BT upgrades the majority to 4Mbps and 6Mbps

watty

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/02/bt_speed_jump/

bealtine

More on this story:


BT unveils 8 Mbps wholesale broadband services


BT today confirmed the launch of new higher speed wholesale broadband services across the UK which will maximise the stable line rates available on individual lines up to 8Mbit/s. Following successful trials, BT confirmed that the BT ADSL Max and BT ADSL Max Premium broadband services will be launched on a national basis from March 31 this year. More than 5300 exchanges are being upgraded to support higher speed broadband, with these exchanges serving more than 99.6 per cent of UK homes and businesses.

This development will allow people to obtain line rates of up to 8Mbit/s, enabling them to get more out of their broadband connection. The ADSL broadband speed that can be supported on an individual line is governed by a wide range of physical factors. BT estimates that 78 per cent of BT phone lines should support broadband at line rates of 4Mbit/s and above, with 6Mbit/s and above available to more than 42 per cent. For those living or working close to their local telephone exchange, line rates of up to the maximum 8Mbit/s should be achievable.

In upgrading more than 5300 exchanges across the UK to support higher speed broadband services, BT is creating the largest geographic footprint possible for higher speed broadband. This furthers BT's commitment to making broadband available to everybody, in towns, cities and rural areas. UK service providers will have the option to provide higher speed broadband services to their customers almost wherever they happen to live or work.

BT Wholesale chief executive Paul Reynolds said: "Thanks to BT's continued investment in the broadband network, the UK now boasts the highest level of broadband availability in the G8. We're now building on those efforts in becoming the first operator in the UK to commit to a national service which is capable of broadband speeds of up to 8Mbit/s.

"Our approach in getting the most out of ADSL technology means we get higher speeds to a national footprint as quickly as possible – making sure the opportunities are not just restricted to the urban centres, nor those service providers who operate their own networks. It also provides service providers with the biggest potential market for applications and services demanding higher speeds."

In addition to faster speeds, BT has deployed new technology to better manage the line stability and customer experience. Higher speed and more reliable broadband services will help ensure that people can run more bandwidth hungry applications, including video, gaming and music downloads at the same time, as well as email and surfing the web. By enhancing broadband throughput, BT ADSL Max will also provide users with greater quality of service for streamed content delivered over broadband, such as video downloads.

netwhizkid

That is also great news for those British Customers living a good but out from their local exchange as if they were living say 8Kms out they would be getting marginally slower speeds maybe under a meg now with the increase in speeds it will allow for more bandwidth to be delivered to them even though a fair bit of it will be lost in the journey back and forth from the Exchange. BT offers 10Kms afaik, (please correct me if i'm wrong) Eircom offer just under 5Kms IIRC Why the hell can't Eircom do the same, Similar set-up except for the Plug and sockets. Babcock and Brown is to make Investment into the Irish Network though Rumour has it so who knows?

Blaster99

The bandwidth doesn't missing along the way. The line can do a certain speed. If BT is going to ADSL2+ it will mean a marginal improvement for people far away from the exchange because ADSL2+ is a little bit better than plain ol' ADSL.

BT has been stuck on 2Mbps for a long time, so it's about time they did something about it.

jwt

Babcock and Brown is to make Investment into the Irish Network though Rumour has it so who knows

I wouldn't hold you breath.

Especially if an investment firm is intent on asset stripping then expect much positive spins and rumour mongering from eircom and the Gov.

The Gov. in particular are in a difficult position where they would be extremely unhappy to have eircom asset stripped but can't say anything negative because they sold it.

So instead chuck out lots of rumours about investment, postive leadership, investors with fantastic deep pockets etc etc

John

cgarvey

netwhizkid wrote:

Babcock and Brown is to make Investment into the Irish Network though Rumour has it so who knows?

Any reliable source for that?

.cg

Mr_Man

Interviews the CEO of B+B and says they will split network from retail and invest in the network to the benefit of consumers...

M

cgarvey

And invest in retail for the benefit of network engineers? lol

So can I summise that as they're selling off retail because there's no money to be made, but keeping network, and upping the prices to support investment (dividends need to stay the same+)? After all, with that sort of line rental, and LLU rates, and access charges, the money is there to be made.

As to how this will benefit the consumer, who knows. Do they plan to keep current charges the same and improve the network? No, I didn't think so either.

.cg

watty

More:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/15/plusnet_broadband/