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| BT upgrade ADSL broadband network across the UK to 8Mbit/s |
| Sunday, March 05, 2006 at 12:30 by Rich Kavanagh |
BT on Friday confirmed the launch of new higher speed wholesale broadband services across the UK which will maximise the stable line rates available on individual lines up to 8Mbit/s.
Following successful trials, BT confirmed that the BT ADSL Max and BT ADSL Max Premium broadband services will be launched on a national basis from March 31 this year. More than 5,000 exchanges are being upgraded to support higher speed broadband, with these exchanges serving more than 99% of UK homes and businesses.
This development will allow people to obtain line rates of up to 8Mbit/s, enabling them to get more out of their broadband connection. The ADSL broadband speed that can be supported on an individual line is governed by a wide range of physical factors. BT estimates that 78% of BT phone lines should support broadband at line rates of 4Mbit/s and above, with 6Mbit/s and above available to more than 42%. For those living or working close to their local telephone exchange, line rates of up to the maximum 8Mbit/s should be achievable.
In upgrading more than 5,000 exchanges across the UK to support higher speed broadband services, BT is creating the largest geographic footprint possible for higher speed broadband.
BT Wholesale chief executive, Paul Reynolds, said,
"Thanks to BT's continued investment in the broadband network, the UK now boasts the highest level of broadband availability in the G8. We're now building on those efforts in becoming the first operator in the UK to commit to a national service which is capable of broadband speeds of up to 8Mbit/s.
Our approach in getting the most out of ADSL technology means we get higher speeds to a national footprint as quickly as possible - making sure the opportunities are not just restricted to the urban centres, nor those service providers who operate their own networks. It also provides service providers with the biggest potential market for applications and services demanding higher speeds."
In addition to faster speeds, BT has deployed new technology to better manage the line stability and customer experience. Higher speed and more reliable broadband services will help ensure that people can run more bandwidth hungry applications, including video, gaming and music downloads at the same time, as well as email and surfing the web. By enhancing broadband throughput, BT ADSL Max will also provide users with greater quality of service for streamed content delivered over broadband, such as video downloads.
While the faster broadband speeds will be available to service providers for new orders from March 31, 2006, it will take several months to regrade the total existing end user customer base that service providers wish to be regraded to ADSL Max services.
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| Good Work BT, it took a while to roll adsl out but that was definatley worth the wait now things are just getting better:)
http://www.fzone.org |
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| Well, not a bad effort on BTs part, but what about the majority of people in rural areas who are still struggling with 512Kbs. Will we be "forgotten" or considered "not worth bothering about" which has usually been BTs view. |
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| So how do we find out about our own local exchange being upgraded or not? |
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| I get annoyed when i hear people talking about 8 meg or 2 meg broadband all these tv adverts my line is to long from my exchange i have to use 512kbs broadband i cant see bt helping me out |
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| Well sorry to hear you guys are stuck on 512 - I don't think you can expect BT to cover everyone - the costs are just not worth it. perhaps one day when technology advances....
But to check your local exchange go to the links below and that will give you some information.
it will even show you on a map you can zoom to street level where that exchange is
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/search.php
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| I cant wait soon i can upload more than 25-30 kb a second And beable to host rooms so i can play on Xbox live. Herray....Cant wait 8mb broadband Wohooo!. |
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| Actually I found out something interesting.....
Here is a calculator that estimates what connection you would get once 8mb comes in based on the stats of your line and your current connection.
you just need your line information from your modem or router. if you need a hand in getting this info let me knoe and I'll see if I can help.
http://www.dslzoneuk.net/maxspeed.php
Luckily for me it reckons I will be able to get 7.7 to 8mbps! |
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| I doubt BT are purposely leaving anyone out in rural areas, you have to remember that a very long line (ie if you are several Km's away from your exchange) just will not support a high speed service as quality deteriorates over distance due to resistance, joints and the different grades and materials that telephone circuits are routed over. |
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| I had a 512 connection on a long line that worked perfectly well for 4 months until the exchange was upgraded to ADSL MAX, now I don't have any broadband at all as the signal was 'lost' and BT ceased the service! |
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| Superb! (I wrote something else and then I read below that I aint supposed ter. So I deleted it.) |
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| That sounds great, but my local exchange has still to be upgraded to allow any form of broadband. Sill only able to use dial up, when will this change? |
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