BT is to nearly double the number of people who are able to access it’s fast ADSL2+ copper network by spring 2011.
Currently the ADSL2+ technology which can deliver broadband speeds up to 24Mb is available to around 40% of homes and businesses and BT plan make it available to three quarters of the country.
Although many who’s broadband connection is slow currently won’t see their broadband speeds jump up to 24Mb (unlikely anyone will actually get this headline speed) they will however likely see a speed increase over what they are currently getting.
BT are also rolling out fibre broadband across the UK, and hope to have this available to 40% of the country by 2012 and will be able to offer broadband speeds of 40Mb with the FTTC technology. The fibre roll out is being done separately from the ADSL2+ installations.
The Digital Britain report released earlier this year said that everyone in the country should be within reach of 2Mb broadband and as it is not feasible for BT to fund the roll out of fibre broadband across the whole of the country the installation of ADSL2+ technology will mean that those who are currently receiving broadband but not at the 2Mb minimum target could well have this rectified with the installation of ADSL2+.
BT have also started trialling Broadband Enabling Technology (BET) that is designed to deliver broadband to broadband “not spot” areas (Read: BT to pilot technology that will deliver broadband to “not spot” areas) which again is likely to help in the aim of the governments Digital Britain report.