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Fibre broadband to enter 4m homes by 2013

According to research from broadband analysis firm Point Topic, over four million homes and businesses could be on a fibre-based broadband connection by 2013.

The figures refer to those users on a DSL connection provided over a BT phoneline, not those already on a cable network. The percentage is expected to drop from 78% to 57%. Fibre-based broadband provided by cable networks (mainly Virgin Media) is expected to account for 23% of the broadband market.

The projections come on the back of new fibre trials from BT and increased pressure to commit to a national fibre-based network.

Most of the fibre connections are expected to be based on FTTC, or fibre to the cabinet, where optical fibre is used up to the local telephone cabinet. The remainder of the connection up to the premises from this point would still be on copper-based high speed DSL.

Broadband over an optical fibre-based network has the potential to provide much higher download speeds, typically around 40Mbps to 100Mbps.

Tim Johnson, Chief Analyst at Point Topic said: “This is probably the first moment when it has been possible to make a plausible forecast for fibre in the UK, based on some real plans and activity.”

Johnson also pointed the benefits of super-fast broadband.

“People will be able to mix video telephony, TV, audio, online games and virtual worlds, all high quality and high resolution, into the total experience they want at that moment. In fact it’s what today’s teenagers are trying to do right now and in a few more years the technology will catch up with them.”