Fibre Optic Broadband Areas

Broadband technology has grown drastically from simple co-axial copper wire to the recent thin optic glass fibres, which are smaller than a strand of hair and is made of glass in order to transfer data at a faster rate. Transmission of data through fibre optic cables is as fast as the speed of light.

One of the major advantages of fibre optic cables is that the speed does not get deteriorated even when it travels over long distances. Fibre optic cable connections are used not only for broadband purposes but also for voice calls and multi-channel digital TV entertainment. It can be used both in business and at home. Fibre optics broadband services are delivered through cable connections. There is no ‘crosstalk’ problem in these cables and hence connections are more reliable. Broadband customers can enjoy unlimited broadband connection through fibre optic cables because of the appreciable data efficiency. Download of photos, audio tracks, games, software updates and even DVD quality movies has been made possible with fibre optic broadband.

At times, there is a possibility of just one subscriber downloading more and the others not able to do much. Hence, fibre optic broadband services usually come with ‘peak time’ limits so as to restrict each subscriber from downloading heavily.

Advantages of fibre optic cables

Advantages related to fibre optic cables have been recognised by several councils in UK.

Disadvantages of fibre optic cables

Most of the organisations are happy with their existing broadband system and hesitate to change in order to save time and money.

Areas where fibre optic cables are used

Government of UK has taken steps to apply fibre optic cables due to its high speed of transmission capability. Speed does not deteriorate when number of connection increases. Government is also planning to lay fibre optic cables in rural areas as well by 2015. It has been decided to create more jobs and ease the method of public services. Virgin Media and BT use fibre optic broadband for their services.

Providers of fibre optic broadband

Virgin Media

As already discussed, Virgin Media and BT are the main suppliers of broadband with fibre broadband cables, while Plusnet, Zen and TalkTalk are the others. Virgin Media transfers data at a fastest speed of 100Mb. With this speed, it is quite easy to download music and movies and also to play games online. Social networking is also simple and easy. Virgin Media claims that broadband speed is twice as fast as BT and Sky. Streaming of TV shows, films and videos from the internet is now easy with very few interruptions. According to the industry watchdog, Ofcom, Virgin Media has been declared as the fastest broadband provider for the third time in a row.

The performance result for the month of September 2011 as displayed by Virgin Media, display broadband package, typical speeds and advertised speeds. Typical speed represents the average speed for a particular product for a particular month. The speed statistics of the company is put forward by Samknows, a broadband performance monitoring specialist. Virgin Media provides a speed closer to the advertised speed and is represented as the typical speed. Although Virgin Media gives its users the unlimited broadband, it also applies the “acceptable use” policy that prevents drop in speed when few broadband users download heavily.

BT

BT provides broadband packages through fibre optic cables, which include TV and calls. BT is planning to roll out fibre optic cables and provide superfast broadband to two-thirds of the UK population by 2015. Currently, BT provides download speed up to 3 times faster and uploads speed up to 10 times faster than the standard broadband. Packages also include broadband and calls. Installation cost is free. Browsing allowance with upto 100GB is suitable for business and for heavy browsing and research. BT provides download speeds of 40Mb which is at least 3 times faster than the copper telephone wires. Upload speed of 10Mb helps in uploading large documents.

Plusnet

Plusnet gives its fastest broadband connectivity with fibre broadband connection. It provides superfast broadband with up to 40Mb. The broadband capacity of Plusnet allows people to perform different tasks simultaneously. Online gaming is more interesting with just a small time lapse. Streaming of movies and TV is simple and easy. Files can be downloaded faster. Plusnet’s fibre package includes wireless router. The broadband package is online protected with McAfee. The package comes with a specific contract period. With its 40Mb broadband package, one can download one MP3 file in about 2 seconds, 30 minutes TV show in SD format in about 1 minute, 30 minute TV show in HD format in about 4 minutes and DVD in about 15 minutes. Whereas with 4Mb download speed it would take nearly eight times more than this time. The 40Mb download speed allows the whole family to download at the same time with very less delays.

Zen

Zen has also announced about the introduction of fibre optic cables with maximum download speed of up to 40Mb. Zen began its journey with fibre optic cables in joint venture with BT. Customers who require fibre optic broadband from Zen need to be connected to a fibre enabled exchange.

Customers can enjoy minimum download speed of 8Mbps during peak hours. Business concerns can enjoy increased download speed of 12Mbps. New fibre broadband services introduced by this broadband provider include upload speeds of 2Mbps and 10Mbps. The fair usage policy as introduced by other broadband providers does not come under Zen considering the interest of the customers. It is thus clear that the company does not impose any rules for its customers and allows them to use broadband to the fullest extent.

TalkTalk

TalkTalk provides high performance throughout the day and night. This broadband provider gives maximum download speeds of up to 40Meg. Customers can enjoy broadband facility with great value of the money spent. TalkTalk also provides guaranteed service thereby providing hassle free service. The internet speed is good enough to share and also to upload photos. It is easy to download movies and also stream HD content from YouTube and iPlayer. The broadband can support the whole family at the same time. Online games give real time effect due to its high transmission speed. Fibre Optic boost can be got based on the availability in your area and also the geographical location.

Entanet

Entanet has introduced superfast fibre optic broadband with the download speeds of 40Mb and upload speeds of 10Mbps. The type of broadband service provided by Entanet is FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet). The bandwidth allowance comes in the range of 15GB to 360GB. Entanet also provides broadband service on a contract period.

Non-providers of fibre optic broadband

Several broadband providers such as Sky, Orange, O2, Entanet and THUS Group do not come with fibre optic broadband but few have introduced trial of the fibre optic broadband. Sky and O2 broadband have already announced about their plans of start their trial over fibre optic broadband this year. Entanet has joined with BT to provide trials of fibre optic broadband.

The following table gives a comparative study of broadband providers with and without fibre optic cable.

Area covered by fibre optic broadband

Virgin Media has already covered most part of UK and is all set to increase its coverage to other parts as well. BT has further added 63 local branch exchanges and is aiming to rollout to 40 percent of the country’s population by the year 2012. About 161 exchanges are currently installed with fibre optic broadband by BT. Plusnet and TalkTalk are already in the track to increase its coverage.

Details of offers provided by different fibre optic broadband providers

Some of the best offers provided by various fibre optic broadband providers are given below.

Virgin Media

BT

TalkTalk

Eclipse

Plusnet

Zen

If there would be anything swifter than light, then we can expect another mile stone in the field of broadband. But as of now, fibre optics is the God of broadband providers and of course the customers!