Owen Paterson the new Environment secretary is making friendly noises to our cause. The Shropshire Star say they will rerun the story, but what else can we do? BT, it appears, has the power to prevent anyone they like from getting fast broadband, and no one says a dickie bird.
Except me that is. I say things.
Julia adds -
Despite the appearance of choice in the telecoms industry, BT still seems to control everything and charge what they like too. I have just moved house. There was already a physical phone line there. Surely they just have to enter some numbers in a computer, which can be done by a call centre person. But no, it costs £50 and requires an engineer and takes 5 weeks. I don't go through BT, but unfortunately my supplier has to anyway. It's called OpenReach, but is part of BT. I got a text telling me good news, the line will just work now, no need for an engineer to visit after all! Well that seemed pretty obvious to me from the beginning.
It's all about control. No doubt all the best technology is being carefully blocked.