BT PUSHES THE LIMITS TO BRING BROADBAND BRITAIN ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

April 19, 2004

BT today announced a trial set to pave the way to extend the reach of broadband ADSL services to a million more homes and businesses throughout the UK.

Currently more than 96 per cent of homes and businesses connected to broadband enabled exchanges are within range of ADSL services and BT believes the trial could establish the way to increase this to more than 99 per cent.

Alison Ritchie, BT chief broadband officer, said: “BT’s drive to increase availability of broadband has many fronts and this latest development shows we haven’t stopped pushing the boundaries.

“By extending reach we will bring service to many of those in the frustrating situation where their exchange is upgraded for broadband, their neighbours down the road have broadband, but they can’t get it.”

Research at the BT labs at Adastral Park, trials involving BT staff and international comparisons have indicated that 500Kbps ADSL services could now be offered to many people beyond the current limit which is roughly equivalent to 6km line length. The trial will begin in Milton Keynes initially, though will also include areas to test broadband service performance on lines of up to 10km line length and beyond. Not all these lines will work but the wide range of lines tested will allow reliable broadband service to be delivered to many more people.

BT Wholesale’s large scale trial due to start on June 1, is needed to provide more data on broadband service reliability over longer lines before reach limits can be confidently lifted across the UK while maintaining a high quality service and bring 1 million more homes and businesses within reach of broadband. BT Wholesale intends to launch longer reach broadband services later this year.

Milton Keynes was chosen for the trial involving up to 1,000 people as approximately 18 per cent of people are out of reach - higher than elsewhere because of the geographical development of the city in relation to the exchanges providing its telephone services. It is also hoped to extend the trial to include a remote rural area, as isolated farms and other businesses based in the countryside stand to benefit enormously from this development.

BT has been working closely with the Milton Keynes Broadband Action Group to address broadband availability issues and plans to recruit trialists with the group’s help. Broadband service providers are being asked if they wish to take part in the trial and details of participating SPs will be announced by May 11.

Nick Hubbard, action group co-ordinator said: “We have hundreds of people desperate to get broadband who will be very eager to take part in the trial. Lack of broadband because of long lines is a very hot issue here in Milton Keynes and we’re very happy to be involved in this project which will not only solve some of the issues locally but for people with similar frustrations right across the country.”

John Best, chief executive of Milton Keynes Council said: “Twenty years ago Milton Keynes was at the leading edge of neighbourhood technology, with cable, community TV and high aspirations.

“Since then the city has developed dramatically but now faces new challenges that demand a new infrastructure. We are now looking forward to another 30 years of growth as a vibrant, competitive city , and we need to design neighbourhoods that will once again be at the leading edge. Extending the reach of broadband throughout the city is a priority for us and we’re delighted that BT has embarked upon this initiative. We look forward to working with BT and other broadband providers to make Milton Keynes a centre of excellence for broadband and new media technologies.”

People in the 01908 code Milton Keynes area who are interested in being involved in the trial should register at http://www.bb4mk.org/bttrial. When the trial service providers have been confirmed those on the Milton Keynes broadband action group mailing list will be informed.

Notes to editors

The current limit for broadband is based on 60dB of signal loss on the line (typical line length about 6km).

All broadband orders will continue to be subject to line test and while it expected that the extension of reach will mean the vast majority of people connected to a broadband exchange will be able to get service there will still be some who can not. BT Wholesale is working on troubleshooting processes to support those people and their service providers, including identifying issues where internal wiring is contributing to high line loss.
 

All BT Group news releases can be accessed at www.bt.com/newscentre