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BT to sell BT Tower - Printable Version

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BT to sell BT Tower - thegeek - 21-02-2024

https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-group-announces-sale-of-bt-tower-to-mcr-hotels/ 

I'm enjoying the irony of the developer being called MCR.

As the press release notes, Tower is home to Media and Broadcast, their switching centre and Outside Broadcast room. They still occasionally use the top floor (above the hospitality floors) as an ad hoc RF receive point, but presumably most of the fibre routes go via the Museum telephone exchange next door, so won't need moving too far.

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - simpfeld - 21-02-2024

A shame but I guess it was inevitable sooner or later.

Don't see a timeline for when this is due to happen by.

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - i.h - 21-02-2024

though it may intersect with Openreach's exchange closure plans, whereby they want to shrink down from 5500 ish exchanges down to around 1000. Rural exchanges probably make up most of that number but I'd expect the numbers are being crunched for the most expensive locations too.

https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/products/the-all-ip-programme/exchange-exit-programme 

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - Bluecortina - 21-02-2024

I was walking past and underneath it only last Saturday night and thought to myself what a lovely looking 'thing' it was, pity they didn't install fibre-glass lookalike microwave horns. Still, nice to know its future is assured in some form.

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - simpfeld - 21-02-2024

I'm surprised that this would be suitable as a hotel due to fire regulations.

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - Stooky Bill - 21-02-2024

(21-02-2024, 01:26 PM)simpfeld Wrote:  I'm surprised that this would be suitable as a hotel due to fire regulations.
When it was built it was the only building that was allowed to be evacuated by lift, I assume they must have extra protection.

Apparently as it stands it's only licensed for occupancy of 90 people, which is why they've never repurposed the tower as offices, not that the floors are that big.


Everything that goes on at BT Tower is done from the building under the tower, I haven't sent if that's part of the sell off or if that will be moved elsewhere.... it would be a heck of a job to relocate all that connectivity

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - simpfeld - 21-02-2024

(21-02-2024, 01:42 PM)Stooky Bill Wrote:  When it was built it was the only building that was allowed to be evacuated by lift, I assume they must have extra protection.

Apparently as it stands it's only licensed for occupancy of 90 people, which is why they've never repurposed the tower as offices, not that the floors are that big.


Everything that goes on at BT Tower is done from the building under the tower, I haven't sent if that's part of the sell off or if that will be moved elsewhere.... it would be a heck of a job to relocate all that connectivity

The register has an interesting paragraph on this:
https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/21/bt_sells_off_londons_bt_tower/ 

"The BT Tower was also an important site for BT Group's Media & Broadcast business, as a global interchange point for live television. The company said the Media & Broadcast division has already started migrating services to its cloud-based platform, making the move to more modern premises easier."

I'd have still thought a heck of a large amount of work, also we don't know if the Museum Exchange is part of this.

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - Technologist - 21-02-2024

That’s why it’s taking 6 years to move out …..
But with more Vena IP it’s a lot easier that analogue coax !
It there a lot of SDI …..

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - simpfeld - 21-02-2024

(21-02-2024, 05:48 PM)Technologist Wrote:  That’s why it’s taking 6 years to move out …..
But with more Vena IP it’s a lot easier that analogue coax !
It there a lot of SDI …..


I guess with Vena when they say cloud, it's BT data centres and not Amazon/Google/MS?
Where are the Vena DC's, I think there are only 2 of these?

RE: BT to sell BT Tower - Neil Jones - 21-02-2024

Can't remember where I read this but because the tower was instrumental in TV transmission back in the day (it probably still is) is it true its actual physical location was effectively a state secret?