BCS: Fibre could last us 'a century'

According to David Evans of the British Computer Society, speaking at a Westminster e-Forum on "Digital Britain", a nationwide fibre access broadband network deployed now could still be in use in the 22nd century.

"Optical fibre deployment needs to take place," Evans said. "Fibre speeds will go up and up. It is conceivable that optical fibre put in today could be used into the next century."

Evans did concede that he didn't know what the "killer app" to justify this investment would be, but then again we never know until we see or invent such things.

"Fibre deployment will be akin to the railways, but I don't know what it will be used for," he said. "That's where the wheels fall off the business case."

How true. Still - hundred-year-old fibre still doing the business? Who knows? Perhaps we might then get round to rolling out WiMax...