Another snippet of trivia from my addled brain...

I was in Minsk last summer, and was told that Powerline is all the rage over there, where hundreds of flats in blocks are given shared internet access via it.

- perhaps you should be working for DCOMS. I can give you Ed's phone number.:)

Yes - I'm all for that, but the argument that the NATIONAL network - telephones/copper(aluminium:eek:) is already in place is a powerful one. When you look at the 'desperation' of rural communities and the wide ranging solutions they are using you see a totally fragmented network which can not easily be integrated and is always at risk from the 'lesser players' often involved collapsing.

I remain convinced that the telephone network infrastructure should never have been part of the privatisation - it is a national asset and has security and defence sidelobes.

I'll swap you phone number and email for Ian Livingston at BT .... :cool:

hmm... we could debate this until the cows come home. BT only have a historical monopoly on the last mile copper network. Outside of that historical monopoly, you have to understand there is no such thing as a single national network.

The biggest part of the problem is that implementation cost varies widely depending on where exactly your rural community is located, and the size of the community. That is the reason for the necessity of wide ranging solutions.

Yes there are savings to be made by each community not re-inventing the wheel. But at the same time, it's never going to be commercially viable for a corporate behemoth the size of BT to offer a solution on the terms you want.

Anyhow, this is all going a bit too in-depth for an average PPRuNe posting. But I'm willing to give you the benefit of one or two more back and forths via PM if you want.

Hence the existence of the CPNI and various other lesser known protective initiatives.

- been there, done that, thanks. It works. - no argument there - hence the need for a different approach. I await Ed's deliberations with interest. It just annoys me that a community spends time and money (£30-40k+) on setting up a network where BT will not - for 'commercial reasons' - and then BT suddenly 'find' it is commercially viable.

Thanks for the offer, but I think no thanks at the moment.

In most cases, you'll get more for your £30-40k going it alone then you would writing a cheque to BT for the same value. :ok:

Anyhow.... good luck with your endeavours.

:D:D:D:D:D