Rate your broadband service!

Man using laptop image

Happy with broadband? Or is it letting you down?

Rate your broadband ISP here >>

BT fast-forward new broadband in Scotland

David Cox, Tuesday August 18, 2009 - 8:04 AM

Scotland is about to get a vision of the future with BT’s much vaunted new super-fast broadband programme to be premiered in Glasgow.

The demand for streaming live video and films is at an all-time high and has forced ISPs like BT to fast-track their development programmes for a new fibre optic technology from conception to reality. With high definition pictures and interactivity becoming a must-have for consumers, broadband rates are being consumed like never before.

Recent reports by Ofcom have shown that speeds received in most homes are a lot slower than BT’s previously advertised 7.1Mbps. Not only that, but research has shown that in Scotland, internet connection speeds are among the worst in the developed world – not only in rural areas, but in the cities too.

In contrast, rival telecoms giant Virgin Media already offers speeds of up to 50Mbps and is developing a new world leading broadband service with a speed of 200Mbps.

This has all combined to force BT into action and in the next few months 15,500 homes and businesses all over Glasgow will be benefiting from 30 miles of fibre optic cables enabling speeds of up to 40Mbps. Speeds could rise to 60Mbps in the near future.

The technology uses existing “Last Mile” copper wire and VDSL2.  Bob Downes, director of BT Openreach Scotland said “BT has invested billions in creating Broadband Britain yet it has done so whilst offering others equal access to its network – demonstrating once again that competition doesn’t have to be a barrier to investment.”

By next summer BT plans to have delivered fibre broadband to 1.5 million homes, with a target of reaching 10 million homes by 2012.

The response from Scotland has been enthusiastic. Commenting on the news, Glasgow city council leader Steven Purcell said, “With many businesses reliant on being able to send, receive and manage huge quantities of data and information on a daily basis a robust and modern communications infrastructure is an essential component to the city’s economic success and competitiveness.”

However progress elsewhere may not be as smooth as BT hope. Not everyone is in favour as residents of Muswell Hill, London showed by successfully appealing to the local council and blocking its planned trial there. The issue is that the service requires the erection of numerous 2 metre high green junction boxes which many regard as an eyesore.

2 Comments »

2 Comments

  1. This sounds all very well until you take into account the following:

    As all ISP’s have a limited fair usage policy, even those ISPs who claim to give unlimited download still state a fair usage policy is in place. Hence by increasing the download speed the faster you reach your limit, before you either have restrictions placed on you and at worse loose your contract.

    Until such times as this problem is addressed the push to watch TV via Broadband will only hasten the problems occurrence.

    Signed Carl Barron Chairman of agpcuk

    Comment by Carl Barron — August 18, 2009 #

  2. I feel I have to speak up for the grumpily silent minority. Unable to watch sport thru dish(no Sky signal)nor cable (no Virgin fibre optics area) when is BT going to compete with those companies and offer sports packages to their existing customers? I feel BT is missing a trick and therefore not treating their customers fairly.

    Comment by Cormack Stewart — August 18, 2009 #

Leave a comment

XHTML: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

NOTE: All commments are reviewed. Please ensure comments are NOT Off Topic, Spam, Personal Attacks, Illegal or use profane or provocative language. Feedback or corrections about the article should be made by contacting us using the relevant link below.

Subscribe to SeekBroadband

Get the latest news, special offers, reviews and more.

NB. We will never pass your email onto third parties.

 Subscribe in a reader



Article keywords:   Broadband, Bt, Optical Fibre, Scotland, Vdsl