Only fibre to the home networks will allow consumers to get the broadband speeds
7/28/2010Antiquated copper networks designed to support telephone calls are responsible for consumers only getting about half the advertised broadband speed they are paying for, according to fibre to the home (FTTH) network specialists and i3 Group company, Fibrecity Holdings.
The findings of the recent Ofcom report on broadband speeds in the UK have resulted in the regulator calling for a ‘common broadband currency'. According to Fibrecity Holdings, this is only part of the solution. In order for consumers to get the services they are demanding, an infrastructure capable of delivering these super fast broadband services needs to be built.
Elfed Thomas, CEO of the i3 Group said: "The latest UK broadband speeds are simply a result of the inadequate infrastructure that exists in this country, and the market is being constrained by three or four players who are misleading the public with the terminology of fibre to the home and speed. It must be very frustrating for consumers that are demanding faster upload and download speeds as more and more bandwidth hungry applications are developed for use in both a personal and professional capacity."
Elfed Thomas continues: "Even more frustrating is that consumers are apparently being duped into believing that they are buying faster broadband because it is being delivered over a fibre optic network when clearly it's not.
"It is impossible for such claims to be made to the public at large, as there are only small pockets of households that currently have true fibre to the home - though this will change with rollouts such as Fibrecity networks - these are the only consumers that will be experiencing true fibre optic superfast broadband."
The government has recently taken over the reins of facilitating a ‘broadband Britain' which Elfed Thomas is keen to see results from. "It is imperative that the government's plans for a broadband Britain consider what infrastructure will scale to consumer needs rather than build something that is suitable for needs right for now, but outdated before it is even finished. In my opinion, the only way to ensure guaranteed speeds for consumers is to build commercially viable, fibre to the home networks.
"The government and local councils need to support proven commercial methods such as Fibrecity networks, as this will ensure the fast delivery of super fast fibre to the home networks and introduce more competition to the existing suppliers who are stifling customer choice and misleading the public."
Fibrecity Holdings is building the largest commercially viable fibre to the home networks across the UK without the use of the public purse. The Fibrecity network is 100Mbps symmetrical (same upload and download speeds) connections with 1 Gbps boost and more than one million homes will be connected over the next four years starting with homes in Bournemouth. The Fibrecity network is open access which means any service provider can deliver services over it. Fibrecity has recently announced a partnership with Fujitsu, who will be supporting the national delivery of the fibre optic network.
For more information, please visit www.fibrecity.eu
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Pippa Davies
Insight Marketing & Communications
Tel: 01625 500800
i3@insightmkt.com
Notes to editors
The Fibrecity network concept is unique in that it utilises i3 Group patented technologies to ensure fast and low cost delivery. These technologies include the FS System which uses ready-made ducts, such as the waste water system to lay the fibre to the end of the street, and micro-trenching to connect the fibre to the home. As well as being less disruptive, the FS System enables fibre to be rolled out far quicker and costs have been benchmarked at approximately 30-50% lower per home than conventional road digs.
Opencity Media, an i3 Group company, has developed the Fibrecity gateway, an open access platform that connects service providers with customers. The Fibrecity gateway also serves as a virtual market place that offers consumer choice by allowing multiple service providers to offer and deliver services over a single Fibrecity network connection.
About i3 Group Ltd
Formed in 2002, i3 Group is a pioneer of deploying dark fibre in the UK's waste water network to enable connectivity. Known as its patented FS System, this method is a fast and cost-effective way to lay fibre optic cable and link up any location without the high costs and disruption caused by road digging.
i3 Group comprises: Fibrecity Holdings Ltd, H2O Networks Ltd, i3 International Ltd, H2O Support Services Ltd, Fibre Associates Ltd, Wireless Network Systems Ltd, i3 Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd and i3 America.
Fibrecity, Fibrezone, Darc, Focus System Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer System (FS System) are all registered trademarks of i3 Group Limited
For further information please visit: www.i3-group.co.uk
