1. Q. Why are you closing the registration scheme?
A: The registration scheme has been hugely successful with almost 900,000 individual registrations. Since the scheme was launched more than 2000 exchanges have hit their trigger and either now have broadband service or are in the process of being upgraded. The take up rates on exchanges upgraded under the scheme have been stronger than on previously upgraded exchanges. We believe this is down to increased awareness created by local broadband campaigners who have been extremely influential in making the registration scheme such a success. Awareness of broadband has improved enormously over the past three years as BT and other service providers' marketing and word of mouth from broadband users has taken effect.
However, it now makes sense to adopt a different approach based on a planned roll out. We would not be able to bring broadband to exchanges serving 99.6% of UK homes by Summer 2005 if we maintained the registration scheme.
2. Q: Are you replacing the pre registration scheme with another scheme?
A: Yes. From the end of June 2004, we will adopt a different approach based on a planned rollout to enable all remaining exchanges with a current trigger level by Summer 2005. This will ensure that the maximum number of people can benefit in the shortest space of time. When the rollout programme and RFS dates are announced at the end of June, we hope to have a system in place which will mean that people can place orders for broadband as soon as the RFS date for their exchange has been announced. We are working with the service providers to ensure the relevant systems are in place, and we will be consulting with the local campaigning community to involve those who wish to continue the drive for broadband take up in their communities.
3. Q. When will the new advance order scheme start?
A: The new advanced order scheme will start from the end of June 2004, at the same time that we publish Ready for Service dates for all the remaining exchanges that currently have trigger levels.
4. Q. My exchange was very close to hitting trigger/had already triggered and other exchanges, which had fewer registrations might/will be upgraded earlier! Does your new plan and build programme take account of this?
A: If your exchange has recently reached it's trigger level or has reached 90% of the trigger target, we will be publishing a Ready for Service (RFS) date over the next few weeks. The move to a planned rollout programme for the remaining exchanges with a trigger level will get broadband to all these exchanges sooner than would otherwise have been possible. These remaining exchanges will have a published RFS date by end June 2004. By approaching our broadband rollout strategy in this way, we can bring broadband to more people, faster. We believe that this brings clarity to those in areas that are not yet enabled for broadband.
5. Q. Why have you decided to release dates over the next few weeks for some exchanges that haven't reached their trigger level yet?
A: A number of exchanges have almost reached their trigger targets as a result of the efforts of local campaigners. We recognise this, and while the plan and build programme is being finalised for the end of June 2004, we want to ensure that these exchanges are prioritised. Therefore, alongside those exchanges that are currently waiting for a Ready for Service date, we will release dates for those exchanges that are within 10% of their trigger target (at 7am, Monday 26th April 2004)) These will be released over the next few weeks from 27th April 2004.
6. Q: Why are you changing the current system if it is so successful?
A. The current scheme has been tremendously successful and has evolved in line with public demand. The decision to close the registration scheme is based on bringing broadband to all the remaining exchanges with an existing trigger level faster as we are now confident that the demand for broadband nationally is out there. By upgrading these exchanges on a planned rollout rather than when an exchange reaches the trigger level, we will be able to adopt the best options and engineering solutions to deliver broadband to people connected to all these exchanges faster.
7. Q. How will you determine the rollout priorities?
A: The planning of the rollout programme will be done on a regional basis because that reflects the way the network is configured. Details of the rollout programme will be confirmed at the end of June.
8. Q: Can you guarantee that all these trigger exchanges will be upgraded by Summer 2005?
A. We are working on a rollout plan to Summer 2005. However there might be individual exceptions because of unforeseen circumstances or constraints outside of our control. (These circumstances include planning permissions and way leaves that are dependent on local authorities, or in a few cases where substantial building or engineering work is required). We will do our utmost to ensure that these cases are limited.
9. Q. How will you be able to bring forward long RFS dates?
A. We will deliver network components, which support the connection of groups of exchanges rather than on an exchange by exchange basis. The planned approach will mean we get to 99.6% availability faster than under the previous approach.
10. Q. How have service providers reacted to this development?
A: We believe that the certainty that this move brings will help Service Providers in their longer term business planning. We are also working to introduce an advance order scheme that will mean people can place an order for broadband from their SP as soon as the 'go live' date is announced. This will also mean more customers will be able to get broadband service from day 1 when the exchange is switched live. We will also be working with our local campaigning groups to develop new opportunities to help drive broadband take up in their communities. We welcome the involvement of local campaigners in the development of these plans over the next few months.
11. Q. What's happening with the small exchanges that never had triggers set?
A: The remaining 565 smallest exchanges, serving less than 100,000 households between them, for which no trigger was set, will not be included in the upgrade programme at this stage. BT will continue to seek to work with public sector and other organisations to help bring broadband to these areas. Possible solutions include BT's Exchange Activate community broadband solution as well as wireless and satellite broadband. Partnerships are als0 critical if we are to reach the last 0.4% of households. (see http://www.btplc.com/broadband-partnerships/ for further information)
12. Q. You say you want to keep the local broadband campaigners involved. How do you plan to do this and aren't you just exploiting them for free marketing?
A: We are indebted to the 3050+ local campaign groups, who have played a vital role in expanding the market for broadband. Although some may feel their "job" is now done, we are keen to support any who wish to take their community involvement to another level by continuing to articulate the benefits and advantages of broadband for local businesses and individuals.
We will be introducing an advanced pre-order scheme from end June 2004 that will mean that customers will be able to have a broadband service from the day that the exchange goes live. We are already talking to our existing campaigners about getting involved in a pre-order scheme and as these discussions develop we will make the details public.
13. Q. What response will I get if I put my number in the availability checker?
A: If your exchange is already in the upgrade programme the response should remain the same and give the RFS date if set. If you are connected to one of the exchanges affected by this announcement it will tell you that we have closed the registration scheme and that details of the Ready for Service date should be available from the end of June. It will then provide a link to a list of broadband service providers.
14. Q. What is the basis of this commercial decision?
A: A planned rather than a reactive approach means we can progress with the best solution for the whole network and help manage for future growth. It reduces the amount of re-engineering that would need to be done and also means we can make more efficient use of our skills and resources
15. Q. Why are you able to do this now?
A: We are now confident that we have a clearer picture that the demand for broadband exists, as a direct result of the impact of local campaigning initiatives. The response to the publication of 2300 triggers in November has been phenomenal, already accelerating our exchange build programme. We now feel the time is right to consolidate the successes of the pre registration scheme and bring certainly and clarification for the remaining exchanges with a current trigger level set.
16. Q. What is the current rate of exchanges reaching their trigger level?
A: In recent weeks we have seen between 50 and 80 exchanges hitting their triggers each week.
17. Q. What are you doing about those people who are out of reach of their exchange?
A: On April 19 we announced a trial to test the delivery of ADSL broadband over longer lines. The news release can be seen on the www.bt.com/newscentre website. We hope the results of this trial will allow us to provide broadband to another million people who are currently out of reach later in the year.
18. Q. At what point will you stop accepting pre-registrations? What is the cut off point?
A: As of April 27th 2004, the registration scheme is closed. Exchanges that have not triggered or are not within 10% of their trigger target will have an RFS date set and announced at the end of June.
19. Q. How are you going to plan the new build process? And what criteria are you using?
A. The criteria are simple. To develop a planned rollout programme that delivers the best engineering solution to get all the exchanges upgraded in as short a timescale as possible in the most efficient way.
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