BT introduces 80 Mb FTTC broadband in the UK.

‘BT Openreach’ is making arrangements for doubling the download speeds from 40 Mb to 80 Mb available for ‘fiber to the cabinet’ (FTTC) broadband users. The upload speeds will increase to 20 Mb.

This is made possible by increasing its spectrum allocation by 10 MHz in the Access Network Frequency Plan.

As data is transferred through a fiber optic link to the local street cabinet, the homes in UK can get faster downloads through FTTC broadband.

A copper wire is used to connect homes and business houses to the cabinet.

Downloads speeds of 100 Mbs can be got through fiber-to- the-premises (FTTP) means, where the connection between the user and the cabinet is through a fiber link.

After doing its preliminary works by January 2012, BT OpenReach will undertake some trials of the 80 Mb FTTC up to March 2012. The commissioning is expected to be in 2012.

BT has set aside GBP 2.5 billion for upgrading the telephone exchanges and street cabinets in the whole country for the fiber broadband plan.

BT may be able to cater to the needs of 66% of UK population by 2015 with 25 Mb broadband. BT has plans to fulfil the needs of 40% of the population by the end of 2012.

Other broadband providers like ‘Talk Talk’, ‘Sky’ and ‘O2’ get the assistance from BT’s wholesale network to satisfy the UK customers.

BT’s efforts enable atleast 15 million households and business units in the UK to enjoy the broadband services.