BT Openreach UK Details Ultrafast 220Mbps FTTP Broadband ISP Pilot

BTOpenreach, which manages access to BT’s national UK communications network, has confirmed that the first technical trial of its new 220Mbps (Megabits per second) Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband product for ISPs will take place between 1st and 28th February 2013.

The new intermediate service (FTTPs top download speed currently reaches up to 330Mbps) will typically be limited to a small number of telephone exchange areas (i.e. Bradwell Abbey, Chester South, Exeter and York) and is to be followed by a full pilot that should run from 1st March 2013 until 31st May 2013. The final commercial service is then expected to be introduced during the summer of next year.

Openreach Statement

During both the technical trial and pilot stages Openreach will not be charging for the product rental. Any other charges (for example connection, managed install, missed appointments) will continue to be charged as the published pricing for GEA-FTTP.

The launch charges for 220/20 Mbit/s product variant are currently being finalised and will be released closer to the launch date.

The new service, which has been in the pipeline since earlier this year and also offers upload speeds of up to 20Mbps, forms part of Openreach’s wider efforts to streamline its portfolio by slashing the number of full fibre optic broadband (FTTP) products from 10 to just 5 by March 2014.