News - BT's proposed super-fast broadband already in jeapordy

[HEXUS]

BT's chief executive has claimed that plans to invest in a nationwide fibre-optic infrastructure by 2012 are already in limbo.

Read more.

[pauldarkside]

Hmm 2012 super-fast broadband or 2012 Olympics, which would benefit the country more?

[LuckyNV]

Hmm 2012 super-fast broadband or 2012 Olympics, which would benefit the country more?

superfast broadband to only 10million mind you, Olympics will cost much much more

[FoxdieUK]

I don't understand why they team up with Virgin who already have 90% of the country in fibre? Why go to the trouble of laying more? Surely it'll be cheaper to rent the lines off virgin? Ultimately i think telecomunnications in the UK need to be Nationalised.

[moogle]

I don't understand why they team up with Virgin who already have 90% of the country in fibre?

*Snigger*

[aidanjt]

Hmm 2012 super-fast broadband or 2012 Olympics, which would benefit the country more?

A fibre infrastructure that provides 100mbps to the home will last for decades to come and will have far more important business and telecommunications applications, with a multiplexing of services which will remove the need to service multiple lines for distinct service types. On the other hand, the Olympics cause a massive drain in resources for a few years, for an event that only lasts a month, and you have nothing to show for it once it's over other than a big pile of rubbish and a massive stadium that has no use other than to horde valuable space.

Yeah, the Olympics is obviously the better investment.

[aidanjt]

I don't understand why they team up with Virgin who already have 90% of the country in fibre? Why go to the trouble of laying more? Surely it'll be cheaper to rent the lines off virgin?

Because having a single infrastructure would only make sense. And it means they wouldn't have full control over it.

Ultimately i think telecomunnications in the UK need to be Nationalised.

I completely agree, this scale of infrastructure shouldn't be left to private companies to botch up and is wasteful duplication. Although the current government would probably screw it up worse if they got their hands on it.

[cordas]

They are both important for the country. Snigger all you want about the olympics but they are happening and they can do a huge amount to boost this country. That said having the fastest broadband we can get going to the largest number of people possible is also hugely important to the country. Yeah we are going into recession but that that doesn't change the fact that our lives are becoming every more connected so the faster connections the better we will be able to take advantage of the oppertunitys that will offer.

[Xtanto]

I don't understand why they team up with Virgin who already have 90% of the country in fibre?

This is because Virgin's "fibre" is actually copper coax cables. BT were going to be installing the fibre that uses lasers and optical fibre cables. Virgin just runs on lies and misinformation.

[aidanjt]

Snigger all you want about the olympics but they are happening and they can do a huge amount to boost this country.

Such as?

[aidanjt]

This is because Virgin's "fibre" is actually copper coax cables. BT were going to be installing the fibre that uses lasers and optical fibre cables. Virgin just runs on lies and misinformation.

Be that as it may, both companies could work together to develop the core fibre infrastructure and utilise virgins 'last mile' fibre runs.

[moogle]

Such as?

Tourists? I'm not arguing the point just pointing out what might be in his reply

Virgin just runs on lies and misinformation.

and traffic shaping/throttling/limiting whichever
If it really were fiber I'm sure they wouldn't need to resort to that. At least some ADSL2+ companies know how to make use of the copper

[rjpearce]

Another "BT drags its heels" story .. If it wasnt for Ofcom we'd all still be on dial-up with BT being the only provider. When ADSL came BT didnt want to invest in new equipment they had to be pushed into it by Ofcom. BT will always adopt the attitude of why should I bother?

The UK is already a long way behind the likes of Germany and other European countries and that will never change with a company like BT in the driving seat. BT is more than happy for us to continue using the same 40 year old copper coming in from the street for another 40 years.

As for Virgin, lets not even go there.. The don't have 90% of the country cabled up -> http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cable/local/
Even if you do live in a green or blue area cable is not always available. Overall they may seem organised but underneath its a complete mess caused by merger after merger after merger as all the cable companies in the UK became one.

The only way forward is for Ofcom to allow other companies & isp's to lay new fibre in the sewers or by digging up roads. But most likely local council's will likely veto any of this. Councils dont like people digging up there roads unless its to put in a new guided bus lane or more speed cameras.

[aidanjt]

I wouldn't say the UK is lagging behind Germany, quite the opposite, as a matter of fact. But Scandinavia, on the other hand, makes us look like cave men grunting.

[FoxdieUK]

The likes of S.Korea, and Japan have some fantastic domestic lines.

[capt_cornflake]

BT's chief executive has claimed that plans to invest in a nationwide fibre-optic infrastructure by 2012 are already in limbo.

I'm not sure I agree with that wording tbh.

According to both your article and the original Guardian one, the BT chief executive hs merely said that some shareholders think this should happen. There's no indication that the programme has actually yet been put on hold.

Sounds to me like BT is just trying to put pressure on OFCOM to make a favourable decision.

To quote from his comments on the Guardian article:

I personally believe if it is the right thing to do as a 20-year decision it is the right thing to do," he said. "But we need to have the environment in which our shareholders feel there is a good chance of us making a return. If we cannot have that environment this is not the time to be taking on sure-fire losses.