Broadband News
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BT doubling its "next generation" broadband reach
24 Sep 2009 | 23.18 Europe/London
BT has officially announced it's doubling its so-called "next generation" capabilities - so that it could reach up to seventy-five per cent of UK homes and businesses. But before you get excited with fibre optic dreams, it's actually talking about ADSL2+.
In terms of tech analogies, ADSL2+ is to broadband what the Sega 32X was to video games consoles. While the firm's behind them may be keen to publicise and hype their latest products as being "next generation," technically - and that's literally in terms of the technologies involved - they're more akin to current generation offerings. And unless we're going to start talking about "next, next generation" broadband - and Samknows certainly isn't - you have to draw the line somewhere. However, going by its press release, BT is more interested in getting more out of its lines (i.e. copper ones) that drawing them.
Easily the most controversial point raised in said press release is that, thanks to the investment the telecommunications giant is putting into its 21CN (21st Century Network), the UK "enjoys world leading broadband availability as a result." Fortunately, the rest of the press release isn't quite so immodest:-
As is the norm, BT dragged a spokesperson into the mix too; this time the lucky victim was Cameron Rejali, BT Wholesale's Managing Director, Products. "By expanding the footprint and reducing wholesale prices, we are helping communications providers deliver faster speeds to more customers, essential benefits in the tough economic and competitive environment we face today," he said. "We plan to reduce WBC prices to communications providers from January 2010 with bandwidth charges being dropped by almost fifty per cent and WBC rental costs standardised at the lowest current price, too.”
A drop of "almost fifty per cent" at a time when the economic climate is "tough" and BT is actually spending money on infrastructure upgrades suggests that cost-cutting move isn't just out of the kindness of the firm's heart. Presumably, the "competitive environment" Mr. Rejali is talking about is very much at the forefront of his mind when it comes to his company's role in the broadband market. Let's just hope, for his sake, he's not really got a 32X on his hands.
In terms of tech analogies, ADSL2+ is to broadband what the Sega 32X was to video games consoles. While the firm's behind them may be keen to publicise and hype their latest products as being "next generation," technically - and that's literally in terms of the technologies involved - they're more akin to current generation offerings. And unless we're going to start talking about "next, next generation" broadband - and Samknows certainly isn't - you have to draw the line somewhere. However, going by its press release, BT is more interested in getting more out of its lines (i.e. copper ones) that drawing them.
Today’s announcement is about enabling exchanges with next generation broadband delivered over copper. BT Wholesale already offers these services from exchanges serving more than forty per cent of UK homes and businesses. The intended expansion of the footprint will take this availability to fifty-five per cent by Spring 2010 and then to around seventy-five per cent depending on customer demand, by Spring 2011.
Easily the most controversial point raised in said press release is that, thanks to the investment the telecommunications giant is putting into its 21CN (21st Century Network), the UK "enjoys world leading broadband availability as a result." Fortunately, the rest of the press release isn't quite so immodest:-
BT Wholesale today announced its intent to significantly expand the availability of next generation copper broadband – offering customers speeds of up to 24Mbps - by saying it intends to almost double the current footprint for the service – bringing it within reach of 20 million homes and businesses by Spring 2011. The company also revealed substantial reductions for the price it charges communications providers in order to encourage the take up of next generation broadband.
As is the norm, BT dragged a spokesperson into the mix too; this time the lucky victim was Cameron Rejali, BT Wholesale's Managing Director, Products. "By expanding the footprint and reducing wholesale prices, we are helping communications providers deliver faster speeds to more customers, essential benefits in the tough economic and competitive environment we face today," he said. "We plan to reduce WBC prices to communications providers from January 2010 with bandwidth charges being dropped by almost fifty per cent and WBC rental costs standardised at the lowest current price, too.”
A drop of "almost fifty per cent" at a time when the economic climate is "tough" and BT is actually spending money on infrastructure upgrades suggests that cost-cutting move isn't just out of the kindness of the firm's heart. Presumably, the "competitive environment" Mr. Rejali is talking about is very much at the forefront of his mind when it comes to his company's role in the broadband market. Let's just hope, for his sake, he's not really got a 32X on his hands.