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Eclipse Hails Extended Reach ADSL

Posted: 13th May, 2004 By: MarkJ

Not unlike Plusnet, UK ISP Eclipse has also been keen to promote its involvement with the trial of extended reach ADSL services:

Eclipse Internet joins forces with BT in Extended Reach Trial

Eclipse Internet, 13 May 2004: Award-winning broadband provider Eclipse Internet has joined forces with BT in a Milton Keynes-based trial aimed at extending the reach of 500kbits/s broadband services beyond the current 6km limit - from exchange to subscriber.

The trial runs from 1st June through to 30th September 2004 and is anticipated to involve between 750 and 1000 ADSL subscribers. Eclipse Internet dial-up customers on the 'fringes' of Milton Keynes who would like to take part in the trial, can pre-register or pre-order on the Eclipse web site: http://www.eclipsebroadband.com

The current exchange to subscriber limit of 6km is determined by the losses (maximum 60dB) over the copper cable connecting subscriber to exchange. The trial is intended to prove that greater losses can be tolerated and that the distance can be extended to 7km. Subscribers taking part in the trial must be greater than 6km cable distance from their exchange. In some cases the broadband service will not initially work. In these cases BT will arrange for an engineer to visit the premises and conduct a series of line tests, gather data and check / modify the subscriber's internal wiring.

The broadband reach on enabled exchanges is on average approximately 96%. BT anticipate that if this trial is successful, this figure can be increased beyond 99%, which would pave the way to bringing a million more homes and businesses within reach of broadband. At the end of the trial subscribers can remain connected to the Eclipse Internet service if they wish to.

Jomie Carmichael, co-founder and director of Eclipse Internet, winner of the 2003 ISPA's Best Business Broadband Provider award said of the trial, "Eclipse is consistently at the forefront of internet technology. Our participation in this trial is proof of our determination to make broadband services available to as many of the UK's population as is technically feasible."

The choice of Milton Keynes for the trial was determined by its unique geographical layout, with many small communities based around a central city 'core'. The lack of broadband is a headache for around 18% of the residents, who are relatively close to the city centre and yet are unable to get broadband services. During the trial subscribers will be asked to keep a diary of their experiences so that BT can determine the viability of their connection.