I make no apologies for the nerdy nature of this post. It is basically a list of telephone exchanges and the approximate date by when they will be enabled for high speed broadband Fibre To The Cabinet (FTTC). No guarantees – planning permission etc.

Despite being “just a list” make no mistake it is a thing of beauty. Apart from there being poetry in the names it represents a big change for many of the people living within reach of cabinets hanging off these exchanges. It means that these lucky, lucky people will be downloading multiple HD video streams at 3.5Mbps each etc etc etc rather than grinding away on their existing ADSL which, if it is running at the national average speed, could be doing somewhere between 3 and 5Mbps.

When I say lucky I do mean it is a bit of a lottery because to get FTTC you have to be living in a densely populated area – so maybe not so lucky if that isn’t your thing.  Life is a bit of a trade off.

Sorry to my country dwelling friends who would give anything to get the national average ADSL speeds and happily settle for ordinary video quality instead of HD. For the moment they  have to stick to admiring the poetry, until the balance of trade-offs shifts.

“update 18th March – I now keep an up to date list of exchange availability on the trefor.net fttp page here.

FTTC Exchange rollout plan:

Phase1 – trial sites and thus available now
Muswell Hill,
Whitchurch,
Glasgow Halfway

Phase2 – End Jan 2010
Calder Valley
Cardiff
Dean
Glasgow Western
Halifax
Leagrave
Pudsey
Taffswell
Thamesmead
Bury
Didsbury
Enfield
Heaton Moor
Luton
Chelmsford
Chingford
Failsworth
Hemel Hempstead
Tottenham
Watford
Woolwich
Caerphilly
Basingstoke
Canonbury
Belfast Balmoral
Edmonton
Oldham
Rusholme

Phase 3 – End April 2010
Glossop
Waltham Cross
Billericay
Hoddesdon
Woodford
Lea Valley
Hainault
Loughton
Berkhamsted
Stanford-Le-Hope
Elstree
Brentwood
Slade Green
Barnet
New Southgate
Hornchurch
Eltham
Sidcup
Stamford Hill
Ingrebourne
Ponders End
Greenwich
Barking
Stalybridge
Prestwich
Denton
Urmston
Chorlton
Cheetham
Wilmslow
Swinton
Walkden
Moss Side
Manchester East
Hyde
Ashton Under Lyme
Altrincham
Edinburgh Corstorphine
Glasgow Giffnock
Edinburgh Craiglochart
Glasgow Bridgeton
Dartford
Penarth
Barry
Pontefract
Shipley
Castleford
Low Moor
Headingley
Armley
Hinckley
Chester le Steet
Hetten le Hole
East Herrington
Durham
Bristol North
Bristol West
Downend
Tettenhall
Leamore
Fallings Park
Nuneaton
Walsall
Great Barr
Northern
Wednesbury
Lisburn

Phase 4 – End July 2010
ALBERT DOCK
WANSTEAD
MILE END
PARSONS GREEN
SKYPORT
GREENFORD
BICESTER
NEWPORT PAGNELL
AYLESBURY
DIDCOT
HARPENDEN
MAIDENHEAD
CROWTHORNE
WOKINGHAM
EARLEY
LANGLEY
CAVERSHAM
READING SOUTH
HENLEY ON THAMES
SOLIHULL
EARLSDON
KENILWORTH
TAMWORTH
WARWICK
ORTONS
STONEYGATE
COALVILLE
WILLASTON
LLANISHEN
LLANEDEYRN
HEDNESFORD
TOOTHILL
BLUNSDON
CHIPPENHAM
WORLE
PORTISHEAD
LOCKSHEATH
CHANDLERS FORD
FAIR OAK
ANDOVER
EASTLEIGH
BRAMHALL
CONGLETON
LOFTHOUSE GATE
GUISELEY
BEAUCHIEF
RANMOOR
PENICUIK
DALGETY BAY
DUNFERMLINE
LIVINGSTON STATION
GLASGOW NEWTON MEARN
BOTHWELL
BRAINTREE
MERTON PARK
PUTNEY
WIMBLEDON
SUTTON CHEAM
MITCHAM
BRIGHTON HOVE
SITTINGBOURNE
PORTSMOUTH CENTRAL