Posted: 20th Feb, 2003 By: MarkJ
Many of you may remember our past calls for BT to introduce a slower derivative of ADSL, which could potentially extend the coverage of their broadband offerings.
Thankfully BT is now examining the possibility of offering a 256Kbps ADSL product, which could extend the technologies reach and potentially be more affordable:
Trials are still at an early stage, but it is possible that this product could help to close Britain's broadband divide. A significant proportion of homes are located too far from their local exchange for BT's current consumer broadband product -- which runs at 512Kbps -- to work, because of technical limitations.
"We are looking at ways of changing the distance restrictions of ADSL, and examining how we can offer broadband over longer distances by reducing the guaranteed bandwidth," a BT Wholesale spokesman told ZDNet UK on Wednesday. "This is still at a very early stage, though," he added.
BT is understandably keen not to talk up the idea at this stage, for fear of raising false hopes. So far, it is only running a very limited trial involving some 10 people, all located beyond ADSL's current range.The
ZDNet item quotes BT as stating that there is now potential for a larger trial, possibly taking place during late March 2003. I for one would welcome such a product.