BT getting faster?

Delphi91

From Silicon.com....

BT broadband hits 2Mbps

November 03 2004

by Graeme Wearden

It's faster... But how far do you live from your exchange?

BT is limbering up to launch a broadband service that would be twice as quick as its fastest consumer service today.

The telco is inviting all existing ADSL broadband customers to sign up and test a two megabits-per-second product. If the trial is a success then the service could launch commercially early next year. However, the service -- called IPStream 2000 -- will not be available to every home in the UK. ADSL's technical limitations means the 2Mbps link won't work beyond a certain distance from the local telephone exchange.


BT couldn't say on Monday what proportion of UK homes would miss out because their telephone connection to the local exchange is too long. BT's 512Kbps wholesale product can be accessed by virtually all households, while its 1Mbps service is limited to around 70 per cent of the population - those who live within 6km of the exchange.

If this 2Mbps service does launch then it could help to force down the price of BT's existing wholesale products. There are also no pricing details available.

The trial of IPStream 2000 will begin on 29 November and run for at least eight weeks. The word from BT is that there is no limit on the number of people who can take part, nor do participants need to use BT Retail as their ISP. Any of the 100 or more ISPs reselling BT's ADSL services can take part.

A BT Wholesale spokesman on Monday that "As many customers as care to come forward can take part," and added that some ISPs have already been encouraging BT to launch a 2Mbps broadband service.

BT's retail arm is currently testing a device to let customers download television and video down their broadband line. Although technical details of this set-top box aren't available, it will rely on a fast ADSL service such as IPStream 2000, rather than a slower 512Kbps service.

Graeme Wearden writes for ZDNet UK.

bealtine

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/03/ntl_q3_04/

NTL supercharges broadband
By Tim Richardson
Published Wednesday 3rd November 2004 13:00 GMT
NTL looks set to take a big lead in the UK's broadband sector by ramping up speeds next year for residential broadband customers while freezing prices. The move will leave a yawning gap between NTL's offering and BT-based ADSL services.

NTL's entry level 300k service will be supercharged to 1Mb while still costing £17.99 a month. Its new 2Mb service will cost £24.99 while 3Mb will cost £37.99.

The speed increases will be rolled out to new customers during the first three months of next year, although existing customers must cough up a £25 "administration fee" to make the switch.

Industry insiders reckon BT will have to follow suit or risk losing out, following this latest shake-up to hit the sector.

Said NTL chief exec Simon Duffy: "To retain our leadership position in broadband, we will be increasing the speeds of our ntl: Home products in Q1 2005 to 1Mb, 2Mb and 3Mb at existing prices. This decision reflects our determination to ensure that we will always have the most competitive range of broadband products in the marketplace."

The announcement accompanies NTL's Q3 results which showed that revenues swelled five per cent to £583m from £555m during the same period last year. Revenues were boosted by an increase in broadband and telephone subscribers, but offset by lower voice revenues in NTL's business division.

Despite this, the cableco scaled down its net loss by 19 per cent to £95.4m from £118.4m in Q3 2003. Part of this is due to NTL paying less interest following its recent refinancing, the company said.

It is also trying to cut costs by reviewing its "disconnection and credit management practices", and is in the process of elbowing 23,800 customers during Q4 who should have been "disconnected previously...due to non-compliance with our policies". It's also reducing the number of days customers get to settle their accounts before it disconnects their services.

Duffy said: "During the third quarter, we remained focused on our four stated objectives and, despite a more intense competitive environment, were successful in increasing market penetration, growing total revenues year over year, expanding underlying margins and enhancing cash flow.

He also added that two call centres had been closed during the last three months. Another six calls centres will close their doors in Q4.

"The call centre consolidation, together with other efficiency initiatives, will reduce overall headcount to around 13,100 by the end of the year, underscoring our continuing efforts to improve margins," he said.

Incidentally, NTL failed to provide any more detail on its decision to pull the plug on its direct telephone service in Ireland last month amid fears that hardware might overheat.

Said NTL: "In October, ntl: Ireland ceased its domestic direct telephone service, which had a customer base of 2,200, after identifying a potential safety risk. This decision did not affect any other service provided by ntl: Ireland." Oh well. ®

Praetorian

3m/bit for £37.99? Krikey as they say!

/me nudges eircom to give us a speed ramp v soon Gwan Gwan Gwan Gwan

Delphi91

Just back from Paris where I saw posters in the Metro advertising a 1Mb ADSL service for around €14 a month. Not sure who the providers were or about a cap etc.

Mike