News - Ofcom: BT's copper network capable of 50Mbit/s, in theory

[HEXUS]

An Ofcom assesment has found that BT's existing copper network could be capable of delivering broadband speeds of up to 50Mbit/s.

Read more.

[TAKTAK]

hmm, interesting... although what about the lower quality copper cable that some areas have which has aluminium etc in it which reduces speeds/drops the SNR?

but it would tend to be the cities that have better quality cable... so why not roll out fibre to villages and small towns first... as they would benefit the most, while the cities benefit from the quality copper...

edit: nice name for the PDF

[kalniel]

Bad luck MK

[Lee H]

It's all good saying that when most the results are generated in a Lab with the most pristine cables and conditions known to man.

What they need to do is a real-life test using some the copper on BT's network and then report back the speeds as I bet 1/2 the lines have SNR issues or something that affects the connection speed.

[Biscuit]

I cant say i have ever met anyone using 16Meg ADSL that actually gets those speeds to be quite honest, so im guessing Offcom are talking rubbish.

[beanbandit]

but it would tend to be the cities that have better quality cable... so why not roll out fibre to villages and small towns first... as they would benefit the most, while the cities benefit from the quality copper...

You'd want to get a good return on your investment, so doing villages/towns(first) doesn't make sense.

Bad luck MK

Shoo But yeah MK has a crap network. I'm on ally, but with some of the issue's i had last year, i'm on the system as needed to get a new copper line installed. Just waiting for more people around my area to have some issues before it happens.

I cant say i have ever met anyone using 16Meg ADSL that actually gets those speeds to be quite honest, so im guessing Offcom are talking rubbish.

I'm guessing that you haven't read the report properly. the term "theoretical" should be enough of a clue. So no Offcom aren't talking rubbish. Just what is possible in a perfect world.

[beeboy]

I cant say i have ever met anyone using 16Meg ADSL that actually gets those speeds to be quite honest, so im guessing Offcom are talking rubbish.

I get 14/16 Meg.
From a 24 Meg line, so I get your point.

[Flibb]

I get 14/16 Meg.
From a 24 Meg line, so I get your point.

I get the same

[listy]

perfect world and all that lol wonder how much it would cost them to renew all copper wire lines

[Biscuit]

I'm guessing that you haven't read the report properly. the term "theoretical" should be enough of a clue. So no Offcom aren't talking rubbish. Just what is possible in a perfect world.

But if the current cables are not capable of the current supposed speeds then surely their assessment failed before it had even began

"when the current copper network would be unlikely to meet the expectations of the majority of UK consumers".

Answer: About 2 years ago at least

Where it says about the upstream modem, is that talking about the modem that connects directly to your computer/appliance or something to do with the switch?

[shaithis]

I get 14/16 Meg.
From a 24 Meg line, so I get your point.

Well, the article is talking about moving the comms equipment closer to homes, so how it is "at the moment" is nothing like what the article is about

[TAKTAK]

You'd want to get a good return on your investment, so doing villages/towns(first) doesn't make sense.

i know , but theres always hoping

[Jay]

But what about the cost of the bandwidth it self?

[go.mole]

Well I live in a new build house (built this year) a couple of miles from the exchange and get a huge 2mb :/

I really can't wait till Virgin starts adding more coverage to their network, can't see it happening for a while though!

[AdamAnubis]

Aren't all of VM's networks fibre anyway? Cos i know they are rolling out 50MB at the end of the year with 100mb on trial. I'm just trying to persuade my parents, its not going too well

[Biscuit]

We are on virgin cable and i would like to change to a totally different company due to the whole thing about them allowing the music industries spy on your internet traffic. Not that i have been doing anything wrong i just feel its an invasion of my privacy and i don't know what else they may do with the information.

I may have to story all wrong though.