BT Fibre Broadband Trial Faces Criticism

BT's experiments with fibre optic broadband networks are facing criticism from industry experts.

The network provider is currently trialling the "super-fast" system - which is capable of providing connection speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) - in Kent, supplying 300 local homes. However, some analysts suggest that the trial is "too little, too late": fibre broadband is already widely used in south east Asia, while other European countries such as Iceland and France have much more extensive fibre networks either currently operational or planned than the UK.

Principally, it is financial constraints which have stymied the development of the fast networks: it is estimated that a national fibre broadband system would cost tens of billions of pounds.

The Kent trial is facing criticism not just for the limited size of the network, but due to the fact that it is currently offering connection speeds of 2.5Mbps; BT itself says that it is working towards a "baseline minimum" of 10Mbps. Speaking to broadband-expert.co.uk, an analyst commented: "These speeds make it the slowest fibre service in Europe.

"I am surprised. This is a trial and I see no reason why they aren’t trialling the highest speed the technology can deliver. What is the point of a trial if you don’t really test things?"

BT is the UK's largest broadband provider, and currently retains over four million customers.
 

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