Cable Forum - View Single Post - UK telecoms companies not upgrading networks enough?

**Stuart C** · 16-04-2007, 09:47

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6552823.stm

While we have broadband that can be considered fast now, it seems that the rest of the world is likely to overtake us, and we aren't ready for the next burst of speed (think 20 meg and up).

The Broadband Stakeholder Group claims that the networks in place (for both Virgin and BT) need to be massively upgraded and expanded to cope. They would like to see fast (>20 Meg) broadband available in every town, village and city in the UK.

Of course, BT have responded by saying that they are ready with 21CN (which they have only just started rolling out), but are ignoring the fact that ADSL 2 doesn't go much faster than 20 Meg.

Virgin is claiming it is ready for faster speeds (from what I have been told, theoretically they can go much faster than the 50 meg they are testing, but it isn't currently practical), but ignore the fact that the cable network that allows them to do that only covers just over half the country.

So, what's the solution? Well, I think that in towns and cities at least, the solution the Swedish have adopted is good. Establishing a non-profit organisation that runs fibre through drains and ducting belonging to other companies, then selling bandwidth on that fibre to telecoms companies and ISPs for cost. It would certainly cost a lot less to install a fibre network in a town that way than it would for them to dig up the roads. It would also cause less disruption. Thiw would certainly make fibre to the house more viable than it is.

But, this wouldn't help villages much, or even people that live on their own.

One thing is for certain though. Someone is going to have to plow a *lot* of money into the Telecoms infrastructure in the UK, and I don't think we can rely on the Telecoms companies to do it on their own.

16-04-2007, 09:47	#1
Stuart C Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: It's Lahndun, Innit? Age: 37 Services: Virgin for TV, BT for phone and Be* for Broadband. Posts: 17,839	UK telecoms companies not upgrading networks enough? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6552823.stm While we have broadband that can be considered fast now, it seems that the rest of the world is likely to overtake us, and we aren't ready for the next burst of speed (think 20 meg and up). The Broadband Stakeholder Group claims that the networks in place (for both Virgin and BT) need to be massively upgraded and expanded to cope. They would like to see fast (>20 Meg) broadband available in every town, village and city in the UK. Of course, BT have responded by saying that they are ready with 21CN (which they have only just started rolling out), but are ignoring the fact that ADSL 2 doesn't go much faster than 20 Meg. Virgin is claiming it is ready for faster speeds (from what I have been told, theoretically they can go much faster than the 50 meg they are testing, but it isn't currently practical), but ignore the fact that the cable network that allows them to do that only covers just over half the country. So, what's the solution? Well, I think that in towns and cities at least, the solution the Swedish have adopted is good. Establishing a non-profit organisation that runs fibre through drains and ducting belonging to other companies, then selling bandwidth on that fibre to telecoms companies and ISPs for cost. It would certainly cost a lot less to install a fibre network in a town that way than it would for them to dig up the roads. It would also cause less disruption. Thiw would certainly make fibre to the house more viable than it is. But, this wouldn't help villages much, or even people that live on their own. One thing is for certain though. Someone is going to have to plow a lot of money into the Telecoms infrastructure in the UK, and I don't think we can rely on the Telecoms companies to do it on their own. __________________ Just to make it clear if a post is bold and is from a team member, it's a moderating decision. If it's not bold or not from a team member, it's not. "This is an important announcement. This is flight 121 to Los Angeles. If your travel plans today do not include Los Angeles, now would be a perfect time to disembark.”