Broadband in the UK 'suddenly taking off'

Matfinn

I was browsing and I just saw this report on BBC news online.

Here it is ->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Britain is catching the broadband bug.
The start of self-install broadband and cuts in the price of fast net access via phone lines seem to have sent Britons barmy for high-speed net services.

Online stores are reporting shortages of the parts people need to set up their own fast net link, retailers are being inundated with phone calls, and websites that let people check if broadband is available in their area are being overwhelmed.

Some sites are dealing with a big jump in demand now that the announced price cuts have actually taken effect.

Steep rise

It has taken a while but Britain suddenly seems to have got the message about broadband net connections.

February 2002 saw a massive surge in demand


Britain regularly appears in the lower reaches of surveys that measure the number of broadband users in European nations.

But BT's announcement of DIY broadband that does away with installation fees and its decision to cut the cost of high speed ADSL connections via the phone line from April has boosted consumer interest enormously.

BBC News Online has received e-mails from readers complaining that the BT website which lets people find out if their exchange is ready for ADSL, has been struggling to cope with the surge in interest.

Some websites where people swap broadband information, such as ADSL Guide, have also reported a steep upsurge of interest.

Net shop

At the same time online stores are reporting shortages in the microfilters that people need to use to convert their phone line into one that can handle ADSL.

Also proving popular are the network hubs and routers that let people share their broadband link, be it cable or ADSL, between several PCs.

Louise Barrett, spokeswoman for online store Solwise, said its phone lines have been very busy in the last few weeks largely with calls from people trying to get hold of ADSL kit.


Home networks are becoming more popular

She said that traffic to the Solwise website had been slowly building but leapt soon after BT announced price cuts. Once the price cuts took effect it leapt again.

Now traffic on its site is five times what it was late last year.

Solwise sources many of its products from Taiwan and now its website reports that many of its top selling products are on order, rather than being available instantly.

Ironically, Hull-based Solwise cannot get a business ADSL connection because it falls into the catchment area for Kingston Communications that currently does not offer such a service.

Jonathan Wall, press spokesman for web store Dabs.com said broadband modems have been selling slowly for a while, but orders are now picking up.

"February 2002 saw a massive surge in demand," he said. "Sales of ADSL modems increased from run rates of between two and five units per month per line, to over 50."

The Dabs site too also reports that customers may have to wait a few days to get their hands on their coveted kit.


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This is for anyone who thinks releasing flatrate or broadband here is an unprofitable business.

Matt

gurramok

Surprise, surprise !!
Look what happens when broadband becomes affordable for the customer base, demand for dsl is now rocketing in uk !!
In this country the customer base is there but will not take up dsl because of eircoN's astronomical charges.
It don't bode well if esat goes under.
It is absolutley disgraceful when both services are taken in comparison. :mad: :mad:

longword

One has to wonder about the economics of DSL in this country. In the UK, unbundled loops haven't been particularly popular, but a few outfits are using it to deliver DSL priced around the same mark as those using wholesale bitstream lines from BT.

Now those bitstream lines are priced roughly around the 20 euro mark, while here it's thought Eircom will be charging around 50 euro. As I understand it, an unbundled line here costs less than 15 euro. With such a pricing regime wouldn't it make more sense for OLOs to go for unbundled lines rather than bitstream?

It would take longer to roll out, but at least there would be a fighting chance of DSL at reasonable rates, and a means to force Eircom to dump their obscene prices.

Now we just need an OLO that'll bother doing it...

What does one need to become an OLO? 12,500 euro bribe to the ODTR isn't it?

Jpaulik

Don't forget that they also had flat rate for a good while now, which I'm sure is the reason broadband take up is skyrocketing.

Winters

I read somewhere that BT offer a "Do-It-Yourself" ADSL package where you install the modem etc. yourself and it works out far cheaper then getting it installed for you.


Pity eircom will over charge us for as much as possible to get it in ... i'd say.

sceptre

Originally posted by Winters
I read somewhere that BT offer a "Do-It-Yourself" ADSL package where you install the modem etc. yourself and it works out far cheaper then getting it installed for you.

Gets rid of the install fee and it was a great idea. Pity it wasn't BT's idea, leading to a campaign in the media to bring such a system in. The result of this introduction has been a far greater takeup of broadband as the long waiting periods are no longer there.

Doors section in last week's Sunday Times posted a list of all the various broadband options available to UK consumers and their costs. Pointless posting it here but I've filed it away in case it's required by anyone.

Stonemason

BT aka esat sudenly think huum hold on if we try this in ireland where they dont even have flatrate the uptake rate will make the UK,s sudden intrest look like a slow progression.As we know if they dont do something soon most of esat emploees are going to be looking for another job.




Stone