 |  |
By Sam Smith Staff Writer
Monday, 6 April 2009
|
BT has been dominating the headlines in recent weeks following the announcement that it is set to roll out its very own fibre broadband network by 2012. Here's the our very own guide to the key questions surrounding this exciting new venture.
What is fibre broadband?
Well, let's start from the beginning. Fibre broadband uses fibre optic cables which are made from glass or plastic, as opposed to copper.
The problem with copper wires is that as the length of the wire increases, so the speed of data transmission decreases. Hence the reason why people who live in close proximity to a telephone exchange will have faster broadband.
Fibre optic cables carry light along an inner glass, or plastic core. Light is reflected within the core which allows for a more efficient flow of data.
So in summary, fibre broadband is capable of data transmission at higher bandwidths.
What speeds can fibre broadband deliver?
Theoretically, fibre optics can reach data transmission speeds of a staggering 111 Gigabits per second. That's a stark contrast to the recent achievement of Ericsson to reach 500 Megabits per second (just 0.5 Gb) over copper twisted pair.
Although, just as BT doesn't offer 500Mbps broadband over it's copper phone line network, neither do fibre broadband providers - such as Virgin - offer the technology's maximum possible speeds.
One reason for this is congestion - many users are sharing the same fibre cables and this slows down the maximum speed a single user can get. Resources and budget are another reason; the hardware used at junctions and in exchanges would need upgrading to be able to offer the higher speeds.
At the moment, the top speed available on fibre broadband is 50Mbps, which is offered by Virgin Media in their XXL package.
BT is promising speeds of 40-60Mbps with their new fibre network due to be rolled out progressively from 2010.
However, Virgin Media has recently said that it is could potentially offer minimum speeds of 100Mbps by 2010. This would be achieved by upgrading their hardware.
When you compare the speeds that fibre broadband can reasonably deliver to end users with the current top copper phone line broadband speed of 24Mbps, you start to see just how much of a difference fibre optic technology makes.
Do we really need broadband that fast?
This question entirely depends on your usage. If you use the internet just for email and other tasks that don't require a large amount of uploading or downloading, then the answer is probably no.
However, if you download films, music etc. on a regular basis, then fibre broadband will benefit you in several ways.
Firstly, download times will decrease dramatically, but fibre broadband will also allow you to stream files from applications such as YouTube or BBC iPlayer without any loss of quality.
The greater speeds will also improve the quality of the image downloaded. For instance, it could be possible to stream HD TV or films.
Why is BT investing £1.5b into fibre broadband?
Very simple really: fibre broadband is the future of data communication. Currently, Virgin Media has a monopoly on the fibre broadband market. So if BT wants to compete in the future then it has to have its own fibre network.
There are several advantages both to BT and the consumer.
First, greater competition should result in a better deal for the consumer, all the more so as BT intends on opening up its network on a wholesale basis (just like it’s existing phone line network) to other ISPs from which BT is entitled to make a profit.
Second, BT's new network will ultimately improve network coverage in Britain. This is in keeping with the government's aim as laid out in the interim Digital Britain report published by Lord Carter several weeks ago.
Doesn't Virgin already offer fibre broadband?
They certainly do as mentioned above. Their fibre network is currently only available to 50% of the population depending on where you live.
However, their network is closed to competing ISPs meaning that they have a complete monopoly on the fibre network in Britain, something that competing networks are none too happy about.
Virgin has already passed comment that it already offers fibre broadband to the towns that will be part of the first rollout of BT fibre broadband.
At the same time though Sky is making noise on the controversy of the situation that Virgin isn't being forced to open up their network to competing ISPs.
When will I be able to get BT’s new super fast broadband?
Again this depends where you live. BT recently announced the first 28 exchanges to be upgraded. In all, around 500,000 homes will have access to its new fibre broadband by 2010.
Another announcement is expected from BT regarding the next locations to be upgraded in the Autumn 2009.
Will it be available all over the UK, including rural areas?
Unfortunately not. Lord Carter is trying to get mobile broadband operators to get broadband to the most remote parts of Britain.
However, BT has also announced that Taffs Well and Calder Valley, near Halifax in West Yorkshire will serve as testing grounds for the roll out in rural areas. This goes to show that the new fibre network will not just be limited to densely populated rural areas.
How much is it going to cost?
In theory, it should increase competition in fibre broadband and push prices down - including Virgin Media's prices.
It is unlikely that it will be priced particularly high, as BT needs to make a return on its investment and will want to encourage sales to resellers and direct customer sign ups.
Will other providers start offering fibre broadband too?
Yes but on a wholesale basis. In the exact same way as ISPs offer broadband on BT's phone line network, so they will be able to do so with BT's new fibre network.
The major go ahead for BT's fibre network was released when Ofcom finally ruled that BT would be allowed to decide on the prices it charged to resellers - enabling BT to make a profit from the wholesale of the network to other ISPs.
What is the latest news on BT's super fast fibre broadband network?
3. 4. 2009 Virgin Media gets competitive with 150Mb 2 years before BT completes 60Mb
VIRGIN Media has once again raised the stakes this week saying that it could potentially offer minimum speeds of 100Mbps by the time BT has established its brand new 60Mbps network.
27. 3. 2009 The 500,000 homes that will get BT super fast fibre broadband first
BT has announced which areas of the country will be amongst the first to receive access to its new super fast broadband network. The areas set to benefit from 2010 are London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast.
20. 3. 2009 BT's new fibre broadband network gets optimistic speed boost
ERICSSON acheives a 0.5Gbps (500Mbps) data speed over copper twisted pairs, which is the cabling already laid between customer homes and the curbside BT green boxes, and the final route between customers and BT's fibre network.
13. 3. 2009 Will BT get a super fast broadband monopoly or will cheap broadband triumph?
DEBATES arise as to whether or not BT will gain a broadband monopoly through the rollout of a new fibre optic network.
4. 3. 2009 BT gets the go ahead for new super fast broadband
BT is set to invest £1.5bn into installing fibre optic technology across its network by 2012. This news follows confirmation from Ofcom that will enable BT to make a return on its investment.
 Broadband Deals
Broadband Guide
Broadband Features
|
Chelmsford - Essex