VM launches XGS-PON using Nextfibre's network
VM goes live with the latest XGS-PON technology today using the Nextfibre network. This looks as if it's for broadband-only customers.
Forum Discussion
16 Replies
Good to see and perhaps a start to decommissioning the old co-ax networks.
However, they need to get modem mode working on the fibre Hub 😉
Don’t forget the new XGS-PON network does not support the V6, 360 or TiVo. You can only use a stream box which has no recording and then only one per account at present.
Surely they must have plans to build stream out to compete with Sky's stream @Tudor
Adduxi wrote:Good to see and perhaps a start to decommissioning the old co-ax networks.
However, they need to get modem mode working on the fibre Hub 😉
What VM is doing with Nextfibre is separate to project Mustang, a huge project which is about getting fibre into HFC network areas by installing cabinets next to existing ones, threading 12mm microducts through existing ducts, blowing fibre through and splicing at the cabinets. This project has been going since March 2022 and should be completed by December 2028. The next major job will be migrating customers over to fibre and XGS-PON (which includes removal of redundant coaxial cables and finally gives VM control over its ducts again), and that's another big one which is likely to take up to 2040. So, there's going to be coax around for the next 17 years or so.
VM is dependant on what boxes Liberty Global is developing or will buy. I'm happy to be corrected but to my knowledge LG does not have an IP STB which does recordings, and I fervently hope that what will be provided from 2024 will be better than the Sky Stream's grossly inadequate recording facility. Now to be fair, it isn't all Sky's fault as not all content owners will permit recordings of their live streams, so anyone accustomed to decades of being able to record any live broadcast is going to be disappointed.
Roger_Gooner wrote:<snip> so anyone accustomed to decades of being able to record any live broadcast is going to be disappointed.
In that case long live Freeview and my old Humax recorder .... 🙂
I'd say that the days of Freeview are pretty much numbered (along with my much-loved Sony Freeview recorder!). End of this year looks like it might be when all the important, long-term decisions will be made internationally
https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/timeline-of-changes-to-freeview-and-satellite-tv/
It seems to be the coax causes many a fault. With fibre optic being so fragile, if there is a break in the glass, how easy will it be to get a repull.
Another question is say fibre is already placed by a non BT/ Openreach company eg Community Fibre, can VM use the physical cable and re route it at the cabinet in the exchange onto their system?
VM already uses Openreach's fibre under PIA to a limited degree and gets a connection to it from its network. We don't know the details of how the connection will be done with Nextfibre but I won't have thought there would be a issue at all especially as VM is developing the network with Nextfibre, the company set up as a joint venture by VM's owner Liberty Global, Telefónica (owner of O2) and InfraVia Capital Partners. My expectation is that the network will be built with connectivity to VM's VHUBs very much in mind.
Virgin installed on the street June 23, not switched on yet, will I get the XGS-POS, when it is?
I know it doesn’t work with the TV360 box, when I’m able to order will be getting Broadband & Virgin Stream
It depends if it's a cabinet installed by Nextfibre or by Virgin Media in an HFC area. If it's the latter, migration to XGS-PON won't be completed until about 2040.
With VM's long term plan to move to XGS-PON what will happen to the boxes. For live TV it would be great if they could use the ariel to save on the bandwidth or use the existing VM cable network. Would the inbuilt tuner be able to handle both inputs? I can see this would add to the cost, but I still feel there is a place for freeview ariel as a backup.
There is nothing to stop you from having an aerial or satellite dish installed for backup, but aerials have never been part of VM's cable technology, it's not like BT TV's Box Pro and Box which have Freeview channels delivered by aerial and premium channels by broadband. VM is moving to an all-IP network, which means amongst other things that the existing boxes must be replaced as delivery will be by IPTV. One problem is that no IPTV box exists for recording and some channels do not permit live streams to be recorded.
So does this mean if we had access to the 1gig service. We should now have access to the 2gig service
Everyone can get Gig1, but so far only those in the nexfibre areas can get Gig2. In time I'm certain that everyone (including those on VM's network) will be able to get Gig2.
Is that not what the update was from vm
