Innovation
How soon is now: Waiting for broadband
It was originally promised for March, then June and finally September. Now it looks like consumers could wait even longer to get their hands on ADSL
We should have got our hands on it by now but it seems that the World Wide Wait that ADSL promised to end could more accurately be used to describe the delay in rolling out the technology.
Delay is a word that is becoming increasingly synonymous with ADSL as BT finds excuse after excuse not to roll it out. The latest of these is that its manual order-handling system will not be able to cope with the demand from other operators as the local loop begins to unbundle early next year.
Previously BTopenworld -- the newly created ADSL wing of the telco -- expressed doubts over whether it would be able to cope with rollout of both business and consumer services due to a shortage of engineers.
Meanwhile telecoms watchdog Oftel has found itself going head to head with the EC over the timetable for unbundling of the local loop, which is seen by experts as essential to competitive broadband rollout. Last week it announced that it was sticking to the original timetable for unbundling despite the EC's determination to push the timetable forward to the end of this year.
OTHER ROLLOUT 'HIGHLIGHTS':
Oftel goes head to head with EC
Tue, 01 Aug Regulator accused of allowing BT delays on ADSL rollout -- guidelines on access for competitors are in line with EC, but unbundled product rollout date is not Germany does it better
Sun, 30 Jul If you're an IT manager in Germany, it's time to celebrate -- you may be getting twice as much bandwidth as your UK counterparts BT faces legal action over unbundling
Tue, 25 Jul Frustration at slow rollout of broadband services comes to a head as consortium threatens BT with legal action DSL to make movie downloads easy
Tue, 25 Jul Napster-style service makes a move on movies BT rejects broadband mix
Mon, 24 Jul Another blow to BT customers, as they are told they cannot combine ADSL and ISDN DSL providers prepare for war
Mon, 24 Jul In the battle between DSL and cable Internet, content has become king For more broadband information check out ZDNet's Interactive Broadband Guide What do you think? Tell the Mailroom. And read what others have said.
Oftel goes head to head with EC
Tue, 01 Aug Regulator accused of allowing BT delays on ADSL rollout -- guidelines on access for competitors are in line with EC, but unbundled product rollout date is not Germany does it better
Sun, 30 Jul If you're an IT manager in Germany, it's time to celebrate -- you may be getting twice as much bandwidth as your UK counterparts BT faces legal action over unbundling
Tue, 25 Jul Frustration at slow rollout of broadband services comes to a head as consortium threatens BT with legal action DSL to make movie downloads easy
Tue, 25 Jul Napster-style service makes a move on movies BT rejects broadband mix
Mon, 24 Jul Another blow to BT customers, as they are told they cannot combine ADSL and ISDN DSL providers prepare for war
Mon, 24 Jul In the battle between DSL and cable Internet, content has become king For more broadband information check out ZDNet's Interactive Broadband Guide What do you think? Tell the Mailroom. And read what others have said.