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Sale to Sky
Talk to Sky Results..
2013-05-29 14:09:50, by drsox
Here are the more interesting bits of information from the Talk to Sky event on the BE forum this evening:
Some answers are paraphrased.
Q: Can we use our own routers?
A: We will be changing our policy on this – both for BE members who are switched to Sky’s network and also for the rest of our Sky Broadband customers. It’s going to take us a bit of time to be able to extend this to all Sky customers. BE members can continue to use their own routers now, and after your service has been switched to Sky’s network if you are part of the Sky-managed migration.
We will be training all our technical help advisors over time about supporting non-Sky routers (we have thousands of advisors so it will take a bit of time) but we won't be able to run all diagnostics and provide as full technical support as for Sky routers.
Q: Will you offer static IPs? Will IPs change?
A: We are actively investigating what we can do. We can’t make any promises just yet but will be keeping you up to date. If we are able to offer a static IP service we would need you to change your static IP address when your service is migration to our network, similar to BE/O2’s converged core network migrations.
Q: Hosting stuff at home?
A: We have no problem with any type of residential use.
Q: Business use?
A: We also recognise that many of our customers use their Sky Broadband connections to work from home or as freelancers. What we aren’t set up to do is offer business-targeted enhanced care levels. All customers will be given at least two months’ notice before any move to Sky’s network.
Additional Q: "So what you're effectively saying if I'm understanding correctly is whilst Sky are not a business ISP and don't offer any business SLA's you're not going to kick anyone off for business use?"
A: "yep :-)"
Q: Are any ports blocked?
A: We don't actively block any in or outbound port on the Sky network.
Q: What happens to the excellent BE support from "60k" in Bulgaria?
A: We're talking to the management team in Sofia about what the future could look like – we will keep you posted as this moves forward.
Q: Line profiles support?
A: Line profile customisation is another feature that’s at the top of our list to be able to provide, again we are early in the development process so can’t make promises just yet but are looking at what we’d need to do to match what’s currently available to BE members today. [...SNIP...] We’re also reviewing our DLM approach more widely and what we can do for all Sky customers to improve upstream performance without losing the connection stability side of things.
Q: RDNS / PTR support?
A: No solid answer yet - a survey will be conducted soon to gauge the requirements of current BE users. RDNS will be an option on the survey.
Q: What happens to the BE usergroup?
A: I don’t think we know enough yet about the Usergroup website and IRC channel to give any view on its future post-migration of everyone to Sky’s network.
Q: What happens to BE's LLU equipment?
A: All BE customers who also take line rental from Sky will go onto Sky’s MPF equipment. Broadband only customers, some will be transferred to Sky’s SMPF equipment in the exchange (which is roughly equivalent to BE’s exchange hardware) and in some exchanges we will be upgrading the BE hardware with the more advanced feature set and up to date software that we use on our own equipment. There are a few exchanges that BE has unbundled where the Sky network has yet to land, the approach and specification for these exchanges is being finalised and as such the specifics of network design are still to be confirmed.
Q: What happens to the Line Bonding service?
A: We will try and minimise disruption to Line Bonding customers and give you plenty of notice ahead of migration to our network, which will likely happen early next year – and if Sky Fibre becomes available in your area then we hope you’ll choose to switch to that instead of looking for an alternative line bonding service.
Q: What happens to the BE brand?
A: We haven’t made any decisions about the BE brand yet so for now it continues to exist and you’ll continue to be supported in exactly the same way as you are today. [..SNIP..] We are still working through options for future branding, and weighing up investing in developing BE as a standalone brand on our platforms vs investing in developing more technical features/new products under the Sky brand.
Q: What happens to @bethere.co.uk customer email addresses?
A: We haven’t got a final view. At a minimum we’re looking to keep this email service open until all customers have been switched to Sky’s network (which will take about a year).
Q: What is happening about the long term congested BE exchanges (see further down on the BE usergroup news page)?
A: We are working to move O2 and BE members over as quickly as possible, which should help to reduce some of the congestion on Telefonica’s network.
Q: What happens to those who have Annex M (Upload+) enabled?
A: We’re still looking at it, but as we’ve invested in fibre instead [..SNIP..] it’s unlikely we’ll also rollout Annex M on our DSL network.
Additional Q: Concern was raised about those who will never get FTTC as they are connected directly to the exchange.
