Superfast Broadband

We are now getting some comments about the Superfast Broadband.  Use this link to see if you will be able to access super fast broadband services.  Tell us if you are not included.

We'd like to hear from you about your experiences of signing up for it.  What are the pricing plans?  As far as I know it should be available from the following ISP's

Richard Spurr has sent me this link which is documenting the progress of Super Fast Broadband in Chineham.  It also contains some very useful and interesting information.

The Old Broadband page is still available here.

Send your views and comments to webman@basinga.org.uk.

Latest News
We have news from a Superfast Broadband user.

Older News

Some of our residents are finding out that there isn't complete coverage and that it just doesn't seem to be fair!  BT Announce it's pricing, while others are finding unexpected benefits?

Update from Basingstoke and Deane about the Superfast Broadband.  Please visit the web page and send an email requesting an alert when Old Basing will be upgraded and register yourself as a NOTSPOT.  Look out for new green cabinets by the side of the road.

Phil has sent me a link which indicates that Basingstoke will be included in BT's initial rollout of Super Fast Broadband.  See here from more details.

This what you say

Ian from Cowslip Bank

With reference to your enquiry re superfast broadband… We reside in Cowslip Bank and were previously getting 740 kbps download and 350 kbps through copper wires. We went on BT Infinity on 01/05 and it’s immensely better. I’ve just done a speed test again which remains consistent with previous checks; Download:  26928 kbps; Upload: 1409 kbps.
 
One thing to be aware of is not to have the two modem boxes plugged into anything which will be powered down overnight. I caused myself a lot of unnecessary stress from lost connections by doing that. They need to remain on 24/7. To be fair the instructions state they should have an independent power supply but they don’t say why or the consequences.

John from Old Basing

We were allegedly in the first 10 to get superfast broadband in Basingstoke.  At its best it lives up to all expectations but I consistently suffer from Internet not responding messages.  On balance I would prefer a more consistent service with slower speeds

Phil from Lychpit

Just to let you know some more about FTTC in Lychpit. I have upgraded to BT Infinity and after about three weeks on FTTC/VDSL I am getting 26.8 Mbps download and 6.4 Mbps upload. I was predicted to get 17.7 Mbps download and 6.5 Mbps upload.
I suspect my speed will drop as more users adopt due to contention but this is currently about 10 times faster on download than ADSL. My VOIP phone works much better too.
I am about 200-300 metres from the roadside cabinet I am connected to which is in Saxon Way.

Catherine from Lychpit

Yes, I have just been doing some reading on the TalkTalk website - we are definitely NOT being signed up for the fibre optics. Judging by what I have read, they are currently trialling FTTC in a few areas to get customer feedback on the speeds etc and to gather opinions on how much customers would be willing to pay for fibre optic connection.  You can sign up here http://broadband.talktalk.co.uk/fibre-optic-trial/registration to register to take part in a future trial.  Doesn't sound like they are preparing to launch anything new just at the moment.
More worryingly, I have done the postcode checker on the BT Infinity site and found that apparently we cannot get Infinity at this address despite the Broadband Checker saying that we would be getting Superfast Broadband. 

David from

I agree………………..We are paying for a service and not getting half of what they say we could due to being at the need of an exchange.

Catherine from Lychpit

Having had a quick look at the information about BT's new Infinity pricing, I cannot believe for a second that what TalkTalk are telling me is correct regarding the "turbo boost".  I believe they will be connecting me to the existing ADSL lines.    Has anyone managed to get past the front-line TalkTalk customer service staff on the phone to be able to find out any proper information?  I sent them an email asking whether there would be a separate tariff etc but received a reply telling me they were receiving too many emails to be able to respond and that I should ring them.  (Beginning to wonder why I'm signing up to them.....)

Phil from Norton Ride

BT Pricing for their FTTC offering now called Infinity is summarised at:-
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/

Anne from Ivar Gardens

live in Ivar Gardens, Lychpit and will not be able to get better broadband, I have registered as a NOTSPOT.
Why are they only giving the better broadband to certain areas of Old Basing and Lychpit - its not fair!

Catherine from Lychpit

We have just moved into Lychpit and are in the process of getting a landline and broadband installed.  We have decided to sign up with TalkTalk as they have assured me that even on their "Essentials" phone and broadband package (which now includes a free internet Turbo Boost) I will be able to access download speeds of up to 24Meg once the new fibre optic lines go live. 
It appears therefore that there will not be a separate tariff in order to access the new fibre optic lines.   Our broadband is due to be installed towards the end of February - a long wait unfortunately! - so I will let you know how it goes and whether their claims bear out in due course. 
(There is a 30-day trial period from the date that broadband is installed so it is possible to leave them if there turns out to be no improvement in the current 0.5Meg speeds in this area.)  
Thanks for keeping us up to date with the developments, I will keep checking in on your website for more news.

John from Milkingpen Lane

I think you are misleading people by saying the superfast rollout is coming to Old Basing after all.
According to the postcode checker, my postcode in the heart of the village is not included, and Richard Spurr's google map shows why.  Two of the four boxes in Old Basing are not included in the upgrade.  So if you are served by the box at the Bolton, or at the Hatch, it looks like tough luck.  Still, not as unlucky as Chineham, where only one of the four cabinets is being done.
I am appalled.

Phil from Norton Ride

A Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) box has appeared on Great Binfields Road in Lychpit this week. It is adjacent to the existing copper cabinet that feeds me in Norton Ride. So things are moving ahead. Hopefully the costs will be affordable.

Richard from Chineham

Just to let you know that I link to your Broadband in Basing page from this site which I have set up to educate consumers and businesses in Basingstoke.   Please feel free to link back to me http://www.objectbase.co.uk/basingstoke/chineham/fttc/ it will help more Basingstoke residents realise what is coming as it should get well ranked in Google and become the towns resource for updates.   There is an interactive map (so you can add locations of the shiny new Green cabinets as they appear around the village) plus instructions on how to use the BT Line Checker to see if your line has been enabled yet.  Fingers crossed for January 18, 2010 as it is the date you can first order FTTC/VDSL broadband in the borough.