Ofcom has published a new report from Analysys Mason, 'Fibre Capacity Limitations in Access Networks' (PDF), which examines a common misconception that next generation fibre optic broadband networks will not suffer from the same capacity issues that often ail existing technologies.


In reality Fibre Optic broadband is technically just a faster method of delivering access into homes and business. This is of course a significant improvement, yet often such networks must still suck their data from the same supplies as existed before.


That's one reason why a 100Mbps connection will not always run at 100Mbps. Fair Usage Policies (FUP) and or specific usage allowances will remain in use by many providers to help 'manage' the flow of data. Naturally bandwidth will get cheaper but it does not have "infinite capacity." Happily the report is still upbeat.


Be warned that the Analysys Mason report does not make for a good bit of light afternoon reading and is both very long and complicated. Needless to say we'll be studying it for a few weeks.