More than 11,000 homes in Milton Keynes now have access to BT's superfast broadband network.
The Bradwell Abbey exchange is the first in the country to be upgrade to handle fibre-to-the-premises (FFTP), as part of trial of the technology by BT OpenReach. Nine ISPs, including BT retail and Plusnet - which is also owned by the telecommunications firm – are using the network to offer superfast broadband services. Around 500 customers have currently signed up to the superfast net access, which offers download speeds of 'up to' 100Mbps and upload speeds 'up to' 30Mbps.
Bradwell Abbey, where the fibre cables have been laid in underground ducts, is one of four exchanges that will receive FFTP technology as part of the trial. Work to upgrade the Higham Park exchange in North London has just started although, unlike Bradwell Abbey, 60 percent of the fibre cables will be run along telegraph poles in the 'final drop' to reach homes, with the remaining 40 percent laid in underground ducts. Leytonstone and York are the final two exchanges in the trial to be given FTTP technology, and work is expected to begin in the near future. Both these areas will see a 50/50 split of fibre cables laid both in underground ducts and along telegraph poles.
Johnny McQuoid, director of BT's Superfast Broadband Programme, revealed that BT hopes 12 exchanges and some 270,000 homes across the country will be upgraded to FTTP technology by September this year, although the exchanges have not yet been named.
The roll-out of FTTP technology across the UK is part of a £2.5bn scheme to give two thirds of the UK access to fibre broadband by 2015. Under this scheme, four million premises have already been given access to Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) technology, which offers download speeds of 'up to' 40Mbps. BT confirmed that at present FTTP will be offered only in areas that see the existing copper cable reaching homes via underground ducts or telegraph poles. Area with 'direct in-ground' copper cables will for now only be offered FTTC as otherwise it'll require BT to dig up the front gardens and drives of homes.
The telecommunications giant also revealed that the FTTP technology is being laid alongside the existing copper network. The firm revealed for now, it will continue to maintain the existing network, although in the future it hopes all customers will be migrated onto the fibre network.
See also: BT broadband wholesale tools 'risk introducing two-tier internet'
Comments
sirjohng said: Strange animals are we not We make something to adequately do a job and someone else comes along and sees another use for it or it becomes overused so it has to be upgraded and then it all happens over again Trouble is these days we tend to want it NOW and particularly in the present financial climate NOW is not necessarily an option If there was a war on these shores of course it would be a different matter but we are so fortunate to have peace at present that SOON will have to suffice
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: Sirjohng - Sanity at last Reducing the whistles and bellsbloatware could ease bandwidth problems considerably
Sirjohng said: I have many clients of whom most are in rural areas Speeds range between 05Mbps and 8Mbps average about 25Mbps We are very fortunate with between 39 and 46Mbps which is perfectly adequate for most business and ordinary domestic purposes including getting HD iPlayer playback requires plus of 32Mbps apparently via our Sony Blu-ray player My daughter who lives around the corner gets 23Mbps and runs her business from home without any cpmplaintsI suppose my point is that when broadband started it was at 05Mbps and hailed as a small miracle then it went to 10Mbps which was out of this world When plus of 2Mbps arrived there were fanfares in the computer mags It is appalling that people should still be getting no broadband at all or less than 2Mbps but super speeds are a luxury and will take time to filter through
Sirjohng said: AshleyI was referring to Of TWAT a little sarcasm perhaps the font is a little small for you to read correctly
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: StuartIts hard to remember when BT last had a good year - certainly not since the early post privatisation days Do some research on share price and dividend The figures speak for themselves And ignore profit as a bare number - look at it as percentage of turnover At times theyd have made more putting the money in a PO savings accountCharles Arthurs article in the Guardian On line Link
Stuart said: moanYou are having a laugh rightave never seen so much crap postedOk i admit last years profits were not good but previous to that BT have done just fineA would suggest you also check your facts and do some research as your views are all over the placeAt least have a look at Charles Arthurs article in the Guardian it gives you it from both sides
