NTL trials 18Mbps broadband

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Broadband, NTL

NEWS

Broadband speeds could soon reach new heights as cable operator NTL pilots ADSL2+ — a technology that offers a maximum download speeds of 18Mbps.

Such rates are only possible over short distances, but NTL says that 95 percent of homes are within one kilometre of its high-speed fibre network. This means ADSL2+ should run at high speeds over the copper wire that runs between NTL's roadside cabinets and individual homes.

"The field trials are to determine the technological potential of these next-generation broadband services and evaluate the operational benefits of ADSL2+," said an NTL spokesman. "Our fibre-rich network means that we have the potential to provide customers with multiple services through a single high-speed IP connection."

The company also been testing streaming of high-definition broadcasts over its IP fibre network.

BT is planning to begin trialling ADSL2+ this year. However, only a small proportion of its customers live within one kilometre of their local telephone exchange, which could limit BT's ADSL2+ top speeds. Few details of BT's ADSL2+ trial have been released as yet.

BT's wholesale division is also about to begin trialling ADSL at speeds up to 8Mbps — a four-fold increase on its current top speed. However, it is likely that only homes and businesses within a few kilometres of their local telephone exchange will be able to get such rates.

Talkback

I have been living with Japanese ADSL for the last year. I pay less than £20 a month for my connection. Sadly I live about 2km away from the base station which means that instead of the 50Mbps I'd get if I lived closer I only get about 12Mbps.

How come the providers in the UK are still so far behind the line. How come they're still talking such limited figures. 50-100 Mbps ADSL connections have been available here for well over a year. One can only assume this is a corporate decision in the UK to slowly ramp up the speed, enabling the line providers to rip the customer off at every stage.

via Facebook 18 March, 2005 04:37
Reply

Err Nigel it isnt just about the corporations trying to rip off the consumer. There is a whole set of underlying structural reasons why we lag behind Japan & Korea in terms of speed left behind by the legacy of BT. Further, the Asian countries governments have always heavily subsidised the telecomms infrastructure in their country, your 'phat' japanese line is probably partly paid for by the japanese govt, whilst over here the UK govt has only relatively recently started pushing BB forwards. Things are picking up with LLU and trials such as this one, the actual network coverage in the UK is something to be proud of and upping the connection speed is now more of a software issue than hardware (up to a point) so here is hoping for the future :)

via Facebook 18 March, 2005 12:23
Reply

What will the uplaod speed be like ???

via Facebook 7 June, 2005 22:55
Reply

Oh please, UK network is seriously behind other countries, not just Japan. So please dont try to self justify and say 'should be proud' or some such nonsense. Look to our neighbouring Scandinavians, they can get 100mbs for about £30 odd. and what? we pay (at least for me) £37 for a 10 mbit with a laughable upload speeD??? ok good one. Uk is shit and just about compares to a developing country when it comes to network infrastructure... Time to take off that rose tinted glasses of yours and realise we are indeed lagging about 2 years behind.... pfft

via Facebook 18 January, 2006 11:54
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