Does superfast broadband Britain stink of sewage?
From drainpipe to fat pipe...
Plans are afoot that could see something speeding out of the UK's sewers and into people's homes. Not a plague of rabid rats but superfast broadband.
The list from A to Z
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A is for ADSL
B is for BT
C is for Cable & Wireless
D is for Dial-up
E is for Education
F is for Fibre
G is for Goonhilly
H is for HSDPA
I is for In-flight
J is for Janet
K is for Kingston
L is for Landlines
M is for Murdoch
N is for Next generation
O is for Ofcom
P is for Power lines
Q is for Quad-play
R is for Remote working
S is for Satellite phones
T is for Trains
U is for Unbundling
V is for VoIP
W is for WiMax
X is for Xbox
Y is for YouTube
Z is for Zombies
H2O Networks - a company that lays fibre cabling in the sewer - is touting the launch of its Fibrecity concept to bring up to 100Mbps broadband to UK cities.
Broadband speed is an issue of increasing concern for the UK which lags behind several European neighbours - and might therefore lose out in a fast-paced wired-up world. The UK's competitiveness minister, Stephen Timms, has said ultra fast broadband is going to be a key technology to drive future growth of the economy.
BT's forthcoming copper-based ADSL2+ technology will only offer a theoretical maximum of 24Mbps. And although the telco is dabbling with fibre - planning a rollout at a property development in Ebbsfleet, Kent - it is keen to get the most out of its existing, copper-based infrastructure - and not so keen to incur the hefty costs associated with digging up streets all over the country to lay fibre.
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Sewers, however, provide an opportunity to lay fibre relatively cheaply as cables can simply be run along existing tunnelling.
A-Zs…
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♦ Broadband from A-Z…
♦ Wireless from A-Z…
♦ Green IT from A-Z…
The UK has 360,000 miles of sewers, according to H2O Networks, which is in discussions with various councils to hook up cities across the country with sewer-laid fibre.
The first city to get the subterranean fibre treatment will be either Bournemouth, Dundee or Northampton - a decision on which city will be first is due to be announced by the end of April - though all three will be hooked up by H20 Networks eventually, according to a company spokeswoman.
Work on connecting the first city is due to start in September, with the fibre deployment completed by March 2010.
The H2O Networks spokeswoman told silicon.com larger cities such as Manchester and London are too big to tackle "at this stage". The three contenders for the first Fibrecity claim are in the running because the company has already been working with their councils, she said, adding that other cities around the country "will happen".
Last year, H2O Networks won a contract to connect a student hall of residence at the University of Aberdeen via fibre laid down the drains.