A: "Yeah I agree , the equipment and CPE's can do it but we'd still need to do some development on our IT stack. So that's the development that we're weighing up on the same list as the other features we don't currently offer."
Q: What happens to customers with Multiple Static IP ranges?
A: We’re still investigating what we can do in this area, but are more likely to be able to offer single static IP than multiple static – and this is one of the reasons that we’ve stopped offering multiple Static IPs to new BE members.
Q: Contracts / Minimum Term Contracts?
A: We have taken all existing BE contracts and T&C’s as they are – so any minimum term that you are in (or out of) stays the same as it was. When we switch you over to Sky’s network and T&Cs, if you are out of contract now you will of course remain out of contract. And even if you are still in a BE minimum term we’ll let you leave without penalty if you are not happy with the new service. For customers that take up one of our early switching offers (look out for emails from tomorrow) there is a requirement to sign up to a new 12 month contract - but this is entirely up to you - you can wait to be migrated over if you prefer with no [additional commitment].
Q: BE Socials?
A: BE/Sky social is a great idea, we'll look at diaries (Lyssa's in particular is a bit of a nightmare to get free time in) and post a date on here.
Q: When would BE customers get access to Sky WiFi?
A: It's part of what you get when you are migrated to Sky's network/platforms - as you need a Sky ID to be able to sign into it.
Q: IPv6 Support?
A: We've already done a lot of work on this and are currently completing network infrastructure upgrades. We also are looking at IT stack ready for this and are looking to launch in 2014.
Q: Does Sky Talk support Indirect Dial (e.g. 18185)
A: Sky Talk doesn't support indirect access calls.
Q: What special offers are there for BE members (similar to the ones sent to O2 customers recently)?
A: look out for emails from tomorrow.
We can't yet offer static IP so if you really need this you might want to wait to move over, but if you are not so bothered about static IP then the offers provide really substantial savings for moving over early.
Category: BE Stuff Permalink
Cancellation
Free BEBoxes!
2013-05-02 11:22:29, by drsox
Today BE said: "No need to return your routers from now on, you can keep them after you cancel your accounts."
Source
This means that you no longer have to return the BEBox. Previously non-return of a BEBox resulted in a charge (£35.74) for the BEBox on your last bill!
This page may come in handy if you want to use your BEBox on another provider. You download the relevant setup utility and run it, it asks you questions, then reconfigures your BEBox for PPP or whatever your selected.
Category: BE Stuff Permalink
Graphs Wanted
Congestion on Strathaven (WSSTN) exchange
2013-04-23 10:52:13, by drsox
BE have confirmed that Strathaven (WSSTN) exchange is congested.
Category: Research Permalink
Congestion
Padiham (LCPAD) congested
2013-03-04 09:42:23, by drsox
Edit - 2013-04-29 21:06: BE now say
"Regrettably, for the moment the migration and upgrade of the LCPAD exchange has been postponed. However, this does not mean that its capacity will not be improved at a point. At the moment we simply have no information for when this will happen. "
BE have confirmed that Padiham (LCPAD) is congested at peak times resulting in packet loss and slower than expected speeds. The problem is expected to be solved when the new network comes to the exchange at the "very beginning of July this year, but bear in mind that the date is subject to change."
Category: BE Stuff Permalink
Congestion
Polmont (ESPOL) Congested
2013-02-17 09:10:35, by drsox
Another to add to the list : (
This time Polmont (ESPOL) exchange is confirmed congested causing packet loss and low speeds at peak times. BE don't give a solid estimate except June-ish time is when the New Network comes to the exchange and should resolve the congestion.
Category: BE Stuff Permalink
Problem
Haslemere (THHM) Exchange Congested
2012-09-27 06:41:03, by drsox
Edit - 2012-09-27 13:38:44: BE have confirmed congestion..
I have checked with our seniors and it seems that the exchange you are connected to is indeed congested. It is up to be upgraded to our new network in December or January, which should clear the congestion and the issues you are having with your speed.
Regrettably, the migration can not be brought forward, but by the end of the year or just in the beginning of the next one the problem should be resolved.
Original Post:
Anyone on Haslemere (THHM) exchange or know friends who are?
Can they please setup a f8lure graph and tag it with their exchange name please!
Checking for (trying to verify) possible congestion reported by someone, sadly one graph isn't enough to be sure, the more that are setup the better.
Reports via other members (not BE directly) are that BE have confirmed congestion on the exchange.
Category: BE Stuff Permalink
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