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BT’s 20Mb upgrade boosts Digital Britain project

Posted 4th June 2009 at 11:38am by Jonathan Leggett

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The government’s aim of building a broadband network which will allow the UK to compete economically with other nations has been given a boost with the news that BT is upgrading millions of customers’ broadband connections to 20Mb.

Later this month, the finalized version of the government’s Digital Britain report is due to be published. The document will function as a blueprint for ensuring that every home and business in the UK has access to an ADSL broadband connection of at least 2Mb by 2012. In so doing, it is hoped that businesses will stand in good stead to benefit from new revenue streams from the digital economy.

However, the benchmark figure of 2Mb which has been set has come in for strong criticism from many within the broadband sector. Principally, the doubters’ objections hinge on the notion that this is too low to cope with new services and that it compares badly with the speeds delivered in other countries with whom the UK will be competing.

In Japan and South Korea where faster fibre optic broadband networks are prevalent, speeds of up to 100Mb are common. Meanwhile, the Australian and US governments have both unveiled plans for an extensive cable broadband infrastructure.

The widespread criticism is likely to be tempered today, however, after BT confirmed that it is to upgrade millions of its customers’ connections to up to 20Mb by March 2010 at no extra charge. This will be achieved partly through the installation of ADSL2+ technology. Speeds will also be boosted by the free distribution of its BT Broadband Accelerator which limits line interference.

Under the plans, BT’s upgrade will reach 55 per cent of its customer base of 4.8 million by 2010. Currently, the top speed that BT broadband subscribers could expect is 8Mb.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive officer, BT Retail, said: “We are already the UK's largest retailer of broadband and today's announcement shows that we offer terrific value for money."

News of developments comes as BT is gearing up to commence trials of its fibre to cabinet broadband technology. Set to take place initially in Muswell Hill in north London and in Whitchurch in South Glamorgan, this is capable of delivering a service of up to 40Mb. The internet service provider has outlined plans to extend the reach of the service to 40 per cent of its network by 2012.

More news on: Broadband coverage, Broadband speeds, Future developments, BT

5 comments

  • 1

    Andrew , 4th June 2009.

    This is good news for those who live in non-LLU areas such as villages / countryside and close to the
    exchange.

    But for the vast majority it won't offer much improvement.
    1) Those who live in cities can get fast reliable LLU conections from the likes of Sky and O2 (at much lower cost).
    2) Those who live in the countryside are very often too far away from the exchange for ADSL2 technology to offer any benefit over the existing ADSL they are using today.

    Reply
  • 2

    Rob Bentley, 12th June 2009.

    I would love to have 20MB broadband in Kings Lynn in Norfolk.

    I WOULD EVEN PAY TOWARDS HAVING IT INSTALLED...

    Reply
  • 3

    Paul, 12th July 2009.

    When will providers and the like realise that the only thing people want is speed and reliability? Forget the frills, just make it fast and stable and I would gladly pay more than I do now - which is over the top for what I recieve. "Simples," as the Meerkats squeak!

    Reply
  • 4

    Guy Mayhew, 27th July 2009.

    Interesting, how TalkTalk have had this technology since 2007.

    Reply
  • 5

    Sam Armstrong, 13th August 2009.

    I just got off the phone to BT regarding this and our current slow internet.. apparently we are running 7mb out of 8, but most of the time it certainly doesnt FEEL that fast.

    The woman I spoke to said that it hadn't reached our area yet, but certainly by the end of 2010 we would have 20MB broadband. I am from a village out side Lincoln. Hardly a key hotspot in the UK :)

    It annoys me that we're tied into our contract, and some of my friends on Virgin recently enjoyed a FREE upgrade to 50MB broadband, by complaining about some channels getting removed from their V. Media box.

    Anyone researching internet, for now I'd say virgin all the way!

    Reply

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