Published Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:08:00 +0000
As announced there is a lot happing over the next few months. We have
ADSL2+ trialists lines being install and should see them working very
soon. We have the new gigabit links to BT ready for the ADSL2+ trials.

We have been working towards the end of July 2008 for a lot of things -
this is because BT plan to launch a product called "IPStream connect"
on 31st July. This product allows us to move all of our existing
customers off the older, expensive, 155M BT Central links to the new
gigabit fibre links we have to BT for the ADSL2+ service. It is like
"flicking a switch" and would only mean a few seconds off line when we
do this.

Once we have moved all lines to the new BT link at our end we would
have many times the capacity and also can ditch the 155M links saving
some costs. An ideal time to lower prices - both because of slightly
lower costs, and also to encourage customer take up to use the new
capacity at last.

Sadly we learned today that we can *order* IPStream connect on 31st
July and then there is either 65 or 100 day lead time before it is
live. This means 2 to 3 months extra having old and new links to BT in
place. This has rather upset our plans. We are working with our Bt
account manager to see if this can be reduced or if there is a trial or
something.

Our new plan is still to work towards end of July to have all our
systems in place and ADSL2+ fully trialled and tested. If that goes
well we are considering bulk migrating Max customers to ADSL2+ as their
exchange is upgraded. Whilst this will only be a relatively low
percentage of customers initially, this will free up some capacity on
the existing BT central links.

We had planned to reduce prices as soon as we ditch the old 155M BT
links. As this is now delayed we are reviewing the possibility of
reducing prices sooner and will make announcements when this has been
decided. We may make the new ADSL2+ prices lower from launch as well.

So, still lots happening. I'll put up status pages like this as we know
more.
See http://aaisp-planned.blogspot.com/2008/06/more-on-our-plan.html