SoGEA
SoGFast
SOTAP

Background

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BT's PSTN network is now scheduled to be switched off in January 2027. As part of the switchover to digital telephony services, BT Openreach are offering the following services where fibre to the premises is not available. None of these services include analogue voice. All these technologies are part of Openreach's strategy to move towards a fully digital infrastructure. They use a combination of fibre optics and copper lines, with the primary aim to enhance internet speed and reliability.

SoGEA: Single Order Generic Ethernet Access

SoGEA is a VDSL based service which offers speeds up to 80 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Fibre delivers the connection to the street cabinet where a DSLAM is used to serve VDSL to the customer premises. Offers broadband services without an analogue voice service.

SoGFast

SoGFast is the G.fast variant of SoGEA. It offers higher speeds than SoGEA, but is limited in the distance it can reach. The maximum speeds are 330M download and 50M upload. The rollout of fibre to the premises means that SoGFast is being deprecated.

SoTAP: Single Order Transitional Access Product

SOTAP is an ADSL replacement for areas where neither SoGEA nor FTTP are available. It serves areas with no fibre alternatives, offering a broadband connection without the need for traditional PSTN voice services, effectively bridging the gap during the transition to an all-IP network.

Argus 153-SO

Professional SoGEA, SoTAP and SoGFAST Tester

Argus 163-SO

Enhanced SoGEA tester with fibre

ST332B

ADSL, VDSL and G.Fast tester