SUPER-fast, fibre-based broadband is now available to the first homes and businesses in Bothwell and Newton Mearns, BT announced today.
Around 7,500 local householders and firms are poised to join the high-speed revolution as engineers complete the upgrades, making Bothwell and Newton Mearns two of the first areas in Scotland to benefit from BT’s roll-out of fibre-based broadband.
BT has announced plans to invest up to £2.5 billion in the technology, which could become available to around two-thirds of UK premises by 2015 if investment conditions are favourable.
Fibre to street cabinets offers download speeds of up to 40Mb/s, potentially rising to 60Mb/s in the future, and upload capability of up to 10Mb/s. Even faster speeds are possible if the fibre goes direct to the home or premises. The super-fast speeds will power new business applications and more sophisticated home and entertainment services.
BT’s planned investment is one of the largest in the world that doesn’t rely on public sector funding and where the network is open to all service providers on an equal basis.
While BT estimates that the great majority of premises in upgraded areas will be able to access fibre-based broadband, it is likely a minority will not initially be able to receive services for a variety of technical and commercial reasons. BT’s local network business Openreach, which is deploying the technology, is actively looking at alternative solutions for these locations.
Brendan Dick, BT director for Scotland, said: “This is an exciting development for Bothwell and Newton Mearns. Households and businesses switching to super-fast broadband will soon be experiencing the internet as they have never experienced it before.
“The advent of BT fibre-based broadband in parts of Bothwell and Newton Mearns will support local jobs and the local economy providing businesses with a technological edge in the current difficult climate. As our roll-out of super-fast, fibre-based broadband gathers pace, many more people in other parts of the country can look forward to faster speeds in the pipeline.
“We are very open to holding discussions with public sector organisations, such as regional development agencies and local councils, to explore ways of bringing super-fast, fibre-based broadband to locations where the economics are more challenging.
“BT is the only company consistently investing in a range of broadband technologies across Scotland,” he added.
BT’s fibre plans build on existing initiatives such as its next generation broadband programme, which has already placed faster speeds of up to 20Mb/s within reach of around a third of Scottish homes and businesses using the existing copper network. The rollout is continuing, with plans in place to reach more than 42 per cent coverage by Spring 2011.
Super-fast speeds allow users to run multiple bandwidth-hungry applications at the same time. For example, some members of a family could be watching different high definition (HD) movies or 3D TV, while others play online games or work on complex graphics or video projects.
For businesses, the new network will underpin the introduction of many new services and applications. Computer processing and storage of files will become more sophisticated and secure using ‘cloud computing’ technology. There will be faster back-up of computer systems and wider use of high quality videoconferencing within firms and between them and their customers.
Further roll-out plans are due to be announced later this year. Householders and businesses can contact their broadband service provider to place an order or register their interest.
Enquiries about this news release should be made to Mitch Reid or Anna Steven at the BT Scotland Press Office on 0800 085 0660. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News
Questions and Answers:
Q1. Why do you expect FTTC download speeds to eventually rise from 40Mb/s to 60Mb/s?
A. Fibre-based technologies such as FTTC have substantial potential to be upgraded as the technology matures, by exchanging and upgrading equipment within the exchange.
Q2. Will public sector assistance be required to take super-fast broadband availability in the UK to the final third of the country?
A. BT expects to take fibre to two thirds of UK premises by 2015. The costs increase dramatically once the first two thirds of the country have been enabled. There will be locations where public sector funding will be needed in order to make it commercially viable for super-fast broadband to be provided. We strongly welcome the opportunity to talk with organisations interested in participating in the roll-out of this exciting technology.
Enquiries about this news release should be made to Mitch Reid or Anna Steven at the BT Scotland Press Office on 0800 085 0660. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2010, BT Group’s revenue was £20,911 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
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Contact: Mitch Reid
Phone: 0800 085 0660
Email: mitchell.reid@bt.com
Website: http://www.btplc.com/News