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: StuartOoh Im hurtBT arent bragging Theyre stating a fact Whether you like or agree with what theyre saying is academic But you really need to brush up on your understanding of EnglishNext time youre trolling you might want to check your facts on BT They no longer have a monopoly Ironically thats part of the problem Why should BT invest if you have the capital available in a system thats going to benefit ISPs more than BTAnd if you think BT shareholders are swigging champagne at the customers expense you really need to check both the shareprice and dividends over the past few yearsOh and I live in a ruralish area and I have an 8Mb package on a line capable of 10Mb Its a barley line on a straw pole
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: StuartOoh Im hurtBT arent bragging Theyre stating a fact Whether you like or agree with what theyre saying is academic But you really need to brush up on your understanding of EnglishNext time youre trolling you might want to check your facts on BT They no longer have a monopoly Ironically thats part of the problem Why should BT invest if you have the capital available in a system thats going to benefit ISPs more than BTAnd if you think BT shareholders are swigging champagne at the customers expense you really need to check both the shareprice and dividends over the past few yearsOh and I live in a ruralish area and I have an 8Mb package on a line capable of 10Mb Its a barley line on a straw pole
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: TomW - youre so focussed on me me me The reality is that systems should be trying to create a level playing field for everybody wherever they live Youre attitude about remote rural areas is so typical city dweller The broadband divide isnt that simple No matter how fast a system is available some will want it faster but arent prepared to pay the cost Read around The biggest moans dont come from people on slow speeds but from those streamingdownloadinggaming virtually 247 for lt10mth on multiple machinesA more realistic pricing system for broadband is needed to pay for the necessary infrastructure How much would you pay per month for 100Mb
Stuart said: moanYou are a trolling idiot who should get out more and get a life other than being a jumped up keyboard warrior who talks utter rubbishBT shouldnt be bragging about anything with the revenue they have collected from their monopolyThey have known for years that their network is a shambles and non existent in rural areas but as usual the shareholders come above the customersIf people had a viable alternative BT would have vanished a long time ago
TomW said: MoanSwoooosh is that the sound of the point completely going over someones headThe Starbucks isnt compulsory btw - add chain store of your choice if it makes you feel better
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: TomW - youve provided your own solution Move to somewhere that already has sooper dooper broadbandAnd why would anybody want a Starbucks on their doorstep Yuck
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: TomW - youve provided your own solution Move to somewhere that already has sooper dooper broadbandAnd why would anybody wnat a Starbucks on their doorstep Yuck
TomW said: No I would not As much as Im miffed that MK has appalling broadband provision I understand that I do have choice as to where I live The vast majority of places that dont yet have broadband are in remote rural areas If I lived in an area like that I wouldnt expect there to be a Tescos or Starbucks on my doorstep nor would I expect there to be regular public transport and I certainly would not expect broadband provision Milton Keynes however is a city of 230k peoplethe fastest growing city in Europe and the local economy relies heavily on high tech industry and telecommuting It is only reasonable then to expect that broadband provision in MK should be at least on a par with other major cities yet it is not Clearly MK is an area where superfast broadband would be commercially viable and because of the local telecoms infrastructure city wide underground telecomms ducting it would be much easier to supply than in most other places Yet MK is still a broadband backwater
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: Tom W - two thirds of the UK access to fibre broadband by 2015 - at which time there will still be people somewhere on dial up Or will you forgo yourlt2Mb or even 100Mb and have the resources diverted to allow those people to catch up
Ashley said: I want to know what Ofwat the water regulator has to do with broadband ref Sirjohng
TomW said: Moanand your point is
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: So that means MK is like lots of other places MK isnt unique
TomW said: MoanA lot of the existing phone lines in MK arent even copper but are aluminium and broadband speeds of 512k with frequent drop outs are common - swathes of MK dont even have ANY broadband access
Moan, moan, moan, moan said: Why is it so many haves must have more when so many havents havent even the slightest chance of getting what the haves have now