BT To Boost Broadband Up-Take With Long Distance Trial
BT has this week launched extensive trials of new technology designed to significantly reduce the cost of bringing high-speed broadband internet access to remote rural areas and small villages.
The telecoms giant claims that its latest trial could result in 1 million more UK homes being able to access broadband internet services. This would be achieved by dropping limitations on how far away from a broadband exchange customers need to be to receive the service.
BT currently requires customers to be within around 6 kilometers of an exchange. However, the new trial will enable customers more than double this distance away access to a fast, reliable service.
Commenting on the initiative, Alison Ritchie, BT’s chief broadband officer, said: “BT’s drive to increase availability of broadband has many fronts and this latest development shows we haven’t stopped pushing the boundaries. By extending reach we will bring service to many of those in the frustrating situation where their exchange is upgraded for broadband, their neighbours down the road have broadband, but they can’t get it.”
The trial will initially take place in Milton Keynes and will involve up to 1,000 people. BT estimates that around 18% of customers in the area are outside the current reach of its broadband network and hopes to see a marked improvement in take up following the trial. The company also hopes to extend the test run to include a rural area as isolated farms and other businesses based in the countryside stand to benefit enormously from broadband access.
BT is quick to explain that not all lines will be suitable for an extension of broadband reach. However, it will be testing a ‘wide range of lines’ to ensure the widest possible range of customers qualify for the service.
The move follows a number of price reductions for broadband access last month with BT and Telewest both reducing the price of its cheapest broadband service to less than £20 per month. The moves were welcomed as a much needed attempt to further increase the take-up of high-speed internet access across the UK (see BT Launches New Cut-Price Broadband Service).
Recent research published by eMarketer predicts that the UK will grow to become the largest broadband market in Europe by 2007, with 7.2 million DSL and a further 3.9 million cable internet households (see Broadband Subscribers Set To Hit 250 Million).
BT: 0207 469 2337 www.btplc.com
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