24 January 2008
A potentially cost-cutting way of installing super-fast fibre-optic broadband networks in UK cities has been mooted by a networking firm.
H2O told industry website ZDNet.co.uk yesterday that its technique of running fibre cables through pre-existing sewer systems - giving customers connections up to 50 times faster than traditional ADSL copper wires - could lead to wider expansion of the new technology.
The firm also said that the comparative ease of installation and lack of expense of this technique could see a small city connected through fibre-optic within two years.
"To pull fibre through 1,500m of sewers takes us about four hours, compared to laying normal cable which would take anything up to six months," said Managing Director at H2O Elfred Thomas.
"We've been working on this and have agreements in place with Wessex Water, Anglian Water, Scottish Water and Yorkshire Water, and are speaking to Severn Trent."
Development of fibre-optic broadband in the UK has been stymied by the perceived cost of a nationwide roll-out - estimated to be in the tens of billions.
However, parts of south east Asia and Scandinavia already use the technology - and networks are also under construction in major European cities such as Paris.
H2O has already trialled its fibre-optic techniques in small-scale projects in Bournemouth and Dundee.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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