Openreach Fibre Broadband installations after 16th March 2016

Fibre Broadband installations after 16th March 2016

Openreach will no longer supply their current VDSL modem for any new Fibre broadband orders placed after the 15th March 2016. However, they will continue to support installed Openreach VDSL modems until the end of March 2017.

VDSL (Very-high-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line) provides accelerated data rates, delivering high transfer speeds for applications that consume bandwidth, such as voice, video-on-demand, and IPTV services.

A VDSL modem requires a VDSL service, along with a Fibre Broadband Router. It also requires the correct BT FTTC (VDSL2) Faceplate for use with a Fibre Broadband service.

Superfast Fibre Access provides speedier internet access for multiple users. It is delivered in two ways:

• Part fibre, part copper infrastructure (Fibre to the Cabinet) capable of delivering download speeds of up to 80Mbps; upload speeds of up to 20Mbps
• Pure fibre infrastructure (Fibre to the Premises) capable of delivering download speeds of 330Mbps and upload speeds of 30Mbps

Currently, an engineer has to visit the end user premises in order to install the VDSL modem and connect it to the router. However, with these changes, Openreach will go directly to the primary connection point in order to set the jumper to the cabinet. For customers requiring manual connection or whose wiring needs an uplift, an engineer visit will be necessary, but at an additional cost.

Any orders placed with MF Communications on or after the 16th March will require a modem/router device that is compatible with the Openreach network. We will offer the Technicolour TG589vac on the Fibre Broadband orders for this. We will also supply any compatible equipment, such as a micro filter, which is included with the router. These items will need to be on site before the connections go live.

The Thomson TG589vac Simultaneous Dual-Band VDSL2/ADSL2+ Wi-Fi Router is one of the first dual-band-concurrent Wi-Fi, ultra-broadband routers to feature the next-generation IEEE 802.11ac wireless standard for the 5 GHz band. With optimised antenna configuration, the TG589vac Wi-Fi router has enhanced wireless connectivity to enable even higher throughput and enhanced coverage over the much less crowded 5 GHz radio, for real-time content delivery.

Key features

• Dual-Band concurrent Wi-Fi ultra-broadband router with 802.11ac wireless standard
• Seamlessly bridge all your connected devices and applications with Qeo software
• Easy-to-use simple ‘plug and play’, making setup of a wireless network as effortless as clicking a button
• Fully compliant with DLNA 1.5 digital media server, enabling distribution of all content to any device in the home
• Ensures robust in-home wireless distribution, reducing wiring complexity providing true mobility
• Enables higher throughput and better coverage over the 5 GHz radio for real-time content delivery
• VDSL2 combined with Gigabit Ethernet enables extremely high bandwidth and guarantees superior quality

Having a combined router/modem unit is simpler: one box from the Internet Service Provider that handles connectivity to the Internet, creates a Wi-Fi network and allows sharing of the internet connection between multiple devices. It also eliminates the need to buy a router and hook it up manually, causing potential problems and confusion in itself.

Splitting this functionality into two separate boxes runs the risk of creating difficulties in terms of the modem and router communicating with each other. It also requires more power outlets and potentially more troubleshooting.

Get the right internet access for your business. See our Connectivity Guide to help you:

MF Communications Broadband Connectivity Guide

Or for more information on business broadband services, see our website.